Massachusetts General Laws ch. 211F sec. 2 – Office of community corrections; executive director
Section 2. (a) There is hereby established subject to appropriation within the office of the commissioner of probation an office of community corrections, whose purpose is to establish a continuum of pretrial services programs and community corrections programs and services statewide. The goal of this chapter is to ensure and promote public safety by developing pretrial services programs and community corrections programs for appropriate offenders.
Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws ch. 211F sec. 2
- Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
- Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
- Sentencing guidelines: A set of rules and principles established by the United States Sentencing Commission that trial judges use to determine the sentence for a convicted defendant. Source: U.S. Courts
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
(b) The executive director of the office of community corrections shall be appointed by the commissioner of probation to establish, oversee and operate a statewide program of community corrections and pretrial services.
(c) The executive director shall operate subject to the direction and approval of the commissioner. Said executive director shall work in consultation with the commission, administrative office of the trial court, the department of corrections, the parole board and the county sheriffs to ensure consistency between sentencing guidelines and community corrections. The office shall, to the extent practicable, utilize existing resources of the administrative office of the Massachusetts courts for the purpose of avoiding unnecessary duplication.