By Rachel Galatis
A grass roots community group is trying to obtain the freedom of a man who is serving a life sentence in Massachusetts, one of a growing number of organizations across the country working to secure the release of those they feel should be out.
“Community support is important and is something that happens in every parole case; no one is going to say you are on your own, as far as parole; they want to see people immersing themselves into the community,” said Deborah Conohan, a member of the group.
The Brockton group, called Second Chance Justice, is trying to win a commutation for William Allen, who was convicted of first-degree murder in 1997. Even though he didn’t stab the victim to death, Allen was convicted under the theory of joint venture because he participated in the robbery which led to the man’s death.
Joe Moore said he was working at the Plymouth County House of Correction when he first met William Allen, a Brockton man facing the murder charge.
“He was young and was awaiting trial without bail until 1996 and we spoke often,” he said.
Now, decades later, Moore is working with a group of community activists trying to get Allen’s life sentence for first degree murder commuted.
“Known personally to three of us - a social worker which was me, an attorney and a prison chaplain - we ultimately solicited community support after all legal challenges to his conviction had been exhausted; we enlisted skilled and interested friends and became a program of the Brockton Interfaith Community Inc. to assist us in our mission of faith in setting William free,” he said.
Allen went to prison and about seven years later, wrote to Moore expressing his frustration with the court as he tried to secure additional appeals of his conviction. Moore said he then got his friends, Kristine McDonald, and Allan Tufankian, to help with the legal side of the case.
McDonald, one of Allen’s attorneys, submitted a request for commutation to the state, which she said was ignored. A group of 12 people then formed and started on what they called the “Second Chance Justice” project.
The effort centers on the conviction of Allen from Brockton, Mass., who was 20 at the time of the crime.
McDonald said that group’s effort provides Allen with both a legal and emotional support system.
“It takes action within the congregation and doing everything we could to help Allen through his dilemma,” she said.
The killer took a plea deal for second degree murder and was sentenced to life with the chance of parole after 15 years. Allen went to trial, against the advice of his attorney, and was convicted of first-degree murder, meaning he would spend life in prison without the chance of parole. Allen was in another room when the victim was stabbed.
Allen’s supporters reached out to the Brockton Interfaith Group (BIC) for help with the case. Together, they have worked to communicate with the parole board with the goal of getting Allen’s sentence commuted.
Paul Walsh, the former president of the National District Attorney’s Association, said that although leniency may play in favor of the person who did not kill an individual, that is not always the case.
“When it comes to criminal justice, I don’t think one size fits all,” he said.
Second Chance Justice and Brockton Interfaith Community are not the only community groups in Brockton.
The Venture’s Community Service’s group in Roxbury works to help contain issues and provide a sense of empowerment, independence, and opportunity, and The Families for Justice and Healing group is a group of women who engage in participatory defense, transformative justice, and legislation.
The leader of Second Chance Justice, Faith Tobon, said that she hopes that the door to commutation will open for Allen.
“We need to build an army to help Allen’s case,” she said.
Allen receives a yearly “Companion Evaluation Summary,” which shows his growth and motivation to help others who are also in the program, according to his petition for commutation.
One worker talked about Allen’s progress through his companionship with other group members and program planning skills, according to Allen’s commutation petition.
“When Will goes to the unit, whether it is to visit Eddie (another group member), organize a Bingo game, or provide assistance in creating a welcoming Church service, the patients recognize him as a friend and respond to him,” the worker was quoted in the petition as saying.
Allen was charged during a time when crime rates were high in Brockton, several said.
Emanuel Gomes, the current Brockton police chief, said that the crime rates in the 1990s were so high in this area that the numbers today have trouble matching the numbers back then. Most of the violence at the time was caused by gangs, he said.
“When I mention gangs, understand that gangs and violence are related by common cause,” he said.
Gomes said that gangs cause violence because they feel the need to put the word out to “not mess with them” and retaliation is what gets people into trouble because this causes fights.
Although Allen was not affiliated with a gang, he was not working alone at the time of the murder he was charged with.
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