Bill > S1270

This bill proposes several changes to Massachusetts law aimed at enhancing public safety and protecting residents from potentially dangerous individuals. First, it creates a new criminal offense with significant penalties (up to 10 years in state prison) for anyone who unlawfully tampers with or destroys geolocation monitoring devices, breath-testing instruments, or other mechanisms used to track compliance with pretrial release, probation, or parole conditions. Second, the bill expands the list of offenses for which a person can be detained before trial based on perceived dangerousness, including a wide range of felonies, violent crimes, domestic violence offenses, sex crimes, and drug-related offenses. Third, it mandates that individuals charged with certain serious offenses must be brought to trial quickly and gives their cases priority in the court system. Finally, the bill requires that for certain serious charges involving abuse or violence, the alleged victim must be notified before the accused is released from custody, with a maximum 6-hour hold to facilitate victim notification. These provisions are designed to provide more tools for law enforcement and courts to prevent potential repeat offenses and ensure victim safety.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1270