Bill > S1220

This bill is a comprehensive measure aimed at strengthening protections for victims of crime and public safety by making significant changes to criminal justice procedures, particularly around pre-trial release and sentencing. The bill modifies several existing laws to enhance judicial discretion in releasing potentially dangerous defendants, expand conditions of release, and limit potential early release options for certain offenders. Key provisions include allowing judges to photograph and fingerprint defendants at arraignment, restricting probation, parole, and early release options for specific crimes, creating new criminal penalties for interfering with monitoring devices, and establishing more stringent requirements for pre-trial release decisions. The bill also creates a task force to develop recommendations for improving criminal history data and decision-making in the criminal justice system. Notably, the legislation includes provisions specifically designed to protect victims of abuse by giving courts more flexibility in setting release conditions and ensuring victims are notified of a defendant's release. The bill is described as an emergency measure necessary for immediate preservation of public safety, with most provisions aimed at providing judicial officers more tools to assess and mitigate potential risks when making pre-trial release decisions.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1220