Criminal Justice

passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 19, 2026

H 2638: An Act to reform parole

By Representative Holmes of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2638) of Russell E. Holmes relative to parole board employees. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill titled 'An Act to reform parole' directly addresses parole, a core criminal justice component. 'Reform' implies positive change to improve system outcomes, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate Jun 30, 2025

SD 3015: The Justice Reinvestment Policy Oversight Board 2025 Report

Report of the Executive Office of Technology Services & Security (pursuant Section 11 of Chapter 69 of the Acts of 2018) submitting its Justice Reinvestment Policy Oversight Board 2025 report

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill title references 'Justice Reinvestment,' a reform approach focused on reducing recidivism through community programs, indicating support for criminal justice reform.85% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · House Jun 25, 2025

H 620: An Act to ensure educational rights are upheld for incarcerated youth

By Representative Keefe of Worcester, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 620) of Mary S. Keefe and Antonio F. D. Cabral relative to educational rights for incarcerated youth. Education.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill ensures educational rights for incarcerated youth, promoting rehabilitation and reducing recidivism in corrections, a core criminal justice reform objective.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnsures educational access for incarcerated youth, directly advancing educational rights within K-12 system per bill title and summary.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jul 21, 2025

S 1709: An Act to save lives by distributing narcan to individuals at risk for an overdose

By Mr. Keenan, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1709) of John F. Keenan, James B. Eldridge and Patricia D. Jehlen for legislation to distribute Narcan to a detainee or prisoner at risk for an overdose upon discharge from a correctional facility. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeDistributes Narcan to detainees upon correctional facility discharge, directly reducing overdose deaths and advancing rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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passed · Massachusetts · House Dec 18, 2025

H 2582: An Act relative to police certification

By Representative Day of Stoneham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2582) of Michael S. Day for legislation to further regulate police certification. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRegulates police certification to enhance accountability, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators like oversight and standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

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passed · Massachusetts · House Apr 23, 2026

H 2637: An Act providing for greater police transparency

By Representative Holmes of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2637) of Russell E. Holmes relative to police transparency. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly promotes police accountability via transparency measures, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators like enhanced oversight.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Sep 11, 2025

H 4466: An Act to modernize the roles and responsibilities of the victim and witness assistance board

This bill updates Massachusetts' Victim and Witness Assistance Board to improve accessibility and clarify its duties. It requires the board to post rights summaries in courthouses and police stations in the top five non-English languages spoken in the state (per census data), and expands the board’s role to fund victim services, provide educational materials to agencies, manage the Garden of Peace memorial in Boston, and administer the SAFEPLAN program. The bill also updates gender-neutral language in the law and clarifies funding sources for victim services programs. These changes directly affect victims, witnesses, and service providers interacting with the state’s criminal justice system.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands victim services funding, accessibility, and educational materials for agencies, aligning with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Victims' Rights

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 27, 2026

S 1759: An Act relative to the diverse recruitment and reform of the Massachusetts State Police

By Mr. Rush, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1759) of Michael F. Rush for legislation relative to the diverse recruitment and reform of the Massachusetts State Police. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly addresses police reform and diverse recruitment, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators like accountability and systemic improvement.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 4, 2025

S 1724: An Act establishing a correctional inspector general office

By Ms. Miranda, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1724) of Liz Miranda, William N. Brownsberger and Joanne M. Comerford for legislation to establish a correctional inspector general office. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes correctional inspector general office to enhance oversight and accountability in corrections, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 18, 2025

S 1209: An act relative to gift card tampering

This bill makes unauthorized changes to gift card balances or activation a criminal offense. It directly affects businesses that sell gift cards and consumers who use them, as it targets individuals who tamper with cards to steal value. The key provision adds specific penalties for altering gift card data, including fines or imprisonment, and establishes clear legal definitions for the crime. This creates a direct legal deterrent against gift card fraud.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill criminalizes gift card tampering with penalties, expanding criminalization rather than advancing reform or protecting rights.85% confidence

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