Personhood USA: Free Justina Coalition asks new DCF commissioner to release Justina Pelletier immediately

BOSTON, April 29, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Under pressure from the Massachusetts House Speaker, Senate President, and Attorney General, as well as from the Free Justina Campaign, DCF Commissioner Olga Roche has resigned. Roche's management of DCF presided over the mistreatment of Justina Pelletier, the tragic deaths of several children, and 134 missing children in DCF custody.

The Free Justina Coalition calls upon the acting DCF head Erin Deveney to immediately release Justina Pelletier to the loving arms of her family. The 15-year-old's health has severely deteriorated while held in DCF custody over the past 14 months. Justina Pelletier has also been prevented from exercising her rights to education and freedom of religion while under DCF's watch.

The Free Justina Coalition will join Massachusetts lawmakers in calling upon interim Commissioner Erin Deveney to release Justina during Tuesday's rally at the Statehouse. The demonstration also supports pending legislation that calls for the immediate release of Justina and asks DCF to disclose how much public money is being spent on Justina's care.

Reverend Patrick Mahoney, a family spokesperson for the Pelletiers, said: "Olga Roche presided over the horrific mistreatment of Justina Pelletier and the tragic deaths of children in DCF custody. We hope Erin Deveney will correct the systemic injustice of the previous administration by taking immediate steps to free Justina into the loving arms of her family and accepting the reunification proposal."

"How many more lives will be destroyed by DCF until Justina Pelletier is set free?" Mahoney asked.

www.freejustina.com

SOURCE Personhood USA

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