‘Unacceptable’: Gov. Healey launches independent review of shelter system after criminal activity
Gov. Maura Healey announced Friday afternoon that an independent review of the state’s shelter system will be conducted considering recent criminal activity.
Former Boston Police Commissioner Ed Davis will oversee the investigation that will take a closer look at every shelter across Massachusetts.
Inspections have reportedly already begun at every location across the Bay State. Healey claims roughly 22,000 individuals are in the state’s shelter system.
The announcement comes one week after an undocumented immigrant from the Dominican Republic was allegedly found with an assault rifle, ammunition, and drugs like cocaine and fentanyl in a Revere shelter.
Healey called the system statewide strained and taxed.
“We inherited an unprecedented situation,” said Healey. “I want Ed Davis to have a full look at everything and report back to me in the very near term about what additional steps we should take and put in place.”
The governor ordered Criminal Offender Record information checks to be performed by state emergency shelters.
During the press conference, she revealed they were only being done at overflow shelters.
She explained, “I was recently informed by my team that that did not happen at all sights and that’s absolutely unacceptable.”
Massachusetts GOP spokesman Logan Trupiano called the announcement a glaring failure.
“Conducting CORI checks should have been the first step in overseeing the intake of taxpaying funding shelters,” Trupiano told Boston 25 Friday. “Either the governor was aware of the lack of CORI checks … Or she did not know what her administration was doing.”
According to the Boston Globe, between January 2023 and August 2024, records show more than 1,000 serious incidents at state shelters. Allegations include incidents of domestic violence, rape, and sexual assault.
Healey finished, “Massachusetts taxpayers should not be picking up the bill for our broken immigration system.”
The governor hopes the inspections will be complete in the next 30 days.
She wanted to make it clear Massachusetts is not a sanctuary state.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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