Date & Time: Wednesday, December 10, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. ET
This is a FREE online program and will be recorded. You will receive a link to the video recordings which you have registered for.
CPCS approved 2.0 credits for the Criminal Trials and Appeals, SDB/SORB, Mental Health Appeals and YAD Appeals panels. Certificates will be emailed to all attendees who were logged onto the program for at least 80% of the live webinar program.
Faculty
Chief Justice Stacey Fortes, District Court
Hon. James Budreau, Superior Court
Dara Drawbridge, PhD, UMass Chan Medical School, Department of Law and Psychiatry
Vincent Lorenti, Esq., Executive Director, Massachusetts Probation Service, Office of Community Corrections
Angela Orlandi, MA LADC I, Program Manager, Massachusetts Probation Service, Community Justice Support Center-Brockton
Daniel, Former Community Justice Support Center participant
Filomena DaVeiga, Program Manager, Massachusetts Probation Service, Community Justice Support Center-Taunton
Michael, Former Community Justice Support Center participant
Description
In January 2024, the research center, Boston Indicators reported that Massachusetts had the lowest incarceration rate in the United States at 172 per 100,000 people. In fact, the incarceration rate has declined faster in Massachusetts than anywhere else in America over the last decade. That said, around the world our allies continue to incarcerate far fewer people than we do, even in Massachusetts. In Canada the rate is 104 per 100,000, Germany 69, France 83, and England 130. Further, the impact of higher incarceration rates continues to fall disproportionately on communities of Color. Boston Indicators found that while incarceration decreased by 40% for Whites, it decreased by just 21% for Blacks.
Community Justice Support Centers are statutorily created facilities operated by the Massachusetts Probation Service for the express purpose of designing and implementing alternatives to incarceration. Cognitive behavioral treatment, education, career counseling, clinical case management, and community engagement opportunities at the Support Centers are informed by the latest science to ensure that people have real, safe, and effective opportunities to succeed in the community rather than after jail or prison.
Agenda
- Introduction - Context for Alternatives to Incarceration
- Display slides on prison population
- Keynote - Comments on criminal justice reform
- Remarks. Science. Risk, need, responsivity and alternatives to incarceration for those at high risk for recidivism.
- Presentation - Community Justice Support Center Overview
- Panel Discussion - Where and when and stories of success –
- When is it appropriate to raise a motion for Pretrial Services or Pretrial Treatment?
- What challenges did you face and how did the center help you get through those challenges?
- Is a referral to the Support Center something that I need to consult with probation on first or I can I raise it in court?
- If the probation department objects to utilizing the Support Center is that dispositive?
- In a probation revocation scenario, could the court remove some conditions that the defendant failed to complete and impose Intensive Supervision with Treatment instead?
- How many times can a person try the center before they cannot go there again?
- Would the court decline to send the person to the Support Center if the ADA and Defense Attorney agreed on the referral?
- Could it be imposed over the ADAs objection?
The views and opinions expressed in programs offered by the Social Law Library are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Library. Online registration is encouraged. For assistance, questions on group discounts, accommodations requests, special billing, program content, out-of-state CLE credits, and general contact CLE Coordinator, Michael Saporito by email at msaporito@socialaw.com. Registrations accepted in order of receipt. Registration fees are non-refundable. Most Social Law Library CLE events are recorded and recordings are sent to all who are registered. The recording is available by digital download, generally within a week after the program date. CLE credit, when applicable, is only granted when 80 % of the live webinar is attended. To insure getting the video, please register.