Bill > H3350

This bill makes several changes to the provision of indigent defense counsel in Massachusetts. It removes the requirement for the court to review a defendant's indigency status every 6 months. It also allows a judge to determine at arraignment that a defendant charged with certain misdemeanors or municipal ordinance violations will not be incarcerated, and therefore does not need to be appointed counsel, unless the prosecutor later notifies the court that they will recommend incarceration. Additionally, the bill establishes two committees to (1) define a new standard of indigency for appointing counsel, and (2) determine which state agency should be responsible for verifying indigency. These changes aim to streamline the process of appointing counsel for indigent defendants.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/191/H3350