• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Board of Directors
    • LWV Mission Statement
    • Bylaws of the LWVN
    • LWVN Non-Partisan Policy
    • LWVN Diversity Policy
    • LWVN Handbook
    • Annual Meetings
    • Newton League Past Presidents
    • Jane Leighton Volunteer-of-the-Year Award
    • LWVN Scholarship Program
  • News and Events
    • News & Events
    • The League Presents…
    • Newsletters
  • New Member FAQ
  • Contact Us
LWV Newton logo
  • Facebook

Visit us on Facebook!

  • Learn
    • Learn
    • The League Presents…
    • Topic Meetings
    • Newton Civics Challenge
  • Act/Advocate
    • Act/Advocate
    • LWVN Positions and Program
    • Issues We Are Following
    • LWVN Observer Corps
    • LWVN Local Action Log
    • Consensus Studies
    • National and State Positions
  • Vote
    • Vote
    • How to Register to Vote
    • How to Pick a Candidate
    • How, When and Where to Vote
    • Massachusetts Voters Bill of Rights
    • Your Elected Officials
    • Tips for Contacting Elected Officials

Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian on Criminal Justice

November 17, 2019

November 12, 2019 (Tuesday, 7:00-8:30pm) – Sheriff Koutijian on Criminal Justice.  LWVN hosted Middlesex Sheriff Peter Koutoujian at the Angier Elementary School. This forum was co-sponsored by the League of Women Voters from Acton, Arlington, Weston and Winchester. Sheriff Koutoujian spoke to an audience of over 40 people about the work of the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office, partnerships with local law enforcement, and efforts to address the needs of justice-involved individuals with substance use and mental health disorders. He also discussed innovative programs for incarcerated military veterans and young adult offenders.

Though the Sheriff spoke about multiple programs, the descriptions of which can be found on the  Middlesex Sheriff Office – Programming  website. However there are two highlighted below:

Landmark Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) pilot program  “Arresting and incarcerating our way out of addiction is not – and has never been – an option,” said Middlesex Sheriff, and Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association President, Peter J. Koutoujian, who worked with legislators last year to craft the language for the pilot.   “Massachusetts sheriffs have been at the forefront of this crisis, implementing innovative and evidence-based initiatives aimed at improving the health outcomes of justice-involved individuals with opioid use disorder.  This pilot is the thoughtful, comprehensive next step and one that is being watched by colleagues not just here in the Commonwealth, but across the country.”  As part of the pilot, individuals entering facilities in the seven counties on any of the three FDA-approved MAT regimens (buprenorphine, methadone or naltrexone) will have the ability to continue their treatment regimen while incarcerated, unless determined otherwise by a qualified addiction specialist.  Sentenced inmates not on a verified MAT regimen at the time of their commitment may also be evaluated for participation 30 days prior to their scheduled release.

The Housing Unit for Military Veterans – or HUMV  – opened in January 2016 and is the first correctional unit in Massachusetts specifically designed for individuals who have served in the military.  The unit is open to both sentenced inmates and pretrial detainees, who have served at home or abroad.  HUMV was conceived and designed as a collaborative effort of the Middlesex Sheriff’s Office together with incarcerated Veterans with a goal of treating and preparing them for successful reentry. HUMV’s barracks-style layout, combined with wellness and treatment programs, as well as guest speakers allow Veterans to call on their camaraderie and their shared military experiences to address the challenges which have led to their incarceration. HUMV is similar to a modified therapeutic community, where a typical day includes lectures and cognitive behavioral therapy groups, among other programs.  Participants also have regular meetings with state and federal Veterans affairs representatives, substance abuse treatment, vocational and employment readiness training. HUMV staff work with offenders to create individualized comprehensive reentry plans which address the specific needs of each Veteran and regularly works with the Veterans Court to divert appropriate cases. With this unit, we are helping those who have served our nation find their way to better days.

Special thanks go to :

  • Alice Donisi-Feehan who was instrumental in pulling this very successful and informative evening together.
  • Frieda Dweck, Sue Flicop, Karen Manning, and Lisa Mirable for the multi-media promotional effort.
  • Our co-Spoonsors: the League of Women Voters of Arlington, Norwood, Sudbury, Wayland, and Weston

 

 

Categories: Events, Topic Meetings

Primary Sidebar

Support LWVN

Join/Renew
Donate

Election Info

The State Primary is Tuesday, September 6.  Don't forget to VOTE!

  • Register to vote
  • How to Vote
  • Find your polling location
  • Absentee Ballots

Upcoming Events

  • There are no upcoming events.

2021 LWVN Member Handbook

An electronic version LWVN Member Handbook is now available.  Expect an updated handbook for 2022-23 in the late Fall.

LWV Mass. & US

LWV MA LWV US

Watch “The League Presents…”

The League Presents... is a monthly program on NewTV produced and directed by LWVN members about issues important to our community.

  • The League Presents: A conversation with Carol Moore, Newton’s City Clerk and Clerk of the City Council
  • The League Presents: Zoning Redesign, part 1
  • The League Presents: Newton’s Citizens Commission on Energy
  • The League Presents: What it means to be a League of Women Voters member
  • The League Presents: A Conversation with Three New School Committee Members

All past programs

Take Action & Contact Your Legislators

  • Support An Act Promoting Community Immunity
  • Support Public Health Measures 
  • Support Racial and Gender Parity
  • Take Action on the Votes Act
  • Potential Cuts to MBTA Service

Posts by Category

  • VOTE – Voters Service
    • Elections
    • Candidate Forums
    • Voter Registration
  • LEARN – Topics of Interest
    • Charter Commission
    • Community Preservation
    • Education
    • Environmental Issues
    • Housing
    • Land Use
    • Municipal Finance
    • Transportation
    • Women’s Suffrage
  • ACT – Action & Advocacy
    • Local Action Log
    • Consensus Studies – MA
    • Consensus Studies – Newton
    • Consensus Studies – US
  • City of Newton Info
    • City Council Meetings: Docket Digest
    • Observer Notes

Facebook Posts

Ellen Auerbach Grody
Ellen Auerbach Grody

June 28th, 11:33 am

Thank you for the recent letter to the mayor:LWVN Board Concurs with Newton Citizens Commission on Energy’s Memo Rejecting Newton Cemetery’s Tree Removal RequestJune 24, 2022On June 24, 2022, LWVN sent an email to Mayor Fuller expressing our our agreement with the Newton Citizens Commission on Energy (NCCE)’s memo of June 20th stating “We are writing to you regarding the Newton Cemetery’ request for exemption from the Tree Preservation Ordinance. We urge you to stand with the Director of Urban Forestry in denying that request and any waiver of its consequences. We also urge you to ask the City Council to revise the ordinance language to clarify their intent that the Tree Preservation Ordinance not exclude any property owners from its provisions.” ... See MoreSee Less
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

League of Women Voters of Newton, MA
League of Women Voters of Newton, MA

June 22nd, 6:26 pm

Breaking News: Governor Baker Signs VOTES Act Into Law - https://mailchi.mp/56363aee24bf/votes_act_update-8901645 ... See MoreSee Less

Breaking News: Governor Baker Signs VOTES Act Into Law

mailchi.mp

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

League of Women Voters of Newton, MA
League of Women Voters of Newton, MA

June 21st, 11:26 am

Newton Public Facilities Meeting: New Pipelines and Gas Valve Safety - https://mailchi.mp/ceafe522986a/newton-public-facilities-meeting-new-pipelines-and-gas-valve-safety ... See MoreSee Less

Newton Public Facilities Meeting: New Pipelines and Gas Valve Safety

mailchi.mp

View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

League of Women Voters of Newton, MA
League of Women Voters of Newton, MA

June 13th, 10:33 am

LWVN has launched an important new "Municipal Transparency and Accountability Initiative". Learn more here!: https://lwvnewton.org/2022/06/… ... See MoreSee Less

Municipal Transparency and Accountability Initiative: Mission Statement and Goals - League of Women Voters Newton

lwvnewton.org

Throughout its 102-year history, the League of Women Voters has been a vigorous advocate for transparent and accountable government. The League strongly believes that transparency and accountability i...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

League of Women Voters of Newton, MA
League of Women Voters of Newton, MA

June 9th, 10:12 am

Important Update: VOTES ACT Released from Conference Committee - https://mailchi.mp/6365b29fa297/votes_act_update ... See MoreSee Less

Important Update: VOTES ACT Released from Conference Committee

mailchi.mp

Boston, MA — The Massachusetts VOTES Act Conference Committee today released its version of the comprehensive election reform bill, which will now head to the House and Senate for final procedural...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan political organization encouraging the informed and active participation of citizens in government. It influences public policy through education and advocacy.

© 2022 League of Women Voters® Newton | P.O. Box 610207, Newton, MA 02461 | info@lwvnewton.org

Site by Tech-Tamer | Log in