An Act to enhance the rights of crime victims in the Commonwealth

This bill expands the rights of crime victims in Massachusetts by broadening the definition of who qualifies as a victim to include grandparents, stepparents, and those in marriage-like relationships. It ensures that victims of violent crimes receive services even when no formal charges have been filed and clarifies that these services apply to various stages of the legal process. The legislation also mandates that victims be notified of key events such as probation violations and sex offender classification hearings, granting them the right to submit impact statements during sentencing and parole decisions. Additionally, the bill requires courts to delay sentencing by at least one business day if a victim is not present, allowing them the opportunity to be heard about the crime's effects. These changes aim to increase victim involvement and awareness throughout the criminal justice system without altering the core legal procedures.