By Representative Galvin of Canton, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1708) of William C. Galvin relative to criminalizing sexual assault of a passenger by a rideshare operator. The Judiciary.
This bill (HD 2295) increases penalties for inmates who assault correctional staff. It targets individuals in custody (in jails, prisons, or detention facilities) who use a dangerous weapon to assault officers, employees, volunteers, or contractors working in those facilities. The law mandates prison sentences of up to 20 years for such assaults, requiring the new sentence to be served after any existing unserved sentences. It defines "dangerous weapon" broadly to include homemade or custom objects designed to cause harm.
This bill strengthens penalties for crimes against banks and credit unions. It imposes a minimum 5-year prison sentence for armed robbery at banks or credit unions (with a 15-year minimum for repeat offenses), and a 30-month minimum for attempted robbery. The law explicitly includes "attempted robbery" of these institutions in the definition of criminal robbery. These changes directly affect bank/credit union employees, customers, and anyone committing such crimes, by increasing sentencing severity for offenses targeting financial institutions.
This bill (SD 787) expands when prosecutors can request pretrial detention based on dangerousness for defendants charged with specific serious offenses, such as violent crimes (e.g., burglary, assault with a weapon), sex offenses involving children, repeat offenses like third DUIs, or abuse violations under protection orders. It requires courts to use "clear and convincing evidence" to justify detention, not just a lower standard, and mandates annual analysis to ensure fair application across racial, gender, and ethnic groups. The bill also adds procedures for reopening hearings if new evidence emerges and requires courts to share data on dangerousness hearings with the public. It directly affects defendants charged with listed offenses and courts handling pretrial detention decisions.
This bill (HD 2077) creates new criminal penalties for assaulting sports officials during or related to sporting events. It classifies assaults causing basic bodily injury as a misdemeanor (up to 1 year in jail or $1,000 fine), assaults requiring medical care as a felony (up to 2 years or $2,000 fine), and assaults causing serious impairment as a felony (up to 5 years or $5,000 fine). Venues must post signs explaining these penalties and provide escorts to officials upon request, with violations carrying a $500 civil fine. The law directly affects individuals who assault officials and facilities hosting sporting events.
This bill extends time limits for both civil and criminal cases involving child sexual assault and rape. For civil cases under Title IX (e.g., school-related discrimination claims), it removes the standard 3-year filing deadline, instead applying a new provision specific to child sexual assault cases. For criminal prosecutions, it allows charges for indecent assault/battery or rape of a child (victim under 18) to be filed at any time, regardless of when the offense occurred. The bill directly affects victims of child sexual violence and the legal system handling these cases. It makes concrete policy changes to the statute of limitations for these specific offenses.
This bill permits Massachusetts law enforcement to use familial DNA searches (looking for relatives of crime scene DNA in the state database) and partial DNA matches (when DNA suggests a relative but isn't an exact match) to investigate unsolved violent crimes like rape, homicide, and unidentified persons. It requires strict oversight: a committee must review each request to ensure standard searches failed, all leads were exhausted, and the crime meets specific criteria. The bill prohibits creating new DNA databases outside the state's main system (CODIS) and limits access to results only to investigators handling the specific case. It directly affects law enforcement agencies and the individuals whose DNA might be searched under these limited circumstances.
HD 1760 amends Massachusetts law to clarify definitions related to sexual assault by law enforcement officers. It defines "control" to include supervising minors in training, interacting with suspects during investigations, or implying arrest power, and defines "coercion" to include threats of harm, schemes causing fear, or abuse of legal processes. The bill requires all law enforcement agencies to create and publicly post policies within 180 days prohibiting officers from engaging in sexual contact with suspects in prostitution investigations. These policies must specifically ban such conduct during active investigations. The bill directly affects law enforcement agencies and officers interacting with suspects.
This bill creates the "Massachusetts Survivors Act," allowing adults and children charged with crimes who are survivors of abuse, sexual assault, or human trafficking to seek relief in their criminal cases. Defendants can file a motion at any time after being charged, requesting pretrial diversion (suspended proceedings), reduced sentences, or postconviction relief, supported by evidence like court records, medical documentation, or expert testimony. The court must issue written findings on eligibility and sentence, and the Attorney General must annually report on all motions filed, granted, and demographic details. The law ensures no prior legal finding of abuse is required and protects defendants' constitutional rights during the process.
