Statement of DA Rollins Regarding Increased Violence in Suffolk County

BOSTON, July 6, 2020 — “As I have said before, this global pandemic has exacerbated the already unprecedented rates of unemployment in certain communities, increased the number of people suffering from food and housing insecurity, expedited foreclosures and evictions, forced parents to be responsible for home schooling, significantly set back students with IEPs or for whom English is a second language and thus widening the already enormous gap between them and their counterparts, and leaving children  and youth without the support and engagement provided by daycare, aftercare, or summer camp.  Each of these situations alone would be accelerants for stress and potentially violence. 

“When we add the current disparities in health care outcomes and access for poorer communities and the disproportionately higher rates of infection and death from COVID-19 in Black and Brown communities, all of these stressors and trauma combined are a recipe for disaster.

“Notably, many of the communities where violence is erupting within Suffolk County are home to the very people who have been keeping us all fed, clean, and safe through the height of the pandemic and continue to do so as we still battle against COVID-19: supermarket employees, sanitation workers, food service and food processing staff, hospital employees, and caregivers. They have no choice but to work because they don’t have the luxury of tele-commuting or “zooming” into their jobs. Many also don’t have paid sick leave or hazard pay. These essential, and often invisible, workers are barely provided a living wage. These epic societal failures make the violence in these communities even more explicable, traumatic, and devastating. 

“I am deeply troubled by the recent increase in homicides, non-fatal shootings, and violence.  These murders and acts of violence harm victims and vicariously traumatize their family and loved ones, as well as the entire community where the violence occurred.  Witnesses are also emotionally harmed. The family of the person who committed the crime is deeply impacted as well. They did not engage in the violence; they did not wish the victim or their family any harm; they too find themselves in an unwanted, awful situation. You can love a family member and denounce their behavior.  I know firsthand that this is true.

“In Suffolk County we are working diligently with our law enforcement partners to respond to, and proactively disrupt, violence.  As shown in recent weeks, in collaboration with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners (NOB Takedown and Operation Snowfall), we are targeting violent individuals who harm and injure our loved ones and communities and removing them from our neighborhoods.  In addition, this is precisely why we created a Crime Strategies Bureau within my office, to focus our attention and limited resources on the small group of violent individuals driving crime in our neighborhoods. The work continues. 

“With respect to the recent murders, we have already made arrests in two of the homicides that occurred this past week.  Those arrests are a direct result of the community placing its trust in law enforcement by calling 911 and speaking to investigators.  That trust allows us to ultimately get answers and accountability for the victim, their families, and the community.  When communities trust law enforcement we are all safer. I commend the excellent work done by the Boston Police Department in concert with my office regarding the arrests made in these most recent homicides.  We will continue to work hard at keeping Suffolk County safe.  If anyone has any information regarding these homicides, acts of violence, or any other crime, you can call our office and leave a detailed private message at 617-619-4000." 

Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins’ office serves the communities of Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop, Mass. The office handles over 25,000 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.