Who We Are
The Massachusetts Parole Preparation Partnership (MPPP) helps people serving life sentences, with the possibility of parole, prepare for their parole hearings and live successfully in the community.
MPPP is inspired by the Parole Preparation Project in New York. We are run by a nine-member Board of Directors composed of people both on the outside and on the inside.
MPPP’s Work
MPPP matches teams of two or three MPPP volunteers, called Partners, with parole petitioners. Together, Partners and parole petitioners work together to prepare for parole hearings approximately 12-18 months prior to the petitioner’s hearing. Partners are supervised by experienced parole attorneys. Partners remain connected with people on parole as they re-enter the community. This partnership provides critical support to people returning from prison and decrease recidivism. MPPP currently works with parole petitioners at MCI Norfolk and MCI Shirley. MPPP plans to expand to eventually have the capacity to work with parole petitioners in all of the Massachusetts Department of Correction prisons.
"My Partners are truly a blessing. Their support has helped me to do the tough work of looking inside myself. They have helped me build my confidence to sit in front of the Parole Board and eventually reintegrate into the community."
- MPPP Participant
MPPP Partners assist parole petitioners, but do not represent them at their hearings nor provide legal advice. Rather, Partners work alongside and collaborate with parole petitioners. Partners’ work includes: identifying potential family and community support for their release on parole, assisting with reaching out to potential supporters, creating strong re-entry plans, collating information into a packet in support of the individual’s release, and helping parole petitioners prepare to testify at their parole hearing. Partners may also choose to testify at the parole petitioner’s parole hearing.
Partners meet with parole petitioners in the prison’s confidential attorney rooms, over Zoom, and also communicate via telephone and mail. All communication is confidential.