Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has signed into law a crime bill with a so-called three strikes provision. WAMC’s Paul Tuthill reports.
A spokesman said Gov Patrick signed the bill Thursday morning in a private ceremony in his office. The bill, which bars parole after a person’s third conviction for a serious violent crime, had been a point of conflict between the Governor and legislators. Patrick announced on the last day of the legislative session he would sign the bill thus avoiding a veto showdown.
Present for the bill signing was a leading crime victim’s advocate, Les Gosule. His daughter Mellissa was raped and murdered in 1999 by a man who had 27 prior convictions.
