Families fighting against eliminating 'no parole' sentences

BOSTON — A group still mourning the loss of loved ones is now fighting to make sure all convicted Massachusetts killers stay behind bars.

They met at the state house Tuesday to oppose a bill that would eliminate the 'life without parole' sentencing.

They carried murdered family members with them, meeting with lawmakers to demand the withdrawal of the “Act to Reduce Mass Incarceration."

It would allow convicted murderers serving life without parole to become eligible after 25 years.

"It’s misplaced sympathy for murderers and rapists. Over the victims’ families and the victims," Bob Curly said.

Curly's young son was brutally raped and murdered. The killers are behind bars.

"Tomorrow is 15 years since our son was murdered by a cold-blooded stranger in the middle of the night," said Karren Fleet.

Her son, David, was shot and killed inside his Natick apartment.

These family members say just hearing about the bill's filing was traumatic for them.
 
"The anniversary of my friend's death was April 15, the next day I see this. It reopens so many wounds," Renee Scalfani explained.

Boston 25 cameras were not allowed inside the meeting, but the result was devastating, say victims' families.

"They didn’t want to listen to our voices, they just sat there and nodded their heads," Aaron Titcomb said. "But nothing was resolved. We did not get what we wanted."

Staff with house sponsor Rep. Jay Livingstone (D-Suffolk) and senate bill sponsor Sen. Joe Boncore (D-Cambridge) said they were unavailable for comment after the meeting and our numerous requests.
    
Backers of this bill say Massachusetts has the second highest percentage of life without parole in the country and it's costing the state a lot of money.

One example: a state report shows the cost to house an inmate at the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center is more than $65,000 a year. It's double that at a secure medical facility.

Cox Media Group