Since hair-splitting seems to be the order of the day there can be no doubt at all that these were "reforms". Whether they are improvements seems to be what you are questioning and while I certainly believe they are the issue of whether they are reforms is a simple fact whatever the answer.

As to the Bulger case: without pinning my particular colours to the mast there is a big difference between the death penalty in all cases, as the norm to which they may be exceptions and as rare but used in exceptional cases. Each of these would be a further reform, but it is literally a matter of debate which, if any, would be improvements.