District Attorney Kevin Hayden announces Firearms Rapid Indictment Program
BOSTON, March 17, 2022— Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden today announced a Firearms Rapid Indictment program to expedite crimes involving firearms to Superior Court in order to expose serious offenders to stiffer sentences and potentially higher bails.
Hayden’s office in late February convened a special grand jury in addition to the regular sitting grand jury that will dedicate a significant portion of its time each week to hearing only cases involving firearm offenses and nonfatal shootings. The second grand jury provides the office the ability to focus on gun cases in addition to the other felony cases backlogged due to COVID restrictions on grand jury activity.
In addition to convening the second grand jury, Hayden’s office has designated two Assistant District Attorneys assigned to the Gang Unit who will focus on preparing and presenting gun cases for indictment. These ADAs have secured specified weekly times to present gun cases for indictment.
Since initiating the program last month, Hayden’s office has secured indictments on 30 gun cases.
“This week has so far provided a tragic example of the unacceptably high volume of guns on our streets. On Monday police arrested a man bringing in 11 high-capacity guns to sell. The next day we had a terrible shooting in front of a school while kids are loading onto a bus. This community terror has to stop, and our office is doing everything it can to target individuals who are responsible for it,” Hayden said.
“I’m confident that the extra human resources we are dedicating through this rapid indictment program will be a positive step in addressing this distressing issue,” he continued.
In addition to potentially enhancing bail and conditions of release and exposing serious offenders to more lengthy Superior Court sentences, the Rapid Indictment Program also is helping move cases through the system more efficiently. This process will help ensure that defendants have their day in court more quickly and address liberty issues as well as issues concerning the pretrial release of individuals as a result of COVID-related court and jail backlogs.
Hayden made clear his intent to prioritize gun crimes shortly after his appointment in January.
James Borghesani, Chief of Communications
All charged individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Suffolk County District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 20,000 cases a year. More than 160 attorneys in the office practice in nine district and municipal courts, Suffolk Superior Court, the Massachusetts Appeals Court, the Supreme Judicial Court, and the Boston Juvenile Courts. The office employs some 300 people and offers a wide range of services and programs to serve anyone who comes in contact with the criminal justice system. This office is committed to educating the public about the services we provide, our commitment to crime prevention, and our dedication to keeping the residents of Suffolk County safe.