Massachusetts

Push is on to reform Mass. prostitution laws – The Boston Globe

Published

2 years ago

March 11, 2024

Push is on to reform Mass. prostitution laws – The Boston Globe

As someone who spent decades investigating violent crimes including human trafficking and prostitution, I applaud those who have signed on to support the legislation. But I urge Ryanâs colleagues in the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association as well as members of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association to publicly endorse this effort. This advocacy is essential to its passage and enforcement.

Until that happens, those most marginalized and vulnerable will continue to get caught up in the sex trade and face significant hurdles in gaining viable employment and accessing safe housing to lead healthy and productive lives.

Donna Gavin

Milton

The writer is an attorney and a retired Boston Police Officer.

Partial decriminalization still leaves sex workers vulnerable

Iâm disappointed that the story about reforming prostitution laws didnât even mention bills to fully decriminalize sex work and to improve the health and safety of people who engage in it, let alone quote anyone on the merits of these policy approaches.

I lived in Ireland, which was cited as a country with a âNordic Modelâ law similar to the one proposed here, which maintains criminal penalties for the purchase of sex. What the article didnât mention is the longstanding opposition of sex workers in Ireland, who predicted correctly that rather than helping them, the law would have adverse consequences, including lopsided arrests of people selling sex in comparison with people buying sex, the most basic problem such laws purport to solve.

Under this type of law in Northern Ireland, demand didnât end, and sex workers experienced a dramatic rise in violent crime against them. A review of the law concluded that criminalizing clients does nothing to fight human trafficking or sexual exploitation.

All forms of human trafficking are appalling. Globe readers should know that human trafficking is already illegal. However, not all sex for money is trafficking.

Organizations from Amnesty International to the World Health Organization endorse full decriminalization to reduce harm and promote health and human rights. Massachusetts can repeal archaic laws, expunge peopleâs records, and provide material assistance without going down a path that has backfired elsewhere.

Rachel Roth

Arlington

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Massachusetts

This Massachusetts beach has the ‘best etiquette’ in the state.

Published

10 hours ago

July 14, 2026

Press Room

This Massachusetts beach has the ‘best etiquette’ in the state.

Looking for a beach where fellow beachgoers have good manners?

Travel website Exoticca conducted a survey and found the beach with the best beach etiquette in each state, including Massachusetts, so you can know the place where Bay Staters treat both the beach and each other with the most respect.

“We surveyed 3,011 Americans to find out where beachgoers are seen as having the best etiquette, and the results say quite a lot about what people actually want from a beach vacation,” Exoticca said.

In Massachusetts, voters said to head to the North Shore.

Crane Beach — Ipswich, Massachusetts

The extremely popular Crane Beach in the North Shore town of Ipswich was voted the best for beach etiquette by Exoticca’s readers.

Exoticca said that the places that scored the highest in positive beach etiquette were places where people focused on the clarity of the water and the beautiful scenery rather than external distractions like seaside restaurants or shops on the boardwalk, where “everyone around seems to understand that nobody wants the place spoiled.”

Crane Beach is known for its white sand and conservation. It’s one of the nesting places for piping plovers, according to The Trustees.

“To protect threatened shorebirds during your visit, we ask that you avoid the fenced nesting areas and the wrack, the line of washed-up organic debris where the birds feed and hide,” the Trustees said.

Despite having 350,000 people visit annually, according to the Trustees, Crane Beach still achieved the top spot of beach etiquette.

How to visit Crane Beach

Barring going on Martin Luther King Jr. Day or on Veterans’ Day for families with veterans, visitors do have to buy tickets for vehicle entry and parking. Tickets are cheaper if visitors arrive via motorcycle, biking, or walking.

“Strict rules apply: no drop-offs, re-entry for nonmembers, or outside food delivery; dogs and horses are not allowed April 1–September 30,” the ticket selection webpage said.

Rin Velasco is a trending reporter. She can be reached at rvelasco@usatodayco.com.

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Massachusetts

Mass stranding of bottlenose dolphins off Cape Cod said to be largest in Massachusetts history

Published

22 hours ago

July 13, 2026

Press Room

Mass stranding of bottlenose dolphins off Cape Cod said to be largest in Massachusetts history

Updated on: July 13, 2026 / 5:29 PM EDT
/ CBS Boston

Rescuers were working to save around 30 bottlenose dolphins that got stranded off the coast of Cape Cod early Monday morning. It is the largest known stranding of bottlenose dolphins off Massachusetts, according to the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

The dolphins had become stranded between First Light and Ellis Landing in Brewster at about 5:30 a.m. when they came in with the tide. A woman noticed the animals and reported it. The IFAW quickly responded to the area, but five to six of the marine mammals died before help arrived.

Dozens of bottlenose dolphins were stuck off of Cape Cod

Leslie Bracebridge

The IFAW worked throughout the day on Monday to get the mammals away from the shoreline before the next low tide at 5:13 p.m. They said late Monday afternoon that they were still successfully being steered away.

“Our team remains in the area to monitor and herd the animals away from shore,” an IFAW spokesperson said. “We know these events can sometimes repeat in the coming hours and days, but we remain hopeful.”

The organization said it had seen an uptick in bottlenose dolphins becoming stranded off Cape Cod in the last few years.

“Bottlenose dolphins are typically an offshore species,” the spokesperson said.

They asked that anyone who encounters a stranded or distressed marine mammal not get close and never drag or push the animal back into the water.

“Similar to a person involved in a car accident, dolphins can become injured and exhausted during a stranding event,” the IFAW said.

Instead, they recommend calling their IFAW stranding hotline at 508-743-9548.

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Massachusetts

Man dead after apparent drowning in Randolph pond

Published

1 day ago

July 13, 2026

Press Room

Man dead after apparent drowning in Randolph pond

A man has died following an apparent drowning at a pond in Randolph, Massachusetts, on Sunday.

The Randolph police and fire departments received a 911 call at around 4 p.m. for a swimmer in distress in the water on Pond Street, according to the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office..

Firefighters located the man a short time later, officials added, and he was taken by ambulance to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The Kingston Fire Department had said just before 4 p.m. that their dive team was activated for a missing swimmer in Randolph, but that the activation was canceled after the swimmer was located.

Further information is not being released at this time, including the man’s name.

Massachusetts State Police detectives and the Randolph Police Department are investigating.

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