PLS and Board announce transition of Executive Director, Elizabeth Matos 

June 28th, 2023  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  BOSTON– Prisoners’ Legal Services of Massachusetts’ (PLS) Board President Patricia Garin announced today that PLS’ Executive Director, Elizabeth Matos, will be leaving in September to join the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office as Civil Rights Division Chief and Senior Advisor to Attorney General Andrea Campbell.   “It was with mixed emotions that […]

Prisoners’ Legal Services of Massachusetts Statement on its newly released Women’s Project Report and the Ripples Report

The Women’s Incarceration Conditions and Reentry Project (The Women’s Project) of Prisoners’ Legal Services of Massachusetts (PLS) interviewed and anonymously surveyed over two dozen women incarcerated throughout Massachusetts and has published A Different Way Forward: Stories from Incarcerated Women in Massachusetts and Recommendations. This report details the stories and experiences incarcerated women in the Commonwealth shared […]

New Report Proposes a Different Way Forward for Incarcerated Women in Massachusetts

For immediate release BOSTON – July 11, 2022 – Today, Prisoners’ Legal Services’ (PLS) Women’s Incarceration Conditions and Reentry Project (the Women’s Project) released a new report detailing the traumatic experiences of incarcerated women in Massachusetts and the urgent need to remedy the harm that women face in the carceral system.   The report, A Different Way […]

The Keeping Families Connected / No Cost Calls Coalition Urges the Legislature to MakePrison Phone and Jail Phone Calls Free, Fully Funded, and Guaranteed in the MA FY23 Budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Boston – June 2, 2022 – After years of organizing, language ensuring free phone calls for people incarcerated in Massachusetts jails and prisons has passed in the House and Senate budgets for the first time. The Keeping Families Connected / No Cost Calls Coalition deeply thanks Sen. Creem, Rep. Tyler, and all […]

Prisoners’ Legal Services of Massachusetts awarded Cummings Foundation grant

Boston nonprofit receives funding from Cummings Foundation in Support of Women’s Incarceration & Reentry Project BOSTON – June 1, 2022 –  Prisoners’ Legal Services of Massachusetts (PLS) is one of 140 local nonprofits to receive grants of $100,000 to $500,000 each through Cummings Foundation’s $25 Million Grant Program. The Boston-based organization was chosen from a […]

AG’s Office Issues Warning About Scams Targeting Friends and Family of Incarcerated People

Partnering With Massachusetts Department of Correction, Prisoners’ Legal Services, and Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association in Providing Tips on How to Protect Against Fraud Office of Attorney General Maura HealeyMay 2, 2022 BOSTON — Attorney General Maura Healey is partnering with the Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC), Prisoners’ Legal Services (PLS), and the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association (MSA) to advise […]

STATEMENT BY PRISONERS’ LEGAL SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF MEDICAL PAROLE

February 10, 2022 In light of the news conference today about “ending the medical parole loophole for murderers,” Prisoners’ Legal Services of Massachusetts would like to address misperceptions surrounding the medical parole process and highlight the importance of ensuring access to it. In 2018, the Massachusetts Legislature enacted the medical parole statute as part of […]

New lawsuit accuses state officials of retaliatory violence against prisoners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE BOSTON – January 10, 2022 – Today, Prisoners’ Legal Services of Massachusetts (PLS) and the law firm Hogan Lovells filed a class action lawsuit against the Massachusetts Department of Correction (DOC) and its officials responsible for overseeing Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center (SBCC) during a campaign of systematic, extreme, and unconstitutional violenceagainst more than […]