What we know as 25 inmates with life sentences are granted freedom in Mass.
More than two dozen people in Massachusetts have recently been given parole despite originally being sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
That's because in January of 2024 the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled — in a case called Commonwealth v. Mattis — that sentencing individuals aged 18 to 20 to life without parole is unconstitutional, giving dozens of incarcerated individuals a second chance at freedom. But it's also forcing the families of those killed to relive their trauma.
MassLive has been following the individual parole board hearings . We also took a larger look at what is happening during these cases.
These are 5 takeaways from MassLive's reporting .
1. Most inmates are being granted parole
There were 210 cases that fell into the Commonwealth v. Mattis decision across Massachusetts. Among those instances, 137 people became immediately eligible to go in front of the parole board for hearings.
After more than a year and a half, 67 hearings have been held — and 13 more hearings have been publicly scheduled.
The parole board has so far granted freedom to a significant majority of those who have had hearings. As of Monday, 25 out of 32 individuals who appeared before the board have been granted parole.
Overall, 14 people (54%) have been released, while 12 more are in the process.
2. Delayed hearings bring about lawsuit
Despite the ruling, the parole board didn't immediately begin scheduling the hearings.
Due to the delays, a group of incarcerated individuals filed a lawsuit to expedite the process.
The board cited an "unprecedented amount of additional cases" on its calendar in a July 2024 letter asking for patience.
The first parole board hearing related to the Mattis decision was held in July 2024, while a majority of them began in September 2024.
3. What the parole board is looking for
The parole board weighs four key factors outlined in the Mattis decision: impulse control, risk-taking, peer influence, and the potential for change. These are considered alongside the crime itself, prison records, remorse, risk assessments, and input from victims' families, creating a complex process to balance rehabilitation with public safety.
Parole has been denied to seven individuals, primarily due to a lack of participation in rehabilitative programming or a refusal to discuss the crime and show remorse. The board denied one man who maintained his innocence and another who admitted he only began self-improvement programs after learning parole might become possible.
4. A 'nightmare' for families
The court's decision has been devastating for the families of those killed as they are forced to relive the trauma, often going in front of the parole board and the incarcerated individual to make their own case.
Families have described the process as a "nightmare," stating they feel betrayed and that the system is treating murderers as victims while their own pain is ignored. One family member walked out of the hearing, feelings as if his side wasn't being fairly heard after the incarcerated individual was told they did a good job.
5. Prosecutors oppose the decision
District attorneys have openly criticized the ruling, arguing it disregards the finality that victims' families were promised and — in some cases — overlooks the calculated nature of the crimes.
Prosecutors contend that some offenders continued violent and deceptive behavior well into their twenties, undermining the legal reasoning based on an underdeveloped brain.
"There was no impulsiveness here. This was planned. This was deliberate. There was a cover-up. There was no peer pressure ... His brain was fully formed. He misled the police while he was 21. His actions while in prison, the violence towards others happened well beyond 21," Norfolk District Attorney Michael Morrissey said.
For the full story, click here .
Note: Artificial intelligence was used to help generate this story from original content created by MassLive.com. It was reviewed and edited by MassLive staff.
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