Meet Tamisha
“When my cousin was wrongfully imprisoned, I promised myself I’d do anything I could to stand up to injustice wherever I found it.”
On January 2, 2025 Tamisha Civil became the first woman of color to be sworn into the District 2 seat on the Massachusetts Governor’s Council, since its establishment in 1780.
Councillor Civil is an established criminal justice reformer and advocate for the most marginalized among us, having made systemic impact as an Associate Probation Officer reducing recidivism and facilitating human-centered re-entry processes. As a former legal advocate for a domestic violence shelter and a Victim Witness Advocate at the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, Councillor Civil has fought to improve the lives and conditions for many, ensuring the criminal justice system works fairly for everyone in the Commonwealth. Councillor Civil serves as a Commissioner on the Massachusetts Eastern Regional Commission on the Status of Women, where she works to empower women around the Commonwealth.
Inspired by a deeply personal experience, Councillor Civil witnessed the ramifications of injustice and broken systems when her cousin was falsely accused and imprisoned for 27 years in Massachusetts before being exonerated in 2021. As the proud daughter of Haitian immigrants Councillor Civil is rooted in a deep sense of faith, community, integrity and work ethic. Seeing justice denied to those closest to her has been a north star in pursuing better outcomes and compassionate experiences for everyone in Massachusetts.
Councillor Civil has spent decades gaining valuable experience working alongside judges, defense attorneys, clerks, Assistant District Attorneys and police officers across the state. It’s through this first hand experience Councillor Civil has shaped her vision for the future of Massachusetts’ criminal justice and advocacy systems. Her work in supporting victims of crime and guiding under-resourced constituents through complex court processes, underscores the significance of her role on the council. Her most important responsibility will be oversight of the vetting and approval of judicial nominations, a duty she holds with the utmost reverence; and a discerning responsibility she will leverage to ensure our justice system is balanced with qualified judges who uphold their own responsibility of fairness and justice for all.
Councillor Civil believes firmly that solutions to preventing criminal intent come from long term investments in our communities. She openly calls on leaders to address root causes of poverty and inequality. She helped found a food bank during the pandemic to combat food insecurity and she hosts a radio program featuring local leaders discussing the most pressing social and cultural issues we face today in the future.
Councillor Civil became the first person in her family to graduate from college. She holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Justice and Leadership from Northeastern University and is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Tamisha’s Civic Experience:
Stoughton Town Meeting Representative
Member of the Stoughton Energy & Sustainability Committee
Commissioner for the Eastern Regional Commission on the Status of Women
Board member of the Greater Boston Early Educators Network
Member of Canton Residents for a Sustainable & Equitable Future
Board member Stoughton Equal Opportunity Committee
Member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
Stoughton Police Department Interactive Citizen's Academy 2022
Tamisha and her cousin as children. He would be falsely imprisoned for 27 years before being exonerated in 2021.
Tamisha was the first in her family to graduate from college, getting her Master’s from Northeastern University.
Now, Councillor Civil is committed to helping victims navigate our system and addressing the root causes of crime.
Malana Alana Gleason, Retired Staff Attorney and Supervisor of the Legal Advocacy Program at Finex House
