Massachusetts Parole Board Hit With a Class-Action Discrimination Lawsuit

The Massachusetts parole board is facing a class-action lawsuit alleging that the board discriminates against people with mental disabilities. The suit contains new statistics about the number of people incarcerated in Massachusetts with mental health concerns.

The suit, filed by attorneys from three mental health and prisoners’ rights groups, alleges that the parole board does not consider the challenges incarcerated people with mental disabilities face in seeking probation, in violation of state and federal civil rights laws.

It says those with mental disabilities face numerous obstacles, including: difficulty navigating the parole process; being ineligible for programs to improve their chances of parole; often receiving punishment as a result of behavior that leads to a disciplinary record and jeopardizes parole opportunities; and not always being provided with timely legal counsel for the parole process.

Read the source article at wbur