An Act improving juvenile justice data collection

This bill aims to improve how Massachusetts collects and reports data on minors involved with law enforcement and the juvenile justice system. It requires the Child Advocate to gather annual statistics from various government departments on how juveniles interact with the justice system, including specific details about decisions made at different stages of the process. The legislation mandates that this data be broken down by demographic factors such as age, race, gender identity, and sexual orientation to allow for more detailed analysis. Additionally, the bill updates legal definitions to ensure consistent reporting on gender identity and sexual orientation while expanding the scope of mental health data to include child welfare systems. These changes are designed to provide the governor, state officials, and the public with a clearer, more comprehensive picture of the juvenile justice landscape in the Commonwealth.