Bill > S1211

This bill modifies conditions of release in Superior Court by amending Chapter 276 of the Massachusetts General Laws. Specifically, the bill expands the court's authority to impose restrictions on defendants who are released pending trial. The legislation allows judges to order defendants to avoid contact with alleged victims and potential witnesses as a condition of release, if the court determines such restrictions are necessary. This means that when a defendant is released before their trial, the court can now explicitly mandate that they stay away from people connected to the case, such as those who might testify against them. The bill makes technical changes to existing law by removing the word "and" from one line and inserting new language that gives courts more discretion in setting release conditions. By adding Section 57 to a referenced list in another section of the law, the bill ensures that these new provisions can be applied consistently across different types of criminal proceedings.

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https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1211