Criminal Justice

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 18, 2025

S 1154: An Act relative to visitation and family court matters in domestic violence cases

By Mr. Lewis, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1154) of Jason M. Lewis for legislation relative to visitation and family court matters in domestic violence cases. The Judiciary.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAddresses domestic violence case procedures in family courts, enhancing victim safety and court oversight within criminal justice system.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jul 22, 2026

S 1035: An Act relative to increasing transparency in juvenile court proceedings

This bill makes most juvenile court proceedings open to the public, including media and community members, unless a judge determines specific, documented reasons for exclusion. Judges must provide clear, written findings - based on factors like preventing disruption, protecting a child’s safety, or ensuring fair proceedings - before closing a hearing, and must first consider less restrictive options. It also prohibits publishing the names of children involved in juvenile cases and restricts access to certain clinical reports. These changes aim to balance public transparency with privacy and safety needs in juvenile court.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeIncreases transparency in juvenile court proceedings, promoting accountability in criminal justice reform within the judicial system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Oct 20, 2025

H 1849: An Act relative to archaic laws

This bill creates a permanent Law Revision Commission to modernize Massachusetts' legal code. The commission, composed of legal experts, judges, and appointed officials, will identify outdated laws, recommend reforms, and suggest repealing obsolete statutes. It will examine common law, statutes, and judicial decisions to eliminate "anachronisms" and improve law accessibility. The commission must submit annual reports with proposed changes to state legislators. (Note: The bill also includes specific amendments to repeal outdated terms like "common night walker" and "sodomy" references in existing laws, but the core purpose is the commission's law modernization role.)

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill repeals archaic laws and creates commission to review statutes (including Judiciary), aligning with criminal justice reform by modernizing outdated legal frameworks.80% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1999: An Act establishing a permanent commission to study the service standards for sexual assault and domestic violence service providers

This bill establishes a 19-member permanent commission to study and recommend uniform minimum service standards for sexual assault and domestic violence service providers across Massachusetts. The commission includes government officials, advocates from key organizations (like Jane Doe Inc. and the Victim Rights Law Center), survivors of abuse, and specialists in trauma support. It will study current practices, develop recommendations for consistent service standards, and report these findings to state agencies within 180 days of the bill’s passage, with biennial updates thereafter. The commission’s work directly affects survivors seeking services and the organizations providing those services by aiming to improve consistency and quality statewide.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes commission to study service standards for sexual assault/domestic violence providers, aiming to improve victim services within criminal justice system.75% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Violent Crime

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Oct 20, 2025

S 1180: An Act expanding access to victim compensation

This bill (SD 1649) updates Massachusetts victim compensation rules by increasing the maximum funeral and burial expense reimbursement to $15,000 and expanding eligibility to include legal guardians, dependents, and other family members of crime victims. It also extends the deadline for filing claims from the previous timeframe to five years after the crime occurs. These changes directly affect families of crime victims seeking financial assistance for funeral costs in Massachusetts. The bill modifies specific sections of Chapter 258C of the General Laws to implement these concrete policy updates.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands victim compensation access, supporting victims' rights within criminal justice system per Judiciary committee focus85% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Dec 31, 2025

H 1645: An Act to update expungement

This bill (HD 3341) amends Massachusetts law to strengthen confidentiality around sealed and expunged criminal records. It updates Chapter 276, Section 100Q to explicitly prohibit making sealed records (under Sections 100A, 100B, or 100C) or expunged records (under Sections 100F, 100G, 100H, or 100K) available for inspection by anyone. The bill also modifies Section 100T to include Section 100C in the list of referenced sealing provisions. This directly affects individuals with sealed or expunged records and entities like employers, landlords, or law enforcement that might otherwise access these records. The change ensures these records remain confidential and inaccessible to the public or other parties.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeUpdates expungement process to protect sealed records, aiding criminal justice reform and rehabilitation by reducing barriers for individuals with past convictions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 24, 2025

S 1413: An Act to promote victim service funding

SD 1385 amends two sections of Massachusetts law to expand the types of funding available for victim services. It adds "gifts, grants and donations" from both public and private sources to the list of revenues that can be used for victim service programs. This change directly affects organizations providing victim support services by allowing them to access a broader pool of state funds. The bill modifies existing legal definitions (in Sections 66 and 66A of Chapter 10) to include these new revenue sources without creating new funding streams. It is a procedural update to clarify how existing funds can be allocated.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePromotes victim service funding, a direct component of criminal justice support systems, aligning with reform goals to assist crime victims.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill explicitly promotes victim services funding with focus on mental health and substance use recovery, directly supporting healthcare services in this area.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Victims' Rights Substance Abuse

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1716: An Act prohibiting court ordered visitation rights to any persons convicted of criminal offenses against a minor

This bill prohibits courts from ordering unsupervised visitation between parents convicted of specific crimes against minors and their children. It directly affects parents convicted of offenses listed in Chapter 265 (e.g., sexual abuse, child endangerment) and Chapter 272 (e.g., child exploitation, trafficking) of the Massachusetts General Laws. The prohibition applies unless the child is of "suitable age" to consent and a court-appointed guardian ad litem determines the visitation is in the child’s best interest. The bill amends Sections 28 of Chapter 208 and Section 37 of Chapter 209 in the General Laws.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill explicitly prohibits visitation rights for offenders convicted of crimes against minors, reducing defendant rights in criminal justice context.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Apr 23, 2026

H 2585: An Act relative to police chief reform and improvement – certification act

HD 3901 establishes a separate certification process for police chiefs in Massachusetts, distinct from the standard officer certification. It creates a Police Chief Standards and Accreditation Committee (with at least one police chief and one public member) to develop licensing tiers: Temporary (1 year), Provisional (2 years), Initial (3 years), and Professional (5 years). The bill aims to raise professional standards for police chiefs by requiring additional management training and competence beyond basic officer qualifications. It directly affects current and aspiring police chiefs by setting new certification requirements and timelines for licensure.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill focuses on police chief reform and certification, enhancing accountability standards in law enforcement, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

Track

passed · Massachusetts · House Dec 18, 2025

H 3313: An Act transferring Bridgewater State Hospital from the Department of Corrections to the Department of Mental Health

This bill transfers operation of Bridgewater State Hospital from the Massachusetts Department of Corrections to the Department of Mental Health. It assigns the Mental Health Commissioner full responsibility for running the facility, providing all medical and mental health treatment for male patients there, and managing forensic services like court-ordered evaluations. The bill removes all references to Corrections oversight in hospital rules and creates a new division within Mental Health to handle forensic services. It also requires a study by 2026 on building a new facility to replace Bridgewater.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeTransferring a correctional hospital to mental health department aligns with reform by prioritizing specialized care over incarceration for mental health needs, reducing recidivism through proper treatment.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareTransferring Bridgewater State Hospital to Department of Mental Health directly strengthens mental health services, a core healthcare component.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Hospitals

Track