Former Patriot Devin McCourty to team up with Essex County sheriff’s office to launch AI reentry program for inmates
Devin McCourty, the former New England Patriot star safety who worked on social justice initiatives during his career, will appear virtually in Lynn on Monday to officially kick off an AI=based re-entry program for inmates in Essex County.
Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger and others from the department will be present at the offices of the Lynn STAR program for the 10 a.m. introduction of the Stickball initiative.
Stickball is an AI-powered program to help inmates prepare to transition back to civilian life. They will get help preparing for job interviews, interacting with co-workers once they get a job, and building healthy relationships, Coppinger said in a statement.
“As they navigate the scenarios, they’re not only acquiring vital skills but also providing valuable feedback to enhance the program for future use in correctional settings,” Coppinger said.
STAR, an acronym for Supporting Transitions and Re-Entry, is located in Lynn and Lawrence. About 25 participants in the program have already been testing out the Stickball program, the statement said.
“We’ve already witnessed remarkable growth and development among our STAR participants, and their input is helping to build a more impactful Stickball for others,” Jessica Oljey, assistant superintendent for the sheriff’s programs division, said in the statement.
McCourty, a three time Super Bowl champion who played 13 seasons for New England before retiring in 2023, is well-known for his advocacy of social justice reform.
In 2021, he joined other Patriots to lobby for the commutation of a life sentence of William Allen of Brockton, who was involved in an armed robbery in 1994 that resulted in a man’s death.
Even though another man involved in the armed robbery committed the murder, Allen was charged with first degree murder due to his participation in a felony, the Globe reported.
The state parole board recommended the commutation, which Gov. Charlie Baker granted three years ago.
Although he is appearing virtually on Monday, McCourty is due to visit the STAR locations in the summer, the statement said.
