Board refers many prescreen cases for full hearings, citing victim outreach and safety concerns

When the meeting moved to the prescreen review docket (cases requiring victim outreach), board members repeatedly identified situations warranting more fact-finding or victim input. Chair Jennifer Medina Zaccagnini moved to grant hearings for Eric Bridal (multiple domestic-violence incidents and potential multiple victims), and for other applicants including Kerrick Grant and Joseph McLean where members noted serious offenses and inconsistencies in applications.

Several board members emphasized the need to hear victims or clarify application inconsistencies before taking final action. For example, McLean's application contained conflicting statements about substance use and program participation; members agreed to bring him to a hearing to resolve those conflicts on the record. The board also discussed cases that raised immigration-related questions (Orlando Clark, who is deported and applying from Jamaica) and public-safety concerns (protective orders for Aaron Davis). Staff will perform victim outreach and schedule the full hearings.