Criminal Justice (Violent Crime)

in committee · Massachusetts · House Oct 15, 2025

HD 5223: An Act relative to penalties for assault and battery on a police officer

By Representative Xiarhos of Barnstable, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Steven George Xiarhos and others relative to penalties for assault and battery on a police officer. The Judiciary.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for assault on police officers, aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator under 'oppose' stance.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Policing Violent Crime

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 2063: An Act relative to corrections officer safety

By Representative Zlotnik of Gardner, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2063) of Jonathan D. Zlotnik and others relative to penalties for assault and battery upon corrections officers and other Department of Correction staff. The Judiciary.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for assault on corrections officers, directly enhancing staff safety within the corrections system, a core criminal justice protection measure.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill imposes penalties for assaults on corrections officers, strengthening workplace safety protections for this labor group.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2209: An Act relative to sexual assaults by adults in positions of authority or trust

HD 2209 strengthens penalties for sexual assaults committed by adults in positions of trust or authority over children. The bill targets individuals like teachers, coaches, mentors, caregivers, or family members who sexually assault minors (ages 14-17 or under 14) while in such roles or afterward. For victims aged 14-17, offenders face up to 10 years in prison; for victims under 14, sentences are life imprisonment with a mandatory minimum of 10 years (no probation, parole, or sentence reductions for 10 years). The law explicitly states children under 18 cannot consent and removes defenses based on the termination of the trusted relationship. This bill directly affects offenders in trusted roles and provides enhanced protections for child victims.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeStrengthens sentencing for sexual assaults by authority figures, increasing penalties to protect minors and hold offenders accountable under criminal justice system.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing Violent Crime

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passed · Massachusetts · House Oct 20, 2025

H 2060: An Act relative to assault and battery against healthcare personnel, school officials, and first responders

By Representative Xiarhos of Barnstable, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2060) of Steven George Xiarhos and Francisco E. Paulino relative to assault and battery against healthcare personnel, school officials, and first responders. The Judiciary.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for assaults against protected groups (healthcare, school, first responders), strengthening criminal justice protections by enhancing legal safeguards for vulnerable professionals.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareProtects healthcare personnel from assault, enhancing safety and support for healthcare services by addressing violence against providers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 18, 2025

S 1224: An Act establishing a domestic violence and sexual assault probation unit

By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1224) of Patrick M. O'Connor for legislation to establish a domestic violence and sexual assault probation unit. The Judiciary.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeEstablishes specialized probation unit for domestic violence/sexual assault cases, enhancing victim protection and specialized handling within criminal justice system.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Probation & Parole Violent Crime

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Aug 10, 2026

S 1247: An Act criminalizing sexual assault of a passenger by a rideshare operator

By Ms. Rausch, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1247) of Rebecca L. Rausch for legislation to criminalize sexual assault of a passenger by a rideshare operator. The Judiciary.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCriminalizes sexual assault by rideshare operators, protecting passenger safety and reinforcing legal accountability within criminal justice framework.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Violent Crime

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 1728: An Act relative to penalties for crimes against seniors

This bill (H 1728) proposes increasing penalties for certain crimes committed against seniors in Massachusetts. It would raise the severity of sentencing for offenses like assault, theft, or fraud targeting individuals aged 65 or older. The key provision requires courts to impose harsher punishments, such as longer jail terms or higher fines, for these specific crimes. This directly affects seniors who are vulnerable to such crimes and the criminal justice system responsible for sentencing.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeBill increases penalties for crimes against seniors, aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator for oppose stance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing Violent Crime

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1696: An Act to provide equitable sentencing for felony murder

This bill changes how murder charges apply to deaths occurring during other serious crimes. It removes the automatic "first-degree murder" classification for such deaths, requiring instead that prosecutors prove "deliberately premeditated malice aforethought, extreme atrocity or cruelty" to charge someone with first-degree murder. Otherwise, defendants face a 15-year minimum to life prison sentence for the underlying crime. The law applies retroactively, affecting people already convicted of murder related to felonies before the bill's effective date. It directly impacts individuals charged with murder during crimes like robbery or burglary.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill removes automatic first-degree murder classification for deaths during serious crimes, requiring proof of specific intent for harsher charges. This reduces excessive sentencing and aligns with criminal justice reform goals.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Sentencing Violent Crime

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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 JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates anonymized crime data disclosure for domestic violence/sexual assault cases, enhancing transparency and victim protection within criminal justice system - directly aligns with reform goals.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates anonymization of victim data to protect privacy, directly supporting data privacy protections under Technology policies.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Domestic Violence Policing Violent Crime

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 803: An Act relative to justice for survivors

SD 803, the Massachusetts Survivors Act, allows adults and children charged with crimes to request alternative resolutions if their alleged offenses were linked to past abuse, sexual assault, PTSD, or human trafficking. Defendants can file motions supported by evidence like court records, medical documentation, or expert testimony about trauma, requiring only a "prima facie showing" (sufficient evidence to suggest eligibility) rather than proof beyond a reasonable doubt. If eligible, courts may grant pretrial diversion (suspending charges for 3-24 months with conditions like counseling or community service), reduced sentences, or postconviction relief. The law mandates annual reporting by the Attorney General on motion statistics, including demographics, and prohibits using evidence presented under this act against defendants in future prosecutions.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill provides trauma-informed sentencing alternatives for survivors of abuse/trauma, reducing punitive measures and advancing criminal justice reform through rehabilitation-focused resolutions.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Violent Crime

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