“ Now I’ m 82 years old, 53 of those years in prison … at a cost of $ 44,000 annually to taxpayers. I am no threat to the public... how is public safety being served?”
Ronald Johnson MCI Shirley P. O. Box 1218 Shirley, MA 01464-1218
“ Now I’ m 82 years old, 53 of those years in prison … at a cost of $ 44,000 annually to taxpayers. I am no threat to the public... how is public safety being served?”
INCARCERATION & COMMUTATION PLEAS PART 2 of 3
I succeeded in all of the programs that I participated in. I continued to
work hard in maintaining a trouble free institutional record despite the prison environment, Because of my stellar institutional record the Commutation Board was willing to review my case and take a vote to support a commutation hearing. Ms. Joyce Murphy, the Commutation Board Coordinator, discussed this situation with me at MCI Framingham. Then after discussing my case, I was called before the Commutation Committee and a unanimous decision was reached to support me in my attempt to obtain a commutation. On or about January 6, 1982 MCI Framingham was closing down for all male prisoners. Even though I had no disciplinary sanctions that would prevent me from a lateral transfer to another minimum security prison I was brought back to MCI Walpole until March 18, 1982. At that time I was transferred to Northeast Correctional Center, better known as MCI Concord Farm Minimum security.
I had my first commutation petition after 18 years of incarceration in April 1982, which was denied by the Commutation Board, saying " it was too soon ". Incidentally, my codefendant was granted a commutation four years earlier in 1978 by Governor King who was also in office when I was denied a commutation without a hearing at a later date:
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On or about August 30, 1982, I got transferred to. South Middlesex Prerelease Center( SMPRC). This was a minimum security and I was placed there under a cadre cook status, working 12-14 hours a day in the kitchen. I continued to receive furloughs such as going to the registry of motor vehicles to take my driver’ s license test, being permitted to go to Kingdom Hall church services in Framingham without a: furlough sponsor, and even allowed to go deep sea fishing in Gloucester, MA on a boat called " The Capt. Bob." All my time there I continued to have no disciplinary problems. In fact, I received praise and support letters from people at all levels within the DOC; such people as: Deputy Commissioner of Corrections Luis Berman; Associate Commissioner Fred Butterworth; Superintendent Alvin Jones; Deputy Superintendent George Madden; Head Social Worker George Ragus; and Correctional Counselor Joyce Murphy from MCI Framingham. Ms. Murphy is currently president of Carney Hospital, 2100 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, MA 02124.
On February 21, 1984 I was recommended for Bay State Correctional Center which was a minimum security institution. While I was there I was placed on the outside renovation crew which meant I traveled throughout the State moving or working for different government agencies such as: 1. Environmental Quality on Winter St. in downtown Boston. 2. State House on a regular basis, moving furniture to different rooms and departments as well as planting flowers on the grounds outside the building. 3. Westborough State Hospital, re-