Will Healey Address Her Parole Board Failures?

Healey-appointed board continues to grant early release to violent offenders, including convicted murderers

BOSTON — Gov. Maura Healey is facing renewed scrutiny over her administration’s oversight of the Massachusetts Parole Board, which has granted parole to dozens of violent offenders, including convicted murderers, since the start of 2025.

 

“The Memorial Drive shooting is a direct result of what happens when you have a soft-on-crime parole board, a majority of which were appointed by Healey,” said Amy Carnevale, Chair of the Massachusetts Republican Party.

 

“Governor Healey needs to directly address this situation that she has created,” Carnevale said. “While individuals may be eligible for parole, that does not mean they should be granted it.”

 

As of mid-May, at least 60 convicted murderers, primarily those convicted of first-degree murder or as accessories to murder, have been granted parole in Massachusetts since January 2025, according to the Boston Herald. Approvals have continued through 2026 for offenders convicted of additional serious violent crimes.

 

Parole approval rates have climbed under the current board’s leadership, even as communities raise alarm over the reintegration of high-risk offenders back into their neighborhoods.

 

“Public safety must remain the priority,” Carnevale added. “Governor Healey’s Parole Board is releasing violent criminals, some who received life sentences, leaving victims’ families to relive their losses and placing Massachusetts communities at risk.”

 

Candidates at every level are calling for a renewed focus on keeping Massachusetts communities safe.

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