Gov. Deval Patrick has signed into law a crime bill with a so-called three strikes provision barring parole for repeat violent offenders.
By BOB SALSBERG
Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Deval Patrick has signed into law a crime bill with a so-called three strikes provision barring parole for repeat violent offenders.
A spokeswoman for the governor said Patrick signed the bill Thursday morning in a private ceremony in his Statehouse office. The signing was not listed on his schedule and there was no public announcement prior to the event.
Among those present for the signing, according to the spokeswoman, was Les Gosule, whose daughter was raped and murdered in 1999 by a man with 27 prior convictions. Gosule has advocated for the three strikes provision for the past 13 years.
The bill passed by the Legislature in the final days of the session also reduces some mandatory minimum sentences for non-violent drug offenders.