Legal advocates call for parole reform bill to adopt best practices, expand board composition and shift burden of proof

A representative from the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee asked the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security to support H2694, the Equitable Access to Parole Bill. The witness described ongoing litigation against the parole board and said the bill implements well‑established best practices to make parole hearings fairer, more transparent, and more consistent.

The witness told the committee the bill would expand the parole board by adding members with clinical training (psychology, psychiatry, social work) and include at least one member with lived experience. It would require training for board members, establish clearer procedures, and switch the burden of proof so parole is presumed unless the parole board proves by clear and convincing evidence why release should be denied.

Claire Massington characterized the changes as low-cost and consistent with best practices; she said the Commonwealth scored poorly on a past national survey of parole practices and that reforms would align parole procedures with earlier criminal justice reforms. She urged the committee to prioritize front-end procedural fixes to reduce the need for court-based litigation.

No committee vote or formal action on H2694 was recorded in the hearing transcript; supporters asked the committee to report the bill favorably.