E X E C U T I V E
D I R E C T O R ’ S
M E S S A G E
J o h n F. K y n e s - H i l l s b o r o u g h C o u n t y B a r A s s o c i a t i o n
Criminal Justice reform advocate
adam Foss inspires, Challenges lawyers
at diversity Membership luncheon
S
“in the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies,
but the silence of our friends.”
— dr. Martin luther king, Jr.
He cited the staggering statistics related to incarceration
tating that the current criminal justice system
in the U.S., such as the fact that there are 2.3 million
in the U.S., which encourages mass incarcer -
people currently in prison, with another five million on
ation, has created the “greatest human rights
probation or parole.
and civil rights crisis of our time,” justice
One of three black men born today will spend time
reform advocate Adam Foss called on HCBA
in prison, Foss added.
members to speak out and help improve the lives of others
Foss also shared how his upbringing and his brush
around them.
with the law have shaped his views and helped make him
“The thing that strikes me most about mass
a fierce advocate for reform.
incarceration is, yes, it is harming them, but it is also
Foss said he grew up an orphan
harming us,” Foss said,
who by “the luck of the draw” was
referring to the people
adopted by loving parents who lived
caught up in the prison
in a white working-class neighbor -
pipeline. “We are depriving
hood in the Boston suburbs.
ourselves of their creativity,
At one low point in his early
of their relationships, of
life, he was caught trafficking
their leadership.”
marijuana by his father, who was
“We are in danger [as a
a police officer.
nation]. … We are not doing
But Foss said he was shown
enough to stop this tide,”
Foss said.
mercy and not subjected to the
court system and being labeled a
Foss’ remarks came
convicted drug felon, with limited
during his keynote address
at the HCBA’s Diversity
prospects for the future outside
Adam Foss speaking to attendees
Membership Luncheon in
of prison.
at
the
Diversity
Membership
Luncheon.
January.
“I didn’t know how close I was
A former prosecutor with
to the precipice of a black hole
the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office in Boston,
that thousands and thousands of people who look just
Foss has been traveling extensively in recent years, talking
like me fall down every single year,” Foss said.
to groups about diversity issues and the need for criminal
“I didn’t know how close I was to my life being over,
justice reform.
but it wasn’t, and I’m here.”
In 2016, Foss founded a nonprofit called Prosecutor
Foss said because of the love and support he received
Impact with the mission of improving community safety
from his parents, he was able to graduate from college
through more effective education and training for
and go to law school.
criminal prosecutors and helping them better understand
After graduating from law school, he took a position
their role in the justice system.
at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, where
In his remarks, Foss talked about the racial disparities
he worked for nine years.
that exist in the criminal justice system and the
consequences of mass incarceration.
Continued on page 11
10
MAR - APR 2019
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HCBA LAWYER