Advertisement

Week In Review: 3 Probation Dept. Indictments, Mattapan Verdicts, Etch A Sketch

23:28
Download Audio
Resume
File photo of Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz. Ortiz released an indictment naming former commissioner John O’Brien and former top deputies William Burke and Elizabeth Tavares. (AP)
File photo of Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Carmen Ortiz. Ortiz released an indictment naming former commissioner John O’Brien and former top deputies William Burke and Elizabeth Tavares. (AP)

Three federal indictments were issued today in the deepening corruption scandal surrounding the state's Probation Department. Former Commissioner John O'Brien and two of his former top deputies face charges of running a sham hiring system that made the Probation Department resemble a criminal enterprise instead of an arm of the criminal justice system.

The indictments allege that O'brien, former First Deputy Commissioner Elizabeth Tavares and former Deputy Commissioner William Burke tried to curry favor with state lawmakers by hiring and promoting people who were far from the most qualified candidates.

We also dig into the week's other top stories from the region — from the Mattapan verdicts to the presidential campaign trail and the renewed popularity and significance of the Etch A Sketch.

Guests:

  • David Boeri, WBUR reporter
  • Peter Canellos, editorial page editor for The Boston Globe

More:

This segment aired on March 23, 2012.

Advertisement

More from Radio Boston

Listen Live
Close