BOSTON, MA (WBZ-AM) -- Governor Charlie Baker has expressed a need for accountability with judges across the Commonwealth. In an interview with WBZ NewsRadio1030's Ben Parker, Baker expressed the need to broaden the law when it comes to dangerousness proceedings.
On Monday Boston Police Commissioner William Gross expressed concerns how repeat offenders are often back on the street after being arrested and committing more crimes.
“Well I think one of the things we've talked about and we've been talking to District Attorneys and law enforcement folks as well as folks in the court system is we need to do some things to enhance our dangerousness proceedings," Baker said.
Under the current law, Governor Baker said that there are very narrow categories where a dangerousness hearing can be pursued.
"I think we need to broaden those. And our conversations have led us to believe that we do have some statutory fixes we need to pursue to deal with issues like the ones that were raised by Commissioner Gross and by others in the in the law enforcement community, in the criminal justice community and we're going to be filing legislation on that in September," he said.
When asked whether judges ought to be removed if they were letting dangerous people out regularly, Baker said that Judges work within the framework of the law.
"Well part of the issue here is the judges work within the framework of the law and in this particular case I do believe there are some things we need to do statutorily to deal with some of these questions. The judiciary needs to do its own work with respect to its own judges. But a judge that makes a decision that's based on the law. If there's a problem there that occurs. Many cases that's about the law and that's why we think we need to do some things to change our dangerousness statute because it is as Chief Commissioner Gross and others have said there are folks on the street who by all accounts have a background that would imply that they shouldn't be there and that's something we need to fix.”
WBZ NewsRadio1030's Ben Parker reports.