HD 178 Massachusetts House · 193rd Legislature (2023-2024)

An Act to establish a DNA exception rule for victims of rape

This bill proposes to extend the statute of limitations for prosecuting rape cases indefinitely if DNA evidence matches the suspect. It directly affects victims of rape who may wish to pursue legal action years after the crime occurred, even if the standard 15-year time limit has passed. The key mechanism requires that a DNA match between the victim and the accused must be established before the prosecution timeline is removed. This change aims to provide more opportunities for justice in cases where DNA evidence becomes available long after the incident.
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0 primary · 19 co-sponsors

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