Massachusetts Sentencing Commission

The Massachusetts Sentencing Commission's mission is to promote truth in sentencing by formulating uniform sentencing policies, developing systematic sentencing guidelines, and integrating intermediate sanctions within the sentencing guidelines.

About the Massachusetts Sentencing Commission

The Massachusetts Sentencing Commission was established in April 1994, by the "truth in sentencing" law, Chapter 432 of the Acts of 1993. The provisions that created the commission and established its mandates were revised and codified as M.G.L. c. 211E. The commission is made up of 15 members, including 3 judges, 3 prosecutors, and 3 defense counsel, along with representatives from the Executive Office of Public Safety, the Massachusetts Sheriff's Association, the Department of Correction, the Parole Board, the Office of the Commissioner of Probation, and the Victim Witness Assistance Board.

Learn more about the Massachusetts Sentencing Commission 

Contact Us

Address

John Adams Courthouse
One Pemberton Square - G300
Boston, MA 02108

Sentencing Commission resources

Board members

Commission members

Voting members

Voting commission members

  • Voting commission member

    Hon. Lynn Rooney

    Associate Justice, Superior Court

  • Voting commission member

    Hon. Samir Zaganjori

    Associate Justice, Boston Municipal Court

  • Voting commission member

    Jennifer Kirshenbaum

    Assistant Attorney General

  • Voting commission member

    Marianne Shelvey

    First Assistant District Attorney, Berkshire County

  • Voting commission member

    Kelleen Forlizzi

    Assistant District Attorney, Eastern District

  • Voting commission member

    John H. Cunha, Esq. 

    Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

  • Voting commission member

    Shira Diner, Esq. 

    Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

  • Voting commission member

    Carolyn McGowan  

    Senior Trial Counsel, Committee for Public Counsel Services

Ex officio members

Ex officio commission members

  • Ex officio member

    Charles W. Anderson

    Deputy General Counsel, Massachusetts Department of Correction

  • Ex officio member

    Kirk G. Hanson

    Legal Chief of Staff, Massachusetts Probation Service

  • Ex officio member

    Liam Lowney

    Executive Director, Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVA)

  • President

    Patrick W. McDermott

    President, Massachusetts Sheriffs Association

  • Ex-officio member

    Pending Appointment

    Massachusetts Sheriff's Association

  • Ex-officio member

    Pending Appointment

    Massachusetts Department of Correction

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