Queer in Fear: The Role of Homophobia and Transphobia in Wrongful Convictions

This paper will explore how the criminal justice system’s ingrained prejudice against LGBTQ2S+ people can lead to wrongful convictions. Primarily, this paper will focus on the negative stereotypes of and myths surrounding queer people, rooted in homophobia and transphobia, that …

Parole Board should heed Baker’s call to pardon the Amirault siblings

Lessons learned from the Baran Case

(eagle file photo)

“Material gathered by two of Baran’s staunchest supporters, Robert Chatelle and James D’Entremont, provides strong evidence that Baran was railroaded. An insurance company, investigating the day care center’s claim for coverage when it was sued for negligent …

NCRJ Co-Sponsoring Pittsfield Event About Bernard Baran

photo credit: jim d’entremont

On December 12th, the National Center for Reason and Justice and the Pittsfield Massachusetts Human Rights Commission, are sponsoring a presentation at the Pittsfield Atheneum at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. Bob Chatelle (Executive Director of …

Justice for some, not all

This is a great interview with Deborah Esquenazi, director of Southwest of Salem, a documentary about the San Antonio Four, which will premier at the Tribeca Film Festival on April 15th. Deb explains how NCRJ Director Debbie Nathan …

Eric Tennen Discusses the Baran Case

photo credit: jim d’entremont

This Sunday at 2:00 p.m. EDT Eric Tennen, one of Bernard Baran’s attorneys, will be discussing the case on Worcester radio stations WCRN.

You can listen to the program by following this link.…

Are we too hard on sex offenders? Lenore Skenazy on Emily Horowitz

“She’ll be reading from her book this Sunday night, June 7, at the Bluestockings bookstore, 172 Allen St., on Manhattan’s Lower East Side, at 7 p.m. Admission is free.

“If you’re wondering what it looks like when an academic talks …

The Remembrance Project: Bernard Baran

photo credit: jim d’entremont

Without the tireless efforts of the National Center for Reason and Justice, Bernard Baran would have died unknown and without exoneration in prison. We rely on your help to continue our work. Please consider making …

When miscarriages of justice occur, prosecutors must answer for actions

Globe file 2006/Boston Globe

“Looking back at the case would serve a bigger purpose than score-settling. Wrongful convictions like that of Baran endanger trust in the whole judicial system. The Supreme Judicial Court, in its role as the general safeguard …

Why is Daniel Ford still a Massachusetts judge?

“Yet as Baran was reportedly getting repeatedly sexually assaulted in prison, Downing was getting reelected and Ford was getting promoted. Just a few years after Baran’s conviction, Ford was appointed to the Massachusetts Superior Court, where he presides over criminal …