In order to get out of jail sooner, a proposed bill in the American state of Massachusetts would allow inmates to donate their organs. The Massachusetts legislature is vehemently against the proposal. Additionally, according to experts, the proposal would go against a federal regulation that forbids the transfer or sale of human organs for “valuable consideration.” The proposal has sparked concerns about how well jails could manage the health of organ donors. Some criticize the concept as inhumane. Additionally, they contend that enacting such a regulation may put pressure on convicts to give organs.
The bill’s proponents have stated that it would lessen the perception of a need for organ donors among Hispanic and Black communities. Their logic is based on the fact that blacks in American prisons are disproportionately incarcerated. Kevin Ring is the president of the criminal justice reform organization Families Against Mandatory Minimums, which is situated in Washington, D.C. He told The Associated Press that it’s a good idea to boost organ donation and shorten some jail terms. “Tying the two together is perverse,” he continued, nevertheless.
The measure would establish the Massachusetts state Department of Corrections’ Bone Marrow and Organ Donation Program. If inmates have donated organs or bone marrow, the initiative would allow them to have their sentences reduced by 60 days to a year. One of the bill’s sponsors is Massachusetts state legislator Judith Garcia. The Associated Press was informed by her that the purpose of the proposal was to address health disparities. According to her, “the vicious cycle of unjust incarceration and over-policing of Black and Brown communities” is connected to these disparities.
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