Criminal Justice (Policing)

introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 398: An Act to enhance courthouse security

This bill (SD 398) amends court security provisions to expand the police powers of court officers. It allows court officers to perform police duties and exercise police powers in assigned courthouse areas, adjacent grounds (including parking lots), and specific situations like escorting jurors or detainees - when authorized by a chief justice. The change applies directly to court officers and those designated by the chief justice of the trial, supreme, or appeals courts. It modifies Section 70A of Chapter 221 of the General Laws to formalize these expanded security responsibilities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill expands court officers' police powers for courthouse security, directly strengthening operational safety within the criminal justice system's court infrastructure.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1245: An Act relative to critical incident intervention by emergency service providers

This bill amends an existing law to explicitly include police dispatchers and 911 operators under critical incident intervention programs for emergency service providers. It directly affects these communication professionals by expanding their coverage under current protections. The key mechanism is a simple textual addition to Section 20O of Chapter 233, inserting "police dispatcher or 911 operator" after "firefighter" in the law. No new requirements or funding are introduced - only a clarification of who is covered.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands critical incident intervention to police dispatchers/911 operators, strengthening support for emergency personnel in criminal justice response95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 472: An Act expanding access to mental health services and strengthening risk assessment protocols

SD 472 expands who can initiate emergency mental health hospitalization by adding licensed mental health counselors to the list of professionals authorized to request a 3-day hold for individuals posing a risk of serious harm to themselves or others. The bill amends Chapter 123 to include licensed mental health counselors alongside physicians, psychologists, and clinical social workers when evaluating emergency cases, and allows them to apply directly for hospitalization. It also updates provisions to include counselors in police officer protocols for emergency referrals. This change directly affects mental health counselors by granting them new authority in crisis situations and impacts individuals in acute mental health crises by expanding access to emergency evaluation. The bill modifies existing emergency protocols without creating new services or funding.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands mental health access to reduce criminal justice involvement, aligning with reform goals of diverting individuals from incarceration to treatment.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill expands mental health access by allowing licensed counselors to initiate emergency holds, directly improving patient access and supporting mental health services per topic description.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Mental Health

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 324: An Act to amend Section 35 of M.G.L. Ch. 123

This bill expands who can petition a court for the commitment of someone with an alcohol or substance use disorder. It adds Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselors (Levels I and II) and Licensed Social Workers to the existing list of eligible petitioners, which previously included police officers, physicians, spouses, blood relatives, guardians, and court officials. The change modifies Section 35 of Chapter 123 of Massachusetts law to include these two new professional categories. The bill takes effect upon passage.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands access to treatment-focused court commitments by adding healthcare professionals, aligning with rehabilitation-focused criminal justice reform.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands mental health professional access to court commitment petitions, supporting patient access to treatment for substance use disorders.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Substance Abuse

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2175: An Act facilitating better interactions between police officers and persons with autism spectrum disorder

This bill creates "blue envelopes" to improve police interactions with people who have autism spectrum disorder. The envelopes, available from the Registry of Motor Vehicles upon request, contain written communication tips for officers and instructions for placing them on a car's sun visor. They also hold a person's driver's license, registration, and insurance cards. The program will begin on July 1, 2026, and directly affects autistic individuals and their families during traffic stops or vehicle encounters with police.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill improves police interactions with autistic individuals during traffic stops, reducing miscommunication risks and protecting civil rights during law enforcement encounters.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1022: An Act relative to public safety retention in gateway municipalities

This bill creates a grant program to help gateway municipalities retain public safety staff. Gateway municipalities are defined as those with 35,000-250,000 residents, below-average income, and below-average bachelor's degree attainment. Eligible departments (fire, police, ambulance, etc.) can receive grants if they offer specific retention incentives like competitive wages, cost-of-living adjustments, or retention bonuses. Grant amounts are based on how many eligible incentives a department provides, and funds can be used to hire more staff or for other approved purposes.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill creates state grant program funding public safety retention, increasing government spending on essential services without tax changes.95% confidence ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeFunds public safety staff retention (including police) in gateway municipalities, directly supporting law enforcement, a core criminal justice component.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill funds retention incentives including competitive wages and bonuses for public safety staff, directly advancing workplace compensation standards under Labor & Employment.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Tags Public Safety

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1671: An Act relating to fair compensation for bilingual police officers

This bill establishes a state-funded program to provide pay incentives for police officers in Massachusetts cities and towns who speak languages commonly used by residents in their communities. It requires officers to meet a language proficiency standard (like the Massachusetts State Seal of Biliteracy) as verified by their department chief. Local governments can offer these incentives, and the state will reimburse them 50% of the costs for qualifying officers, based on annual documentation submitted to the Municipal Police Training Committee. The program directly affects bilingual police officers and their local departments, aiming to recognize language skills that support community engagement.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill funds bilingual police incentives to improve community communication and trust, advancing community-oriented policing within criminal justice reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2149: An Act ending unnecessary hospitalizations

HD 2149 requires mental health professionals and police to first explore community-based crisis alternatives - like Mobile Crisis Intervention, Behavioral Health Urgent Care, or peer-run programs - before seeking involuntary hospitalization for individuals experiencing mental health crises. The bill mandates that if a community alternative exists and the person consents, professionals must arrange transport to that option instead of hospitalization. It also requires the state department to collect and annually report demographic data (including age, race, and diagnosis) on all involuntary hospitalization applications to legislative committees. This policy directly affects people in mental health crises and the clinicians/police officers who determine their care pathways.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill diverts mental health crisis responses from hospitalization to community alternatives, reducing police involvement and preventing unnecessary system entry - aligning with criminal justice reform goals.85% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates community-based mental health crisis alternatives over hospitalization, improving access to non-institutional care and supporting mental health services95% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Mental Health

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3538: An Act providing equity and fairness to POST-certified police officers disabled by cardiac disease

This bill amends a state law to expand disability coverage for POST-certified police officers who become disabled by cardiac disease. It directly affects officers working for specific public safety units, including university police departments, Massachusetts Port Authority police, state university and community college police forces, environmental law enforcement, and Department of Mental Health campus police. The key change adds these entities to the list of covered employers under the existing disability benefit provision. This adjustment ensures these officers, previously excluded, now qualify for the same disability benefits as officers in other covered agencies. The bill does not alter benefit amounts or eligibility criteria - only expands which police forces are included.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeExpands disability coverage for police officers, strengthening law enforcement support within criminal justice system by ensuring medical protection for POST-certified officers.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands disability coverage for cardiac disease (health condition), directly advancing healthcare access for police officers under specific employers.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands disability coverage for police officers, strengthening worker benefits and workplace protections under employment standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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passed · Massachusetts · House Apr 23, 2026

H 2720: An Act related to public safety and police evidence review

By Representative Turco of Winthrop, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2720) of Jeffrey Rosario Turco that law enforcement departments provide resources to ensure officers can make accurate statements. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates law enforcement resources for officer statement accuracy, implying enhanced police accountability within criminal justice system procedures.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing

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