Bill > S1054

This bill aims to improve data collection in the juvenile justice system by establishing comprehensive reporting requirements for various state agencies and departments. The bill requires the Child Advocate to produce an annual report by December 31st detailing statistical data on juvenile interactions with the justice system, which will be shared with key government officials and made public. Agencies such as police departments, court systems, district attorneys, probation offices, and the Department of Youth Services will be required to collect and provide detailed data about juvenile justice interactions, including information on arrests, court proceedings, diversion programs, detention, and other critical decision points. The data must be cross-tabulated and allow analysis by demographic categories like age, gender, race, sexual orientation, and geographic location, with an emphasis on protecting individual juveniles' identities. The bill also adds definitions for terms like "gender identity" and "sexual orientation" and expands the scope of data collection to include child welfare systems. Agencies that cannot fulfill data requests must submit detailed explanations and potential budget requirements for improving their data collection capabilities. The overall goal is to create a more transparent and comprehensive understanding of how juveniles interact with the justice system in Massachusetts.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1054