Criminal Justice (Policing) in Massachusetts

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3034: An Act relative to police interactions with persons on the autism spectrum

HD 3034 requires Massachusetts law enforcement officers and correction officers to complete new in-service training by January 1, 2024, focusing on appropriate interactions with people on the autism spectrum and those with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The training, which must include at least 2 hours of instruction, covers topics like de-escalation techniques, understanding sensory processing differences, proper interrogation methods, and safe arrest procedures. It directly affects all municipal police departments, sheriff's offices, campus police, and correctional facilities statewide. The bill mandates that training include input from autistic adults and experts to address the unique needs of individuals with these conditions during police encounters.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Policing

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 697: An Act establishing the Dukes County Sheriff’s regional lockup fund

HD 697 establishes a dedicated Dukes County Sheriff Regional Lockup Fund administered by the Dukes County Sheriff’s Office. The fund provides state-funded regional lockup services for all towns in Dukes County, allowing arrested individuals (with or without warrant, in protective custody, or under civil process) to be detained at a centralized facility. Key provisions include granting police officers full authority during transport to the lockup facility, exempting participating towns from certain Chapter 40 requirements, and ensuring fund balances do not revert to the General Fund. This bill directly affects Dukes County towns and their law enforcement operations by creating a centralized, state-funded detention system.

Topics ✓ Budget & Taxes ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Policing

passed · Massachusetts · House Apr 23, 2026

H 2596: An Act further defining a hate crime

By Representative DeCoste of Norwell, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2596) of John E. Nelson, Mass Coalition of Police and others for legislation to further define hate crimes. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Policing

passed · Massachusetts · House Apr 23, 2026

H 2647: An Act to improve police training

By Representative Jones of North Reading (by request), a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2647) of John Walsh relative to basic and in-service training programs by the municipal police training committee. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 308: An Act relative to the establishment of minority recruitment and selection program

HD 308 requires all Massachusetts law enforcement agencies (including city/town police, sheriffs' departments, and campus police) to establish minority recruitment and selection programs. These programs must set specific, time-bound goals for hiring minorities and women to better reflect the communities they serve, and agencies must track progress through annual demographic reporting. Agencies must publicly post their recruitment plans and submit detailed data on officer demographics, applicant pools, and promotions to the Attorney General. The Attorney General will monitor compliance, publish annual summary reports, and develop guidelines for uniform implementation across all agencies. This law directly affects every law enforcement agency in Massachusetts by mandating transparency and targeted recruitment efforts.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Labor & Employment

Sub-Topics Policing

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1134: An Act to amend the civil rights law, in relation to reporting a non-emergency incident involving a member of a protected class

This bill creates a civil cause of action for individuals who are falsely reported to police based on their protected characteristics (race, gender, religion, disability, etc.). It prohibits intentionally reporting non-emergency incidents without reasonable suspicion of a crime, solely because of bias against a person's protected class. Victims can seek damages or court orders to stop such false reports, even without proving actual harm. The law applies specifically to false reports made due to bias, not to legitimate emergency calls.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Policing

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1681: An Act providing for greater police transparency

This bill establishes a permanent DJC task force to audit state and local agencies for demographic compliance and requires annual reports to the legislature. It mandates public disclosure of detailed demographic data on police hiring, traffic stops, officer discipline, and residential responses through agency websites (Section 17). The bill also requires law enforcement training to reflect community demographics and sets diversity hiring standards for agencies, with 50% of funding withheld if agencies fail to meet representation goals (Section 221). Additionally, it updates training requirements to prioritize non-lethal force and implicit bias education.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Policing

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3146: An Act relative to the examination of evidence rooms and evidentiary procedures

This bill requires Massachusetts law enforcement departments (including state police, municipal police, and transit police) to implement regular evidence room oversight. It mandates annual random-sampling audits (reviewing 10% or 50 evidence items, whichever is less) and semi-annual room inspections to verify proper storage, security, and documentation. Departments must submit written reports of these reviews to their leadership and the Secretary of Public Safety by January 30 each year. Failure to submit reports on time triggers a mandatory full audit by an independent entity, with the department covering the costs. The law aims to standardize evidence handling and accountability across all law enforcement agencies in the state.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Policing

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3218: An Act relative to civil asset forfeiture transparency and data reporting

HD 3218 requires Massachusetts law enforcement agencies (attorney general, district attorneys, police departments) to submit annual public reports detailing all civil asset forfeitures. The bill mandates a searchable public website with specific details for each seizure, including property description, location, value, seizure date, crime involved, and final outcome (e.g., property returned or sold). It directly affects law enforcement agencies conducting forfeitures and property owners whose assets are seized. Key mechanisms include standardized reporting deadlines (January 31 annually), itemized accounting per seizure, and requirements for agencies with no forfeitures to file a "null report." The bill aims to increase transparency around civil asset forfeiture practices without changing the underlying legal process.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice

Sub-Topics Policing

introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 3646: An Act to respect and protect domestic violence and sexual assault victims and survivors

This bill requires police departments, district attorneys, and other legal bodies to provide the public with anonymized statistics on domestic violence, sexual assault, rape, and abuse by family or household members. It mandates that all personal identifying information be removed from the data before release, following specific privacy rules in state law. The law directly affects law enforcement agencies, which must now respond to public data requests with redacted information. This creates a formal process for transparency while protecting victim privacy in reported cases.

Topics ✓ Criminal Justice ✓ Technology

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Policing Violent Crime

All criminal justice bills