From the Lowell Sun: It’s no secret that many young adult offenders find themselves in a vicious cycle. After getting released from jail, there’s a decent chance they’ll re-offend within three years. Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian admits jails must change how they serve this population. As a result, the Middlesex Jail & House of Correction plans … >More
Recent Press Highlights
In Billerica, a cell block for young men holds promise
November 22, 2017 From The Boston Globe: Early next year, one of the most important criminal justice reform experiments in the country will spread to a stately brick jailhouse in Billerica. The Middlesex Jail and House of Correction will become one of the first in the nation to create a dedicated, service-rich cell block for … >More
Haverhill Mayor Announces Gang Violence Task Force, Visits UTEC in Lowell
From the Merrimack Valley Magazine: Mayor James J. Fiorentini will stress alternative ideas and strategies for addressing gang activity at the inaugural meeting of his Gang Violence Task Force. Fiorentini recently visited the nationally-acclaimed UTEC youth program in Lowell, and plans to take steps to bring a similar model to Haverhill. UTEC offers jobs and … >More
May 9, 2017 From the Lowell Sun: LOWELL — Local nonprofits Girls Inc. and UTEC will each receive substantial funding every year for the next decade as part of a new grant award, creating a degree of financial stability that will allow them to focus on long-term plans for the community The Lowell nonprofits were … >More
Kronos commits to 3-year grant to assist UTEC
April 4, 2017 From the Lowell Sun: LOWELL — Members of the Kronos GiveIn- spired team visited UTEC to present a grant award to UTEC’s young people and staff. Kronos made a three- year commitment to UTEC Mattress Recycling, the social enterprise where all UTEC young adults begin their work experience. “This relationship is about … >More
Big ‘snaps’ to Lowell’s leadership
March 13, 2017From the Lowell Sun: It was recently reported that Crime in Lowell fell by 10 percent in 2016 compared to the prior year. In fact, Cheif Justice Ralph Gants of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court praised the efforts of local officials for such continued decrease in gang and criminal activity during his recent … >More
The Secret to this Social enterprise’s Success Springs from Old Mattresses
February 24, 2017From 90.0 WBUR: The drafty riverside warehouse in Lawrence looks like a scene out of the Hans Christian Andersen fable “The Princess and the Pea” — the place is stacked nearly floor to ceiling with mattresses. “There’s, I believe, around 700 mattresses on our floor right now, and we have more coming in … >More
Democratic Mass. Senators Lay Out Bevy of Criminal Justice Proposals
February 16, 2017From 90.9 WBUR: Just days before a long-awaited review of the Massachusetts criminal justice system is set to be released, several Democratic state senators on Thursday detailed their policy proposals for criminal justice reform, which they say will be a major priority this legislative session. Legislative leaders commissioned the Council of State Governments … >More
Bills seek to lift criminal justice age
February 13, 2017From the Lowell Sun: BOSTON — Jeff Alvarezremembers how he often got into trouble as a teenager in Lawrence. He spent three months on the streets and later two years in an Essex County lockup. Alvarez, now 23, is a member of Lowell based nonprofit UTEC that helps 13 young adults through education … >More
Eddie Mercado’s disappearance has left big void at UTEC
February 7, 2017From the Lowell Sun: LOWELL — If you’ve hung around UTEC and the youth organizing community in the last decade, you probably know Eddie Mercado. A regular at UTEC on Warren Street, he was a voice for youth involvement in Lowell. “He made voting cool for our young people,” said Gregg Croteau, UTEC’s … >More