News  MPS’ Pretrial Services Unit provides cellphones and access to justice

The Pretrial Services Unit, a department of the Massachusetts Probation Service (MPS), is making cellphones accessible to clients through the Smart Phone Equal Access Connect (SPEAC) Program.

SPEAC was funded through a Massachusetts Trial Court Innovation grant.

The cellphones may be used by individuals enrolled in MassHealth/Health Connector, court-users to receive e-reminders for upcoming court dates, or by individuals who were recently released from detention or incarceration and need to connect with re-entry services.

The Pretrial Services Unit—managed by Dr. Carmen Gomez, Deputy Commissioner-Pretrial Services—includes Operations Coordinators Jameson Dorrine, Shawnta Reid, Daniel Klein, Edward Colon, and Donna Wilson; Mahlet Kebede, Administrative Secretary; and Natalie Lorenti, Pretrial Administrator.

Learn more about the S.P.E.A.C. Program.