Massachusetts legislature votes to end imprisonment of women civilly committed for addiction

WCVB anchor Karen Anderson reported on yesterday's vote by state legislators to put an end to the imprisonment of women who are civilly committed for alcohol and drug addiction. The ACLU of Massachusetts and law firm WilmerHale filed a federal class-action lawsuit challenging the law in 2014.

Jessie Rossman, ACLU of Massachusetts staff attorney, was featured in the report:

"After 25 years and a lawsuit we are glad to see they were able to come together and pass a bill to hopefully end this illegal practice," says Jessie Rossman. "No one should be sent to prison because they're suffering from the disease of addiction."

View the whole segment: Women civilly committed for addiction no longer will be sent to prison.