An Act to protect survivors of domestic violence

This bill establishes a special commission to study how Massachusetts handles resources and safety for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The commission will include representatives from various state agencies, non-profit organizations, law enforcement, and two survivors of domestic abuse to analyze current systems and identify areas for improvement. Its work will focus on enhancing victim engagement in probation proceedings, addressing income-related barriers, and exploring ways to report probation officer misconduct. Additionally, the bill creates new domestic violence and sexual assault probation units within state courts to employ external victim advocates who will serve as liaisons between victims and probation officers.