Criminal Justice

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 30, 2026

H 5136: An Act increasing the maximum amount of penalties which may be imposed for violations of ordinances in the city of Newton

This bill raises the maximum penalty for violating Newton city ordinances from an unspecified prior limit to $2,000. It directly affects Newton residents and businesses who breach local rules, such as zoning or noise regulations. The law requires automatic inflation adjustments to the $2,000 cap every five years starting in 2026, using the Boston-Cambridge-Newton area's Consumer Price Index. The change applies only to Newton's local ordinances and takes effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for minor municipal ordinance violations, expanding criminalization without reform elements, aligning with 'oppose' indicators.90% confidence

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in committee · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 22, 2026

S 2858: An Act to build restorative family and community connection

Senate, January 22, 2026 -- The committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1720) of Liz Miranda, Joanne M. Comerford, Mike Connolly, James B. Eldridge and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to regulating visits in state prisons and correctional facilities, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2858).

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill regulates prison visits to build restorative family/community connections, aligning with rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts

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in committee · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 9, 2026

S 2955: An Act to reduce exclusionary discipline for grooming and dress code violations

Senate, February 9, 2026 -- The committee on Education, to whom was referred the petitions (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 359) of Paul R. Feeney for legislation to promote a healthy culture and climate within schools; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 368) of Adam Gomez, Michael J. Barrett, Joanne M. Comerford, Jason M. Lewis and other members of the Senate for legislation to reduce exclusionary discipline for grooming and dress code violations; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 376) of Patricia D. Jehlen for legislation to promote the education success of court involved children; (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 380) of Patricia D. Jehlen and James B. Eldridge for legislation to establish statewide targets for addressing persistent disparities in achievement and suspension and expulsion in public schools; and (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 387) of Robyn K. Kennedy for legislation relative to safer schools, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2955).

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill reduces exclusionary school discipline, directly addressing criminal justice reform by preventing minor infractions from escalating into justice system involvement (school-to-prison pipeline).95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationReduces exclusionary discipline for dress/grooming violations, promoting healthier school climate and protecting student access to education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Student Health

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in committee · Massachusetts · Senate Feb 9, 2026

S 2944: An Act establishing a jail and prison construction moratorium

February, , 2026 -- The committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2114) of Joanne M. Comerford, Rebecca L. Rausch, Michael J. Barrett, Jason M. Lewis and other members of the General Court for legislation to establish a jail and prison construction moratorium, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2944).

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesHalts state spending on new jail/prison construction, restricting budget allocation for corrections infrastructure.90% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeHalts new prison construction, reducing incarceration capacity aligns with criminal justice reform goals of decreasing prison populations.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections Courts

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 15, 2025

SD 3474: Restorative Justice Advisory Committee (RJAC) 2024 annual report

Report of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (pursuant to Section 202 of Chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018) submitting its Restorative Justice Advisory Committee (RJAC) 2024 annual report

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandated annual report on Restorative Justice Advisory Committee, supporting reform-focused criminal justice initiatives per 2018 law.85% confidence

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in committee · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 18, 2025

S 2764: An Act to secure housing for returning citizens

Senate, December 18, 2025 -- The committee on Housing to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 996) of Adam Gomez for legislation to secure housing for returning citizens, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2764).

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeSecures housing for returning citizens, reducing recidivism through reentry support - directly aligns with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingBill explicitly secures housing for returning citizens, addressing housing access barriers for a vulnerable group, advancing affordable housing access.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Homelessness

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Jan 27, 2026

H 4858: An Act to update expungement

This bill (H 4858) updates Massachusetts expungement law by restricting access to sealed or expunged criminal records. It prohibits anyone from making these records available for inspection, including by employers or background check services, unless the information is used solely for statistical or research purposes without identifying individuals. The bill directly affects people whose records have been sealed under sections 100A, 100B, or 100C, or expunged under sections 100F, 100G, 100H, or 100K. Key changes include broadening restrictions to cover all expungement categories and clarifying that research data must not reveal personal identities. The bill is currently pending in the House committee.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRestricts access to sealed records, reducing employment barriers for individuals with expunged convictions - a key criminal justice reform measure.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Firearms

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Jan 29, 2026

H 4999: An Act to protect victims of stalking in violation of harassment prevention orders

This bill requires law enforcement to notify victims when harassment prevention orders (for stalking or harassment) are served, not served, or expire. It directly affects victims of stalking who have these court orders by ensuring they receive timely updates about the order's status. Key provisions mandate that police inform victims within 12 hours if an order isn't served, then every 24 hours until service is complete, and also notify them if the order expires. The law applies to both temporary and permanent orders under Chapters 209A and 258E of Massachusetts law.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects victims via mandatory law enforcement notifications on stalking order status, enhancing victim safety and court order enforcement in criminal justice.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Domestic Violence Law Enforcement

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Jul 9, 2026

H 4986: An Act relative to therapeutic psilocybin treatment centers

H 4986 establishes a 5-site pilot program for non-profit therapeutic psilocybin centers in specific Massachusetts regions (western, central, North Shore, South Shore, and Metro Boston). Licensed centers, operated by trained medical professionals, must provide supervised treatment in safe facilities with qualified staff, adhere to safety protocols, and maintain affordable pricing. The bill protects participants, staff, and facility owners from criminal charges or penalties for lawful participation in licensed centers. It requires the Department of Public Health to report annually on program data, including participant visits, referrals, and safety outcomes, for review by legislative committees.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill decriminalizes therapeutic psilocybin use by shielding participants/staff from criminal penalties, reducing unnecessary criminalization in line with reform goals.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes regulated mental health treatment centers using psilocybin, expanding access to novel therapeutic services under healthcare framework.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Public Health

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in committee · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 31, 2025

S 2874: An Act to increase opportunity by ending debt-based driving restrictions

Senate, December 31, 2025 -- The committee on Transportation to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2368) of Julian Cyr, Joanne M. Comerford, David Paul Linsky, Jason M. Lewis and other members of the General Court for legislation to end debt-based driving restrictions and remove economic roadblocks, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2874).

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEnds debt-based driving restrictions, reducing economic barriers in criminal justice system and promoting opportunity through reform95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationEnds debt-based driving restrictions, removing economic barriers to transportation access, advancing equitable mobility.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Courts Driver Licensing

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