Compassionate Release and Medical Parole in Massachusetts


Wednesday, July 18, 2018, 12:30–2:30pm

Todd & Weld, LLP, One Federal Street, Boston

Dear MACDL Members,

Please join us for the fourth in our series of informal brown bag lunches!


THE COSTS OF CARE FOR DYING PRISONERS HAS SKYROCKETED as the prison population has aged. Massachusetts has recently addressed the costs of caring for its aging prison population through enactment of legislation designed to reduce the number of incapacitated or terminally ill inmates. The law, established as medical parole, is designed to allow for a compassionate release of terminally ill prisoners who no longer present a public safety risk. Although compassionate release type programs have been around for some time, they are rarely used. When they are used, they can be complicated, lengthy processes devoid of actual compassion.

Join fellow MACDL members and a panel of experts to discuss the Federal Compassionate Release program, and the new Massachusetts medical parole provisions. Panelists will help to identify some of the practical failings of compassionate release provisions, and suggest ways that Massachusetts can institute the new medical parole statute in ways that serve crime victims, innocent families of dying prisoners, and the public at large, in a manner consistent with compassion.

MACDL member Donna M. Cuipylo, who is currently on sabbatical in Washington DC, will moderate. Panel members include:

  • Mary Price, General Counsel of FAMM, Washington, DC
  • Joel Thompson, Staff Attorney, Prisoners’ Legal Services Clinical Instructor, PLAP, Harvard Law School
  • Nancy White, General Counsel, MA Department of Correction

Bring your lunch and your questions, comments and stories!

The event is free for MACDL Members. Space is limited. Please RSVP to Ruth O’Meara-Costello or click the RSVP button below:

As always, if there are topics you would love to see MACDL cover, please email Ruth

Click the image below to view/download a PDF flyer for the event

MACDL Brown Bag Lunch July 2018 Flyer