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ROUNDUP
BASEBALL
Aidan Murphy threw a no-hitter, and Ben Meade hit two home runs as Weston topped Bedford 9-0 in Dual County League action. … Matt Mahoney had a monster day for Lincoln-Sudbury, tossing a perfect game with nine strikeouts before hitting a three-run homer to end a 12-0 win over Newton South in five innings.
Sophomore Ronan Sullivan allowed one hit and struck out two over six innings as Dover-Sherborn (7-6) bested Holliston 12-1 in Tri-Valley League play.
Josh Doney struck out nine over a complete-game two-hitter, and Jared Paone hit a two-run double in the fifth inning to lift St. Mary’s (Lynn) (10-0) to a 2-0 Catholic Central League win over Arlington Catholic. … Dillon Darnbrough hit a walkoff single to lift Bishop Feehan to a 4-3 come-from-behind win over Cardinal Spellman.
Matthew Cairns surrendered one earned run while striking out eight over six innings, and Andrew Haddigan (3-3, RBI), Nick Studevant (two hits) and Joey Tully (two RBI) paced the Southeastern offense in a 6-4 Mayflower Athletic Conference win over Tri-County.
Junior catcher Brady Hargreaves went 3-for-3 and drove in a run for Xaverian (8-3) in a 6-2 Catholic Conference victory over Catholic Memorial. … Junior designated hitter Gustavo Bosques homered, stole a base, and scored two runs, and senior right fielder Chris Mondesir hit a two-run double, stole three bases and scored a run as BC High (9-2) beat Malden Catholic 14-2 in five innings.
In the Patriot League, D.C. Brown had a 12-strikeout performance as Plymouth North notched its seventh in a row with a 6-0 shutout over Marshfield. … Ryan Baker hit a game-tying, two-run double in the sixth inning, and Dan Joyce walked it off with his own double for Whitman-Hanson (8-4) in a 5-4 win over Silver Lake. … Lucas Bartlett struck out four and surrendered four hits and one earned run on two walks over seven innings pitched as Plymouth South (4-8) topped North Quincy, 4-1.
Cal Youhas hit a bases loaded, two-out walkoff single to give Braintree (11-1) a 3-2 Bay State Conference win over Framingham. … Alex Hee struck out seven and gave up just two hits as Walpole (10-2) won 11-0 over Wellesley in five innings.
Zach Alex got the win with four innings pitched, two earned runs, seven hits allowed, and one strikeout as Swampscott defeated Beverly, 5-4, in a Northeastern Conference contest.
In the Merrimack Valley Conference, Mike Phelps hit his first home run and Luke Yorba got his first win as North Andover defeated Haverhill 4-3. … Sean Napolitano scattered four hits, and Alex Berman and Will Norris finished with three RBI each for Andover in a 10-4 win over Methuen. … Phil Lombardi went 3-for-3 with two doubles and 3 RBI while Cam Kingston collected two hits and 3 RBI to lead Tewksbury to a 12-8 win over Central Catholic.
Gio Martello smashed a home run and Brady Paradis batted 3-for-5 with two RBI for North Attleboro in a 12-0 Hockomock League win over Attleboro.
BOYS LACROSSE
Joey McCarthy scored four goals and dished two assists, pairing with five points from Matt Panttila (three assists) to lead Norwell in a 16-3 South Shore League win over East Bridgewater.
In the Mayflower Athletic Conference, Brendan Cooper, Colton Penticost, and Peyton Volz netted four goals each as Southeastern defeated Westport, 18-2.
Kenny Wisniewski (five goals, five assists), Jake Cusson (three goals, four assists), Kevin O’Connor (three goals, two assists, 14 faceoff wins), Will Levrault (three goals, assist) and Nathan Navaga (three goals) guided Apponequet (7-2) offensively in a 21-8 South Coast Conference win over Dighton-Rehoboth.
Jack Connolly netted a hat trick, and Kurt Moniz and Devon Mahoney scored two goals each as Sandwich bested Whitman-Hanson 8-5 in a nonleague matchup.
GIRLS LACROSSE
Somerset Berkley earned the program’s first win in its inaugural season, beating Seekonk 6-5 in South Coast Conference action behind a hat trick and an assist from Addie Finlaw. … Cece Levrault (five goals), Addie Taylor (four goals), Cynthia Morales (two goals) and Celia Hiller (two goals) bolstered the Apponequet (8-1) offense in a 17-16 win over Dighton-Rehoboth.
Clare Latham (six goals), Allie Buonaccorsi (five goals, three assists), Maddy Fitzgerald (three goals, two assists) Emmette Barry (two goals, two assists) and Delaney Berube (two goals) fueled Bishop Feehan (7-4) offensively in a 21-8 Catholic Central League win over Archbishop Williams. … Elle Murphy struck for five goals, and Erin O’Donnell scored three goals and dished two assists as Cardinal Spellman edged Bishop Stang, 9-8. Ava Smith made 12 saves for the Cardinals.
Avery Cobban notched five goals and two assists and Kyla Darmon scored four goals and one assist as Sandwich remained undefeated in a 18-5 non league win over New Bedford.
In a Cape Ann League matchup, Evie Bernard netted six goals and had 15 draw controls as Pentucket defeated Hamilton Wenham, 13-12, in overtime.
Sofia Grasso scored five goals and had two assists as South Shore Tech topped Old Colony, 13-5, in the Mayflower League Conference.
During a game dedicated to Alyssa Fluet, Brooke Carter (four goals), Kiera Fitzpatrick (four goals), and Kate Fitzpatrick (three goals) all found the net as Methuen bested Dracut, 18-2, in a Merrimack Valley Conference contest.
SOFTBALL
Abby Bettencourt’s 11-strikeout no-hitter not only led Peabody to a 6-0 Northeastern Conference win over Marblehead, but also broke the school’s record for career strikeouts with her 625th.
Julia Cohen was the winning pitcher with two strikeouts as Bishop Feehan shut out Cardinal Spellman, 10-0, in the Catholic Central League. … Michaela Walker and Roma Braid homered, and Gabby Marichal went 2-for-3 with four RBI and three runs scored for St. Mary’s (Lynn) (5-3) during an 18-3 victory over Arlington Catholic.
Taylor Marino went 2-for-5 with three RBI at the plate and got the win in the circle by working around a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the 7th as Oliver Ames edged Foxboro 7-6 in a Hockomock League clash.
Emma Penniman struck out nine and finished with two hits and four RBI at the plate, while Kyla Story (grand slam, five RBI) and Alex McManus (three runs scored) added to the offensive explosion for Triton (6-3) in a 21-0 Cape Ann League win over Georgetown.
Sophomore Gracie Delucia (three-run home run), junior Katie Anderson (solo home run, two-run triple) and junior Olivia Klaus (3-for-3, two RBI) powered Medway (6-3) to a 10-7 Tri-Valley League win over Hopkinton.
Senior Kaelyn Chase (4-for-4, three runs), senior McKenzie Foley (three hits, double, two runs, two RBI), junior Noey Giardina (2-for-3, two walks, two runs, four RBI), senior Erin Condon (two hits, three RBI) and sophomore Abby Minasi (2-for-3, double) cashed in on the fun offensively, and sophomore Paisley Stevens won her first start for Hanover (4-5) in a 17-5 nonleague win over Scituate.
Shakura Lynch drove in two runs and Sadie Steuterman batted 2-for-4 to lead Milton (9-0) in a 7-3 Bay State Conference win over Natick. … Junior Caroline Doran (2-for-4, three RBI) and senior Susie McAdams (2-for-2, two runs) set the tone for Walpole in a 6-1 win over Wellesley.
Cam Cloonan (4-for-5, two RBI, 3 runs, Caleigh Cloonan (2-for-3, RBI, three runs, one walk), Lucy Latour (3-for-4, double, five RBI, 2 runs), and Haleigh Kelley (2-for-4, three-run home run, four RBI, one run) played big roles in Dighton-Rehoboth’s 18-hit attack en route to an 18-4 South Coast Conference win over Somerset Berkley.
Jackie Giordiano fanned 11 and allowed four hits over seven innings, while Ella Puleo went 2-for-3 with an RBI single as Brooks downed St. Paul’s (New Hampshire) 2-0 in NEPSAC action.
Aislin Davis, Juliana Cappiello and Avery Della Piana homered as Tewksbury (8-2) rolled to a 16-5 Merrimack Valley Conference win over Dracut.
Emerson Boyd (triple, two singles), Callie Smith (double, two singles) and Ellie Snyder (two triples, two RBI) delivered multi-hit performances, while Shelby Boyd went the distance with five strikeouts and four hits allowed for Plymouth North in a 10-4 Patriot League victory over Marshfield.
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Anthony Rubim (16 service points, two aces, 22 assists,12 digs) and Keegan Doherty (nine kills) set the tone for Greater Lawrence (7-3) in a 3-0 Commonwealth Athletic Conference win over Innovation.
Parth Pawar dished 47 assists and Sai Nallajennugari posted 22 kills as Acton-Boxboro edged Lincoln-Sudbury 3-2.
James Levesque (15 kills) and Drew Eason (14 kills) helped power Methuen (11-1) to a reverse sweep of Chelmsford, 3-2, in Merrimack Valley Conference action.
Owen Fulks and Jaithian Medina notched 13 kills each, and Michael Nguyen provided 25 assists as Central Catholic defeated Greater Lowell 3-2 in a nonleague contest. … Mason Cleary buried 16 kills as BC High topped Latin Academy 3-1. … Chris Milfort posted 23 kills and Josh Sanon added 18, helping Danny Matuszek to a season-best 43 assists and Durfee to a 3-1 win over Taunton. … Henry Bonney erupted again for 23 kills for Cambridge in a 3-1 win over St. John’s Prep.
Larry Claudio supplied 28 assists, and Ruben Rodriguez recorded 10 kills as Revere defeated Medford 3-1 in the Greater Boston League.
SCORES
BASEBALL
Andover 10, Methuen 4
Apponequet 5, Greater New Bedford 0
Barnstable 5, Nauset 0
Billerica 10, Lawrence 8
Bishop Feehan 4, Cardinal Spellman 3
BC High 14, Malden Catholic 2 (5i)
Braintree 3, Framingham 2
Cambridge 10, Wayland 4
Cape Cod Tech 5, Old Colony 1
Clinton 2, Tyngsboro 1
Dartmouth 1, New Bedford 0
Dover-Sherborn 12, Holliston 1
EMK 8, Roxbury Prep 4
Franklin 7, Milford 6
Hanover 8, Scituate 4
Hingham 11, Duxbury 2
Hopkinton 5, Medway 0
King Philip 3, Taunton 1
Leominster 4, Chelmsford 0
Lincoln-Sudbury 12, Newton South 0 (5i)
Lowell 5, Dracut 2
Mansfield 2, Canton 1
Marblehead 7, Saugus 4
Millis 10, Medfield 8
Nantucket 3, Rising Tide 1
North Andover 4, Haverhill 3
North Attleboro 12, Attleboro 0
Pembroke 4, Quincy 0
Pingree 11, Bancroft 0
Plymouth North 6, Marshfield 0
Plymouth South 4, North Quincy 1
Shawsheen 9, Gr. Lawrence 1
St. John’s (S) 8, St. John’s Prep 2
St. Mary’s (L) 2, Arlington Catholic 0
Somerset Berkley 1, Dighton-Rehoboth 0
Southeastern 6, Tri-County 4
Swampscott 5, Beverly 4
Tewksbury 12, Central Catholic 8
Walpole 11, Wellesley 0 (5i)
West Bridgewater 4, Fairhaven 3
Westford 7, Boston Latin 1
Weston 9, Bedford 0
Whitman-Hanson 5, Silver Lake 4
Xaverian 6, Catholic Memorial 2
GIRLS GOLF
Duxbury 6, North Quincy 0
Wellesley 6, Framingham 0
BOYS LACROSSE
Acton-Boxboro 16, Franklin 11
Apponequet 21, Dighton-Rehoboth 8
Cohasset 13, Abington 4
Marblehead 15, Danvers 3
Mashpee 13, Hull 5
Milford 7, Oliver Ames 6 (2ot)
Nantucket 14, Archbishop Williams 3
North Attleboro 17, Attleboro 1
Norwell 16, East Bridgewater 3
Pentucket 17, Hamilton-Wenham 4
Reading 15, Watertown 0
Sandwich 8, Whitman-Hanson 5
Sharon 20, Stoughton 4
Southeastern 18, Westport 2
Winchester 17, Wakefield 5
GIRLS LACROSSE
Apponequet 17, Dighton-Rehoboth 16 (ot)
Attleboro 17, North Attleboro 4
Belmont 13, Burlington 12
Bishop Feehan 21, Archbishop Williams 8
Cardinal Spellman 9, Bishop Stang 8
Dracut 8, North Andover 7
Methuen 18, Dracut 2
Nobles 14, Thayer 8
North Reading 9, Winthrop 2
Oliver Ames 21, Milford 16
Pentucket 13, Hamilton-Wenham 12 (ot)
Rivers 12, St. Mark’s 4
St. Mary’s (L) 11, Tewksbury 8
Sandwich 18, New Bedford 5
Somerset Berkley 6, Seekonk 5
South Shore Voke 13, Old Colony 5
Winchester 11, Wakefield 6
SAILING
Nauset 4, Sandwich 0
SOFTBALL
Apponequet 10, Greater New Bedford 2
Bedford 16, Latin Academy 4
Bishop Feehan 10, Cardinal Spellman 0
Bishop Fenwick 3, Archbishop Williams 2 (10i)
Boston International 12, Charlestown 4
Braintree 21, Framingham 5
Brooks 2, St. Paul’s (NH) 0
Central Catholic 31, Lowell 3
Danvers 16, Swampscott 8
Dartmouth 4, New Bedford 3
Dighton-Rehoboth 18, Somerset Berkley 4 (5i)
Essex Tech 13, Hamilton-Wenham 3
Excel 15, Madison Park 12
Fenway 6, TechBoston 6
Hanover 17, Scituate 5
Hingham 5, Duxbury 4
Lynnfield 15, Ipswich 3
Medfield 10, Millis 9
Medway 10, Hopkinton 7
Methuen 10, Andover 2
Milford 11, Franklin 6
Milton 7, Natick 3
Nauset 23, Barnstable 8
Needham 10, Newton North 4
Newburyport 1, Manchester Essex 0
Norton 11, Norwood 3
Oliver Ames 7, Foxboro 6
Peabody 6, Marblehead 0
Plymouth North 10, Marshfield 4
Plymouth South 17, Quincy/North Quincy 1
Rising Tide 19, Nantucket 17
St. Mary’s (L) 18, Arlington Catholic 3
Sturgis 19, St. John Paul II 7
Tahanto 7, Ayer Shirley 5
Taunton 5, King Philip 1
Tewksbury 16, Dracut 5
Triton 21, Georgetown 0 (5i)
Tyngsboro 14, Clinton 2 (5i)
Ursuline 3, O’Bryant 2
Walpole 6, Wellesley 1
BOYS TENNIS
Andover 5, Billerica 0
Arlington 5, Reading 0
Attleboro 4, North Attleboro 1
Beaver Country Day 5, Berwick 0
BC High 5, Catholic Memorial 0
Central Catholic 3, Haverhill 2
Durfee 5, Middleboro 0
Hopkinton 5, Medway 0
Melrose 3, Wilmington 2
Marblehead 3, Gloucester 2
Milton 4, Natick 1
Nauset 4, Dennis-Yarmouth 1
Newton South 3, Lincoln-Sudbury 2
North Andover 4, Lowell 1
North Quincy 3, Plymouth South 2
Oliver Ames 3, Foxboro 2
Plymouth North 5, Marshfield 0
Quincy 5, Pembroke 0
St. John’s Prep 5, Xaverian 0
Wellesley 5, Walpole 0
Westford 3, Boston Latin 2
Weston 3, Bedford 2
Whitman-Hanson 3, Silver Lake 2
GIRLS TENNIS
Belmont 4, Wilmington 1
Beverly 3, Swampscott 2
Braintree 5, Framingham 0
BB&N 6, Thayer Academy 3
Central Catholic 5, Chelmsford 0
Clinton 4, Littleton 1
Danvers 5, Winthrop 0
Diman 3, Wareham 2
Duxbury 3, Hingham 2
Lexington 5, Winchester 0
Lynnfield 5, Triton 0
Malden 5, Medford 0
Marblehead 5, Gloucester 0
Milton 3, Natick 2
Monomoy 5, Barnstable 0
Nauset 5, Dennis-Yarmouth 0
Newton North 3, Braintree 2
Newton South 3, Lincoln-Sudbury 2
North Quincy 5, Plymouth South 0
North Reading 3, Malden Catholic 2
Norwell 5, Sandwich 0
Oliver Ames 5, Foxboro 0
Pembroke 4, Quincy 1
Tewksbury 5, Lowell 0
Wellesley 5, Walpole 0
Weston 5, Bedford 0
BOYS TRACK
Central Catholic 94, Haverhill 51
Ipswich 73, Hamilton-Wenham 70
Lawrence 83, Billerica 62
Natick 74, Wellesley 62
Pentucket 104, Essex Tech 32
Weston 97, Boston Latin 45
Xaverian 90, St. John’s (S) 46
GIRLS TRACK
Essex Tech 79.5, Pentucket 56.5
Ipswich 77, Hamilton-Wenham 66
Lowell 88, Andover 57
Plymouth North 76, Whitman-Hanson 60
Walpole 69, Brookline 67
Weymouth 81.33, Braintree 54.66
Wellesley 92, Natick 44
Weston 110, Boston Latin 29
BOYS VOLLEYBALL
Acton-Boxboro 3, Lincoln-Sudbury 2
BC High 3, Latin Academy 1
Cambridge 3, St. John’s Prep 1
Central Catholic 3, Greater Lowell 2
Durfee 3, Taunton 1
Greater Lawrence 3, Innovation 0
Lowell 3, Westford Academy 0
Lynn Classical 3, Everett 1
Malden 3, Chelsea 0
Medfield 3, Norwood 0
Methuen 3, Chelmsford 2
North Quincy 3, Brockton 1
Randolph 3, Madison Park 2
Revere 3, Medford 1
Wellesley 3, O’Bryant 0
Coaches are encouraged to report their scores and highlights in a timely manner to hssports@bostonherald.com
Health
Massachusetts health officials have confirmed the state’s first two measles cases of the year, a school-aged child and a Greater Boston adult.
The Department of Public Health announced the cases Friday, marking the first report of measles in Massachusetts since 2024.
According to health officials, the adult who was diagnosed returned home recently from abroad and had an “uncertain vaccination history.” While infectious, the person visited several locations where others were likely exposed to the virus, and health officials said they are working to identify and notify anyone affected
The child, meanwhile, is a Massachusetts resident who was exposed to the virus and diagnosed with measles out-of-state, where they remain during the infectious period. Health officials said the child does not appear to have exposed anyone in Massachusetts to measles.
The two Massachusetts cases come as the U.S. battles a large national measles outbreak, which has seen 1,136 confirmed cases nationwide so far in 2026, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“Our first two measles cases in 2026 demonstrate the impact that the measles outbreaks, nationally and internationally, can have here at home,” Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Robbie Goldstein said Friday. “Fortunately, thanks to high vaccination rates, the risk to most Massachusetts residents remains low.”
Measles is a highly contagious disease that spreads through the air when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or talks. The virus can linger in the air for up to two hours and may even spread through tissues or cups used by someone who has it, according to the DPH.
Early symptoms occur 10 days to two weeks after exposure and may resemble a cold or cough, usually with a fever, health officials warned. A rash develops two to four days after the initial symptoms, appearing first on the head and shifting downward.
According to the DPH, complications occur in about 30% of infected measles patients, ranging from immune suppression to pneumonia, diarrhea, and encephalitis — a potentially life-threatening inflammation of the brain.
“Measles is the most contagious respiratory virus and can cause life-threatening illness,” Goldstein said. “These cases are a reminder of the need for health care providers and local health departments to remain vigilant for cases so that appropriate public health measures can be rapidly employed to prevent spread in the state. This is also a reminder that getting vaccinated is the best way for people to protect themselves from this disease.”
According to the DPH, people who have had measles, or who have been vaccinated against measles, are considered immune. State health officials offer the following guidance for the Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine:
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The Boston Red Sox were expected to have a busy offseason to build on their short 2025 playoff appearance, their first in four seasons. Boston delivered, albeit not in the way many reporters and fans expected — Alex Bregman left and no one was traded from the outfield surplus.
Roster construction questions have loomed over the Red Sox since last season. They were emphasized by Masataka Yoshida’s return from surgery rehab and Roman Anthony’s arrival to the big leagues. Boston has four-six outfielders, depending where it envisions Yoshida and Kristian Campbell playing, and a designated hitter spot it likes to keep flexible — moving an outfielder makes the most sense to solve this quandary.
The best case-scenario for addressing the packed outfield would be to find a trade suitor for Yoshida, which has proven difficult-to-impossible over his first three seasons with the Red Sox. Red Sox insiders Chris Cotillo and Sean McAdam of MassLive think Boston may have to make an extremely difficult decision to free up Yoshida’s roster spot.
“You wonder, at what point does this become a — not Patrick Sandoval situation — but a Pablo Sandoval, where you rip the Band-Aid off and just release,” McAdam theorized on the “Fenway Rundown” podcast (subscription required).
Pablo Sandoval is infamous among Red Sox fans. He signed a five-year, $90 million deal before the 2015 season and he only lasted two and a half years before the Red Sox cut him loose. His tenure was marked by career lows at the plate, injuries and a perceived lack of effort that soured things quickly with Boston. Yoshida hasn’t lived up to the expectations the Red Sox had when they signed him, but he’s no Sandoval.
McAdam postulated that the Red Sox may be waiting until there is less money remaining on Yoshida’s contract before they potentially release him. Like Sandoval, Yoshida signed a five-year, $90 million deal before the 2023 season, which has only just reached its halfway point. The Red Sox still owe him over $36 million, and by releasing him, they’d be forced to eat that money.
The amount of money remaining on Yoshida’s contract is just one obstacle that may be preventing the Red Sox from finding a trade partner to move him elsewhere. Yoshida has never played more than 140 games in a MLB season with 303 total over his three-year tenure, mostly because he’s dealt with so many injuries since moving stateside.
Maybe the Red Sox could attach a top prospect to him and eat some of his contract money to entice another team into a trade, like they already did with Jordan Hicks this winter. But that would require sacrificing a quality prospect and it would cost more money, just to move a good hitter who tries hard at his job.
There’s no easy way to fit Yoshida onto Boston’s roster, but the decision to salary dump or release him will be just as hard. Yoshida hasn’t been a bad player for the Red Sox and he doesn’t deserve the Sandoval treatment, but his trade value may only decrease if he spends another year with minimal playing time. Alex Cora and Craig Breslow have a real dilemma on their hands with this roster.
That law is not just right. It’s also smart. But we have been lousy about putting it into practice.
Only 10 percent of those eligible to have their records sealed here have actually done it, according to The Clean Slate Initiative, an advocacy group. That’s because we’ve made it impossibly complicated.
Having a criminal record is an enormous obstacle for people who have done their time and are trying to rebuild their lives. A conviction, even a minor one, even from long ago, can mean being rejected by employers and denied by landlords. Cases that were dismissed, or which prosecutors dropped, and even many that ended in not guilty findings also show up on criminal background checks. That can keep someone from getting life insurance, credit, a real estate license, and other professional certifications. It also means they can’t volunteer at their kids’ schools or coach Little League.
“I have grown men in my office crying because they can’t get housing,” said Leslie Credle, who heads Justice 4 Housing, which helps move formerly incarcerated people into permanent homes. “Individuals who were once breadwinners come home and now they’re a burden to their family. It’s a lifetime sentence … even if you have done your time.”
Maybe you’ve gotten this far and are thinking this doesn’t affect you. It does.
Nearly half of US children have at least one parent with a criminal record. People with solid jobs and stable housing are more likely to support their families and communities. They are more likely to fill vacancies at all kinds of businesses that need more workers to thrive. They are also way less likely to reoffend, or to rely on public benefits.
So why have we made the process so much harder than it needs to be?
Right now, a person who has served her time and stayed out of trouble for the waiting period must petition the commissioner of probation in writing, or go before a judge. It’s needlessly complex, requiring time and familiarity with a backlogged and sometimes hostile system. And that’s if they know they can get their records sealed in the first place.
“It’s like double jeopardy,” said Shay, 36, who finally got hers sealed a few years ago. “You can’t try somebody twice for the same crime, but you can double punish them. In my case, I was punished triple.”
Shay, who asked that her last name be withheld, was 22 when she was convicted of carrying a dangerous weapon — a misdemeanor. She did six months in jail, paid thousands in fines and other costs, and had a successful probation. Since then, her record has held her back in ways big and small.
“I had to keep explaining it to people when I wanted to get a job and apply for housing,” she said. “I could not go on any field trips with my daughter, so now she had to suffer.” They had to stay on other people’s couches for months because a landlord ran a background check and gave an apartment to someone else.
Shay knew she could seal her record, thanks to Greater Boston Legal Services. But doing it, even with an attorney’s help, was a whole other thing. Her first application got lost somewhere between the post office and the probation department, which cost her a year. It took two years to process her second application, she said.
“Now here we are, years later, and it’s no longer a burden I have to worry about,” said Shay, who now works to help those with records get into the cannabis industry.
She’s doing well now, but why should it ever be this hard?
In 13 other states — including Oklahoma, Michigan, and Utah — they automatically seal criminal records after someone has met the conditions. It’s embarrassing that Massachusetts hasn’t joined them yet. Legislators have introduced measures to automatically seal eligible criminal records a bunch of times since 2019, but they’ve gone nowhere.
Clean Slate Massachusetts is working to make this time different, with the help of a huge coalition of community partners, including business leaders who understand we all thrive when more people can find work and stability. Yet again, legislators have proposed two bills that would require the state to automatically seal records in cases that are already eligible under the law.
So much about this country is messed up right now. Here is something we can actually fix.
What the heck are we waiting for?
—–
This story has been updated to correct the charge of which Shay was convicted.
Globe columnist Yvonne Abraham can be reached at yvonne.abraham@globe.com.
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