By Representative Haggerty of Woburn, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2857) of Richard M. Haggerty relative to court officers injured in service of the Commonwealth. Public Service.
By Representative Uyterhoeven of Somerville, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2721) of Erika Uyterhoeven for legislation to authorize persons committed to a state correctional facility privileged contact with members of the General Court. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
By Mr. Crighton, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1061) of Brendan P. Crighton, Cynthia Stone Creem, Liz Miranda, Joanne M. Comerford and other members of the General Court for legislation to promote public safety and better outcomes for young adults. The Judiciary.
By Ms. Miranda, a 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. Public Safety and Homeland Security.
This bill creates a new compensation program for individuals wrongfully convicted of felonies in Massachusetts, directly affecting those who served at least one year in prison for a conviction later overturned or pardoned with a statement of reasonable innocence. It establishes a dedicated division within the Attorney General's office to process claims, requiring applicants to submit a sworn statement of innocence, proof of incarceration, and court documents showing conviction reversal or pardon. The division must review claims within 30 days, issue immediate payments if eligibility is clear, or schedule a hearing within 60 days if additional documentation is needed. Eligibility requires the conviction to be for a felony (not resolved by a guilty plea), the individual to have served prison time, and either a governor's pardon with innocence language or a court-ordered reversal with no subsequent felony charges.
By Mr. Montigny, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1192) of Mark C. Montigny, Christopher Hendricks, Dennis C. Gallagher, Steven George Xiarhos and other members of the General Court for legislation to provide a DNA exception for statute of limitations on sex offenses. The Judiciary.
By Ms. Friedman, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1114) of Cindy F. Friedman, Adam Gomez, Joanne M. Comerford, John F. Keenan and other members of the General Court for legislation to provide easier and greater access to record sealing. The Judiciary.
This bill amends Massachusetts' Superior Court release conditions to give judges clearer authority to impose specific restrictions on defendants. It removes a limitation ("and may") that previously restricted judges' ability to add conditions, and adds new language allowing judges to require defendants to avoid contact with alleged victims or witnesses as a condition of release. The key change directly affects defendants awaiting trial who are released before court proceedings. These provisions aim to strengthen protections for victims and witnesses during pretrial release.
This bill mandates that all Massachusetts courts must provide due process of law to every litigant, as required by the Massachusetts Constitution and U.S. Constitution. It requires courts to follow specific procedural rights - including notice, answer, jury trial, discovery, and appeal - in every case, while prohibiting discrimination based on race, gender, disability, or financial status. The bill also ensures equal access to public hearings and records, and states that any court proceeding failing to meet these standards lacks jurisdiction. It directly affects all Massachusetts courts and every person involved in a legal case within the state.
This bill modifies Massachusetts law to reduce barriers for people with unconvicted or pending criminal charges. It requires automatic sealing of records for offenses that didn't result in conviction (removing waiting periods and court petitions), adds a written notice about the presumption of innocence when sharing such records, and ensures juveniles' records are sealed automatically without requiring them to file requests. The changes directly affect individuals charged but not convicted, including juveniles, by streamlining access to sealed records without court orders. Key provisions include reducing the number of offenses triggering collateral consequences and eliminating requirements for individuals to petition for record sealing.
