Overview
- Jose Colon, convicted in the 1983 killing of State Trooper George L. Hanna, will appear before the Massachusetts Parole Board on Thursday after becoming eligible under the Mattis decision.
- Gov. Maura Healey submitted a letter Tuesday urging the board to deny release, citing the gravity of the crime, its impact on public trust, and Hanna’s enduring legacy.
- Hanna’s daughters and retired law enforcement figures publicly oppose parole and are advocating changes to exclude killers of police officers from Mattis eligibility.
- State data show the board has issued 51 decisions in Mattis-eligible cases with 39 paroles granted, leaving about 159 cases still awaiting decisions.
- The Parole Board typically issues written decisions months after hearings; approved applicants transition through lower-security facilities before release, and those denied may reapply periodically.