Massachusetts’ groundbreaking 2010 law to reform the state’s criminal background information system has met with mixed success in the first phase of its implementation, according to a new report commissioned by the Boston Foundation.
The Continuing Challenge of CORI Reform: Implementing the Groundbreaking 2010 Massachusetts Law was released on May 24, 2012 at an Understanding Boston forum. The report, the first evaluation of the implementation of the law, was researched and written by Len Engel, Managing Associate for Policy, and Gabriella Priest and Julie Finn, Research Assistants, at the Crime and Justice Institute at Community Resources for Justice, which provides nonpartisan consulting, policy analysis, and research services to improve public safety in communities throughout the country. The researchers conducted focus group interviews with advocates, employers and other stakeholders in the CORI reform effort.
“The 2010 CORI Reform law is still landmark legislation, but not surprisingly, there are gaps in the law that are beginning to emerge,” said Paul S. Grogan, President and CEO of the Boston Foundation. “As new provisions of the law go into effect this month, this report highlights the need for education about the CORI system, and the need for the resources to make sure that the system reforms achieve their desired impact.”