SPRINGFIELD – Mayor Domenic Sarno has lobbied the leadership of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary directly in favor of a bill that could help prosecutors appeal low bails that allow repeat offenders to easily return to the streets.

State Rep. Angelo Puppolo explained to Reminder Publications he was optimistic the bill might receive a recommendation from the committee, although he cautioned the committee is “the busiest committee in the House.”

He said there has been a hearing about the bill last month, which he said is a good sign for the progress the bill is making through the Legislature.

Puppolo said there are “no shortages of instances” in which a repeat offender has been released. He called the issue “a revolving door.”

He added, “I know the concerns.” He explained there are issues about damaging the civil liberties of the accused and their right to bail.

Puppolo, however, emphasized, “I’m doing all I can to move it forward.”

Sarno reacted to an incident he described in a press statement on July 11. According to the statement released by his office, “Mayor Domenic J. Sarno states that he is livid on another repeat violent gun offender, Maurice Bailey, being released on low bail, to be put right back on our streets. He said, “The defendant states that it’s not his gun – ‘who’s is it – the Pope’s?!’ You mark my words and I hope I’m wrong, but he’ll reoffend and someone will get hurt and/or killed. The court system ‘is tying one hand behind our backs’ on Commissioner Barbieri’s, our brave and dedicated men and women in blue, and my continued war on crime, which by the way, has resulted in a nearly 20 percent decrease in overall crime in Springfield. More than ever, we need our state legislators to move on my proposed bail legislation ASAP.”

In the letter Sarno wrote to William N. Brownsberger and Claire D. Cronin, the co-chairs of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary on July 12, he said, “On behalf of the city of Springfield, Police Commissioner John Barbieri and all of our brave and dedicated men and women of our Springfield Police Department, I am writing in support of legislation filed by Representative Angelo Puppolo.  HB 940: An Act Relative to the Commonwealth’s Right to Appeal Bail Decisions.

“HB 940 was filed after an alarming trend of repeat violent offenders returning to the streets after having to meet and comply with little to any bail after arraignment.  Just recently, another repeat violent gun offender was put back on our city streets with low bail after being held on gun charges – carrying a firearm without a license (second offense) and possession of a high-capacity feeding device.  The city of Springfield has seen a nearly 20 percent decrease in overall crime.  Incidents such as this though, severely hinder our city’s efforts of getting these repeat violent offenders off our streets. 

“This legislation will help put the Commonwealth on equal footing with defendants as it relates to the ability of appealing bail set in District Court.  It would give our District Attorney’s such as our own Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni, the needed tools to even the playing field by allowing the Commonwealth to, as defendants can, appeal to Superior Court and/or a single justice of the State Supreme Court.

“Anything your committee can do to pass HB 940 favorable, would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you for your continued efforts and leadership on behalf of the Commonwealth and the city of Springfield,” the mayor concluded.