An Act relative to protecting domestic violence victims

This bill amends Massachusetts law to strengthen protections for domestic violence victims by altering the legal consequences for illegal entry into dwellings. It requires anyone who illegally enters a home (knowing people are present) to immediately retreat; failure to retreat forfeits their right to sue occupants for injuries. If minors are present during the illegal entry, the entrant faces a minimum 5-year prison sentence for conviction, and must retreat immediately. The bill also imposes severe penalties (20+ years or life imprisonment) for illegal entry involving weapons, force, or injury to occupants. These changes directly affect domestic violence victims and their homes by shifting legal responsibility to intruders.