An Act relative to consanguinity as a defense to the crime of accessory after the fact

This bill amends Massachusetts law to allow a spouse to use their relationship to the offender as a legal defense against charges of being an accessory after the fact. Under the new provision, if a defendant testifies only to confirm their marital status, they cannot be cross-examined on other topics, and their prior criminal record generally cannot be used to challenge their credibility. The change specifically protects married partners from prosecution when they assist a criminal after the crime is committed, provided they rely on their spousal relationship as their sole defense.