By Associated Press - Friday, April 5, 2019

BOSTON (AP) - A criminal justice plan unveiled by Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins is running into criticism from a top state official.

Rollins was elected to the post last year and is seeking ways to curb mass incarceration and racial disparities in the system, in part by declining to prosecute certain drug possession crimes and some other minor crimes.

Massachusetts Secretary of Public Safety and Security Thomas Turco said Thursday that Rollins’ proposal could hurt efforts to curtail the opioid crisis and “restrict government’s ability to protect victims threatened with serious crimes.”

Turco did praise Rollins’ for seeking innovative approaches to criminal justice issues.

Rollins, the first black woman to serve as DA in the county that includes Boston, said she welcomed Turco’s viewpoint but added that voters want the “bold changes” she has proposed.

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