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

This bill expands the rights and protections available to crime victims in Massachusetts by updating state laws to include more family members and specific support staff. Key changes allow grandparents and partners living with victims to receive services, ensure victims are notified about probation violations and sex offender classifications, and guarantee the right to be heard at sentencing even in cases where a plea deal is reached. The legislation also clarifies that victims should be informed about their rights to provide impact statements to various agencies and ensures courts delay sentencing if a victim is unavailable to participate. These updates aim to strengthen victim involvement in the criminal justice process without altering the core mechanics of prosecution or sentencing guidelines.