Criminal Justice

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 4, 2025

S 1689: An Act eliminating no cost calls for violent incarcerated individuals

By Mr. Fattman, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1689) of Ryan C. Fattman for legislation to eliminate no cost calls for violent incarcerated individuals. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeEliminates free calls for violent inmates, restricting communication rights and aligning with punitive correctional policies rather than reform.85% confidence

Tags Public Safety

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 4, 2025

S 1639: An Act protecting inmate safety and the expenditure of state funds

By Mr. Barrett, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1639) of Michael J. Barrett for legislation to protect inmate safety and the expenditure of state funds. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly protects inmate safety, a core correctional aspect of criminal justice, aligning with reform goals to improve facility conditions and safety standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jan 15, 2026

S 1643: An Act relative to access to community corrections

By Mr. Brownsberger, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1643) of William N. Brownsberger for legislation relative to access to community corrections. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill focuses on improving access to community corrections programs, a core criminal justice reform strategy aimed at reducing incarceration and promoting rehabilitation.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Jun 26, 2025

S 108: An Act protecting youth during custodial interrogations

By Ms. Creem, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 108) of Cynthia Stone Creem for legislation protecting youth during custodial interrogations. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly protects youth during custodial interrogations, aligning with criminal justice reform by safeguarding civil rights and enhancing police accountability for vulnerable populations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 19, 2026

H 2702: An Act to protect correctional officers

By Representative Soter of Bellingham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2702) of Michael J. Soter and others for legislation to protect correctional officers. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly protects correctional officers, directly supporting corrections within the criminal justice system per its title and summary.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill explicitly protects correctional officers (a workforce) by improving workplace safety, a core Labor & Employment topic. No ambiguity in intent to safeguard workers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Corrections

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in committee · Massachusetts · House Sep 11, 2025

H 4470: An Act to implement recommendations of the Commission on structural racism in the parole process

This bill restructures Massachusetts' parole board and requires new data collection to address racial disparities in the parole process. It mandates that at least 3 board members have mental health/social work experience, includes at least one formerly incarcerated person (who completed parole 3+ years ago), and requires the board to annually publish detailed demographic data on parole violations, revocations, and processing times broken down by race, ethnicity, and gender. The bill also requires parole boards to provide specific written justifications for decisions and detail required services for denied applicants. These changes directly affect incarcerated individuals seeking parole, parole board members, and correctional facilities managing parole cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAddresses racial disparities in parole via data transparency, diverse board composition, and reform mandates, directly advancing criminal justice reform goals.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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passed · Massachusetts · House Apr 23, 2026

H 2687: An Act relative to protecting Massachusetts residents against federal government surveillance

By Representative Rogers of Cambridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2687) of David M. Rogers and Patrick Joseph Kearney relative to personal data access by criminal justice agencies. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill restricts personal data access by criminal justice agencies to protect civil rights against surveillance, aligning with reform indicators like privacy safeguards.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill restricts criminal justice agencies' access to personal data, strengthening privacy protections against surveillance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Data Privacy

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 4, 2025

S 1723: An Act establishing the Massachusetts correctional officer accountability and standards training Commission

By Ms. Miranda, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1723) of Liz Miranda and William N. Brownsberger for legislation to establish the Massachusetts correctional officer accountability and standards training Commission. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes commission for correctional officer accountability and training, enhancing oversight and standards in corrections per criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

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passed · Massachusetts · House Apr 2, 2026

H 839: An Act increasing voter registration and participation to help prevent recidivism

By Representative Holmes of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 839) of Russell E. Holmes relative to increasing voter registration and participation of people incarcerated for felony convictions to help prevent recidivism. Election Laws.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly targets recidivism reduction via felony voter registration, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators like rehabilitation and reintegration.95% confidence

Tags Elections

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1794: An Act relative to school and public threats

By Representative Jones of North Reading, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1794) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and others relative to the penalties for knowingly communicating false reports of active shooting incidents at schools. The Judiciary.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill imposes penalties for false active-shooter reports, expanding criminalization of non-violent speech, opposing reform efforts to reduce punitive measures.90% confidence

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