Criminal Justice (Probation & Parole)

passed · Massachusetts · Senate Dec 4, 2025

S 1728: An Act to reform parole supervision in the interest of justice

By Ms. Miranda, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1728) of Liz Miranda for legislation to reform parole supervision in the interest of justice. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill explicitly reforms parole supervision to advance justice, aligning with criminal justice reform indicators like improving correctional systems.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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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 · House Oct 20, 2025

H 2030: An Act to implement recommendations of the Commission on structural racism in the parole process

By Representative Vargas of Haverhill, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2030) of Andres X. Vargas relative to structural racism in the parole process. The Judiciary.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAddresses structural racism in parole process, promoting criminal justice reform through systemic changes to reduce racial disparities in corrections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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passed · Massachusetts · Senate Oct 30, 2025

S 524: An Act relative to voting rights restoration

S 524, introduced by Senator Liz Miranda, would automatically restore voting rights to individuals with past felony convictions upon completion of their sentences. It directly affects people in Massachusetts who have served their prison terms or probation for felony offenses. The bill's key provision eliminates the need for a separate application or court order, ensuring voting rights are restored automatically without further action. This changes current law, which requires individuals to seek restoration through a separate process.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAutomatically restores voting rights for felons post-sentence, promoting reintegration and civil rights - key criminal justice reform indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Probation & Parole

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passed · Massachusetts · House Mar 26, 2026

H 2054: An Act to end mandatory life without the possibility of parole for the age of 21-25 and 364 days

By Representative Worrell of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2054) of Christopher J. Worrell for legislation to end mandatory life without the possibility of parole for certain young adults. The Judiciary.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill ends mandatory life without parole for young adults (21-25), reducing harsh sentencing and promoting rehabilitation, a core criminal justice reform.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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introduced · Massachusetts · Senate

SD 246: An Act promoting diversion of juveniles to community supervision and services

SD 246 promotes diversion of juveniles from formal court processing to community supervision and services by removing barriers that previously disqualified young people from diversion programs. The bill ensures that a referral to juvenile court for a child needing assistance does not disqualify them from diversion and clarifies that diverted cases do not count as criminal complaints for certain legal purposes. It also prevents law enforcement from sending fingerprints and arrest records of juveniles (for offenses committed before age 18) to federal agencies like the FBI, except when records are being sealed. These changes aim to reduce long-term negative impacts of juvenile justice involvement by expanding access to community-based alternatives.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticePromotes juvenile diversion to community services, removes barriers to reform, prevents criminalization of youth. Aligns with reform goals to reduce recidivism and enhance rehabilitation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Juvenile Justice Probation & Parole

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 624: An Act ensuring equitable access to cannabis related expungement

HD 624 simplifies expungement for certain cannabis-related convictions in Massachusetts. It requires courts to automatically clear court records for eligible offenses (like possession of small amounts of marijuana) upon request, without needing additional hearings or actions. The bill also directs correction officials to review prison records and identify inmates held solely for now-decriminalized marijuana offenses (pre-2016 or probation/parole violations related to marijuana), allowing them to apply for immediate release within 10 days. This directly affects people with past cannabis convictions and current inmates whose detention is based solely on marijuana-related charges that are no longer criminal. The law removes procedural barriers to expungement and streamlines release for eligible individuals.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeAutomatically expunges cannabis-related convictions, reducing barriers for affected individuals and advancing criminal justice reform through record clearance.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Drug Policy Probation & Parole

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 2172: An Act establishing a mandatory sentence for destruction, defacement or damage to burial tombs and grave markers

HD 2172 establishes a mandatory minimum 6-month prison sentence for anyone convicted of damaging or defacing burial tombs or grave markers. It directly affects individuals who vandalize cemetery sites, imposing strict sentencing requirements with no possibility of probation, parole, or sentence reduction below six months. The bill also requires fines of at least $1,000 and mandates that prosecutions proceed without delay or dismissal. These provisions aim to strengthen penalties for crimes targeting burial sites, ensuring consistent and severe consequences for offenders.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeMandatory 6-month sentence with no parole increases punitive measures, aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole Sentencing

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1639: An Act to enhance safety and security in courthouses

HD 1639 strengthens penalties for violence and threats against courthouse personnel and proceedings in Massachusetts. It increases maximum penalties for assaulting courthouse property during sessions (up to 3 years in state prison or $25,000 fine), disrupting court sessions (up to 3 years in prison or $5,000 fine), and threatening judges or court staff (up to 3 years in prison or $5,000 fine). The bill directly affects court staff, including judges, clerks, probation officers, and interpreters, by raising legal consequences for threats or violence related to their official duties. These changes amend existing laws in Chapters 265, 268, and 275 of the Massachusetts General Laws.

Topics ✗ Criminal JusticeOpposes Criminal JusticeIncreases penalties for courthouse violence (up to 3 years/prison), aligning with 'increases mandatory sentences' indicator, opposing reform-focused criminal justice policies.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill enhances workplace safety protections for courthouse staff (judges, clerks, etc.) by increasing penalties for violence/threats against them, directly aligning with workplace safety indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Probation & Parole

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introduced · Massachusetts · House

HD 1628: An Act requiring the inclusion of certain civil rights offense information in the statewide domestic violence recordkeeping system

This bill requires all domestic violence-related injunctions (temporary, preliminary, permanent, or final) issued under specific Massachusetts laws to be entered into the statewide domestic violence recordkeeping system. Clerks must send certified copies of these injunctions to the commissioner of probation for inclusion in the system. This information will then be accessible to judges reviewing new injunction requests and to criminal justice agencies via the state's criminal justice information system. The policy change ensures consistent access to complete domestic violence injunction records across relevant state systems.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeRequires domestic violence injunctions in statewide system, improving court access and victim protection per bill's purpose.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Civil Rights Domestic Violence Probation & Parole

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