Bill > S1145

This bill amends Section 15D of Chapter 265 in Massachusetts law to provide a more comprehensive and specific definition of strangulation. The new definition expands the legal understanding of strangulation to include any intentional, knowing, or reckless act of impeding a person's normal breathing or blood circulation by applying pressure to the throat or neck. Importantly, the definition does not require visible injury to be present, nor does it mandate proof of an intent to kill or cause prolonged harm to the victim. This change broadens the legal interpretation of strangulation, which could potentially make it easier to prosecute cases involving this type of assault by removing some of the previous evidentiary barriers that might have made such charges more difficult to prove.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1145