Governor's Council is an 8-member body that approves state judges, Parole Board members, and Industrial Accident Board members.  Paul DePalo is an attorney, former Special Education teacher who developed and taught in alternative programing for at-risk teens, father of two daughters, and member of the Worcester Planning Board.

Crime prevention starts in juvenile court: let's end the trauma-to-prison pipeline.

Kids dealing with trauma, abuse, and lack of stability are most likely to be referred to our courts. 

Once there, consequences for typical teenage behavior escalate and escalate, and statistics show that these kids are likely to be in jail as adults. We spend $60k/year to lock someone up, when we could spend far less early in these kids' lives to put them on paths of opportunity, not of incarceration.

Public safety includes tackling mental health and addiction: evidence-based diversion and rehabilitation saves lives, saves money, and reduces recidivism.

Mental health and addiction have been impacting our communities and justice system for decades. Yet, we've been removing mental health experts from the Parole Board- my vote on the Council will reverse that trend.

Justice in a forward-looking Massachusetts: defend women's rights, workers' rights, and LGBTQ rights against the Trump courts. And address racial disparities in our justice system.

With our federal courts being filled with young, idealogical, lifetime appointed judges, I'll insist on Massachusetts judges who will protect women's rights, workers' rights, and civil rights for everyone in our inclusive Commonwealth. 

We also need more women and people of color on the bench, and to address our justice system's racial disparities. Massachusetts can continue to lead the way in expanding individual liberties & equity under the law.