Prisoners to exchange their organs for lesser jail term, U.S. state bill proposes
A new bill in Massachusetts, United States, seeks to enable prisoners to donate vital organs in exchange for a reduced jail term.
The bill by Massachusetts Democrats, tagged HD 3822, permits prisoners to donate their organs or bone marrow to people in need of it. In return, they will get less jail terms, ranging from sixty days to a maximum of one year, the BBC reported.
“The Bone Marrow and Organ Donation Program shall allow eligible incarcerated individuals to gain not less than 60 and not more than 365 day reduction in the length of their committed sentence in Department of Corrections facilities, or House of Correction facilities if they are serving a Department of Correction sentence in a House of Corrections facility, on the condition that the incarcerated individual has donated bone marrow or organ(s)” the bill states.
According to reports, if this bill is passed, it will increase the “pool of donors for people of colour who struggle to get a match.”
However, the bill has been greatly thumbed down by other lawmakers who believe that the bill might be exploiting and “bargaining with vulnerable people.”
In 2007 a similar bill was passed but greatly criticised as a result of “conflicts with the National Organ Transplant Act of 1984.”
In February 2021, state officials promised inmates shorter sentences if they get complete COVID-19 vaccines.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
Rights
Trump admin third-country deportation exposes asylum seekers, migrants to enforced disappearance, torture: UN
At least 23,000 people have already been sent to 29 countries and territories, with agreements now covering 35, and the experts said more are being signed “every day”.
World
UNGA81: Racism continues to poison societies, UN chief warns
UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres says racism continues to poison societies, calling for tangible actions to address it.
Abuja
Nigeria will back UN candidate who believes in Africa’s aspirations: Shettima
Mr Shettima says Nigeria will support a candidate for the position of the United Nations secretary-general who believes in Africa’s aspirations in global affairs.
Rights
Unreported sexual abuse of boys in Kaduna due to stigma, family pressure: Stakeholders
Stakeholders in child protection and justice administration in Kaduna have raised concerns over the growing number of unreported sexual abuse cases involving boys.
Africa
Startup awards will drive regional integration, job creation, says ECOWAS
ECOWAS says its Startup Awards will drive regional integration, industrialisation and inclusion by producing scalable West African businesses that survive, create jobs and expand.
Africa
Insecurity disrupts aid operations in northern Ethiopia, says UN
The United Nations has warned that continued insecurity in northern Ethiopia is disrupting humanitarian operations and restricting aid access to people in need.
