MA S1638

Bill

Relative to media access and transparency in correctional facilities

Introduced
03/29/2021

In Committee
03/29/2021

Crossed Over

Passed

Dead
12/31/2022

Introduced Session

192nd General Court

Bill Summary

For legislation relative to media access and transparency in correctional facilities. Public Safety and Homeland Security.

AI Summary

This bill aims to increase media access and transparency in correctional facilities in Massachusetts. It defines "news media representatives" as individuals from various media outlets, including radio, television, newspapers, magazines, news services, and news websites. The bill grants news media representatives the right to visit and have confidential communications with incarcerated individuals, without restrictions based on housing placement or disciplinary sanctions. It also requires correctional facilities to provide an online system for media representatives to register their contact information, which must be made available to all incarcerated individuals. Additionally, the bill prohibits retaliation against incarcerated individuals for communicating with news media representatives and requires the Commissioner of Correction and Sheriffs to update regulations and policies accordingly.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (3)

Becca Rausch (D)*, Jo Comerford (D), Dave Rogers (D),

Last Action

Accompanied a study order, see S2967 (on 07/07/2022)

Official Document

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S1638

(12 Companion Bills)

Version:

Document Type	Source Location
State Bill Page	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S1638
Bill	https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/S1638.pdf

Bill	Bill Name	Last Action	Type
H1475	Limiting the use of prison labor	Accompanied a study order, see H4844	Similar To
H1613	Affecting the housing of prisoners	Accompanied a study order, see H4844	Similar To
H1982	Relative to social media privacy protection	Accompanied S1170	Similar To
H2513	Relative to media access and transparency in correctional facilities	No further action taken	Similar To
H3689	Providing for prisoners of war	No further action taken	Similar To
S1170	Relative to social media privacy protection	Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means	Similar To
S1578	To provide criminal justice reform protections to all prisoners in segregated confinement	Accompanied a study order, see S2969	Similar To
S1908	Relative to reducing recidivism and employment discrimination against released prisoners	Accompanied a study order, see H5250	Similar To
S2404	Providing for prisoners of war	Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means	Similar To
S2967	Order relative to authorizing the joint committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security to make an investigation and study of a certain current Senate document relative to media access and transparency in correctional facilities	Discharged to the committee on Senate Rules	Replaced by
S302	Relative to media literacy	Accompanied a study order, see S2756	Similar To
S986	Relative to the free flow of information	Accompanied a study order, see S2665	Similar To

Bill > S1638

MA S1638

summary

Introduced Session

Bill Summary

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Sponsors (3)

Last Action

Official Document

bill text

bill summary

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