This legislative session, our allies at Families for Justice as Healing and the National Council for Incarcerated and Formerly Incarcerated Women and Girls filed groundbreaking legislation to establish a 5-year moratorium on jail and prison construction and expansion (S.2030 and H.1905).
The 5-year Moratorium would provide organizers the opportunity to focus on releasing women, implementing real alternatives, and investing in community-led solutions that create real safety and well-being rather than move forward with a new women’s prison in Middlesex County or elsewhere. (Learn more at nonewwomensprison.org)
The House passed the Moratorium as part of the Infrastructure Bond Bill (H4790) on May 19 with only a few small changes from the original bills.
However, the Senate has passed inadequate Moratorium language that would not stop the women’s prison construction project as it’s currently written. It also fails to restrict jail construction.
These bills are currently in Conference Committee, where six legislators (3 state senators and 3 state representatives) are negotiating the final details. That means there’s still time to make your voice heard.
Here’s what you can do, per Families for Justice as Healing:
(1) Call and email the SIX Infrastructure Bond Bill Committee members to include the House version of the Jail and Prison Construction Moratorium in the final bill!
You can also use this quick Action Network tool.
Senator Will Brownsberger (617) 722-1280 / William.Brownsberger@masenate.gov
Senator Nick Collins (617) 722-1150 / Nick.Collins@masenate.gov
Senator Ryan Fattman (617) 722-1420 / Ryan.Fattman@masenate.gov
Representative Danielle Gregoire (617) 722-2140 / Danielle.Gregoire@mahouse.gov
Representative Carlos Gonzalez (617) 722-2230 / Carlos.Gonzalez@mahouse.gov
Representative David Vieira (617) 722-2230 / David.Vieira@mahouse.gov
“Hello, my name is _______________ and I’m calling to ask you to include the House version of the Jail and Prison Construction Moratorium language in the final version of the Infrastructure Bond Bill. The House language will prevent the new women’s prison project and allow a 5-year pause on new jail and prison construction so we can focus on implementing alternatives and investing in community-led solutions for real safety and well-being. Passing the House Moratorium language is what’s best for women, families, and communities. Thank you.
(2) Call and email your own State Rep and Senator and ask them to tell the Infrastructure Bond Bill Committee members to include the House version of the Moratorium in the final bill!
Find your legislators’ contact info here — or use our Action Network tool here.
“Hello, my name is _______________ and I’m your constituent. One of my top priorities this session is making sure the strongest possible version of the Jail and Prison Construction Moratorium passes into law. Please let your colleagues on the Infrastructure Bond Bill Conference Committee know to include the House version of the Moratorium language in the final version of the Infrastructure Bond Bill. The Senate Bill has too many loopholes, but the House language will prevent the new women’s prison project and allow a 5-year pause on new jail and prison construction so we can focus on implementing alternatives and investing in community-led solutions for real safety and well-being. Passing the House Moratorium language is what’s best for women, families, and communities, so please make sure you do everything you can to make that happen. Thank you!”
(3) Post on Twitter to boost public pressure on the Conference Committee!
Option 1
I support a five-year moratorium on jail and prison construction in MA, so I urge you to include the HOUSE language in the final Infrastructure Bond Bill. @nickcollinsma @WBrownsberger @DWGregoire @RyanFattman Rep Gonzalez and Rep Vieira
#NoNewWomensPrison #MApoli
Option 2
The Senate version of the Jail and Prison Construction Moratorium falls short. Conference Committee members, please include the HOUSE language in the final bill.
@nickcollinsma @WBrownsberger @DWGregoire @RyanFattman Rep Gonzalez & Rep Vieira
#NoNewWomensPrison #MApoli
(4) Sign up to volunteer to phone bank and canvas with the campaign. bit.ly/nonewprisonvolunteer
