Bill > H1797

This bill aims to reduce mass incarceration in Massachusetts by making several changes to the state's criminal justice system. The key provisions include: 1. Allowing prisoners serving multiple life sentences to become eligible for parole after 25 years of their second or most recent sentence, instead of being ineligible for parole. 2. Removing the parole ineligibility for prisoners serving life sentences for first-degree murder committed at age 18 or older. 3. Allowing prisoners convicted of first-degree murder to be eligible for parole after a term of years fixed by the court, rather than being ineligible for parole. 4. Reducing the minimum term for life sentences for first-degree murder committed by minors aged 14-18 to 15-20 years, with consideration of mitigating and exacerbating circumstances. 5. Establishing a Restorative Justice program within prisons to facilitate reconciliation between offenders, victims, and the community. 6. Mandating that no person shall be imprisoned for more than 25 years without a parole hearing. The overall goal of this bill is to reform the state's sentencing and parole policies to reduce the length of incarceration and provide opportunities for rehabilitation and reconciliation.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H1797