Rashidi J. Smith, who was 17 when he shot and killed 14-year-old Marvin Constant in Brockton in June 2007, is now out of state prison on parole. The Massachusetts Parole Board voted unanimously on March 3 to move Smith to a halfway house, and public records indicate he is no longer in state custody. Smith was convicted of second-degree murder in 2009, and an earlier bid for parole was rejected in 2022.
Parole Board Vote And Strict Conditions
According to The Boston Globe, the board voted unanimously to grant parole and ordered that Smith be placed in a halfway house within two weeks of the decision. The panel set a long list of conditions, including a nightly curfew, six months of electronic monitoring, a requirement that he abstain from drugs and alcohol, and mandatory mental health counseling to help with adjustment. A prosecutor argued against Smith’s release during the hearing, officials told the paper.
How The 2009 Conviction Was Built
Files from the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office recount that the shooting unfolded after a cookout on Crescent Street, where a fight broke out and witnesses reported hearing three gunshots. Nearby officers then saw Smith drop a bicycle and climb into a passing vehicle while holding his waistband. Investigators recovered a handgun from the floor where Constant had been sitting. The magazine, which held 10 bullets, still contained seven rounds, and the firearm was jammed in a way the ruling said "could only occur if it had been fired." Ballistic testing later linked the weapon to evidence taken from the scene. Smith went on to challenge parts of his trial, and appellate proceedings focused in part on whether his statements and other evidence were properly admitted, issues that eventually reached the state’s highest court.
Life Behind Bars And Claims Of Rehabilitation
Prison and parole records show Smith was moved to minimum-security custody in March 2025. Since his unsuccessful 2022 parole attempt, he completed eight additional rehabilitative programs. The Parole Board also noted that he finished a gang-disassociation process and vocational training, according to The Boston Globe. In its written ruling, the panel stated that Smith "presents with insight, remorse, and a solid reentry plan" and pointed to support from his family and community. Those factors were central to the board’s conclusion that he could be safely supervised in the community.
Legal Framework And Years Of Appeals
Under Massachusetts law, a second-degree murder conviction carries a life sentence, with parole eligibility beginning only after at least 15 years behind bars. Smith’s 2009 conviction followed his indictment and trial, then a series of appeals to higher courts. Appellate records show that judges reviewed questions about his post-arrest statements and the admission of key evidence. The state’s public compilation of life-sentence rulings documents Smith’s earlier parole hearings and outcomes and is often used by lawyers, advocates, and reporters to follow such cases: Mass.gov life-sentence records.
What Smith’s Release Means For Brockton
For many in Brockton, Smith’s release closes a grim chapter that began with a 14-year-old’s killing yet also reopens debates over how the state treats juveniles who commit serious violent crimes. His parole will likely draw fresh scrutiny from victims’ advocates and residents who question how the board weighs public safety against rehabilitation. Smith now has to follow every condition the board imposed or risk having his parole yanked. Either way, his case is almost certain to remain a touchstone in local conversations about violence, accountability, and second chances.
