Bill > S1284

This bill modifies Massachusetts law regarding electronic surveillance and wiretap warrants by expanding the circumstances under which law enforcement can use electronic surveillance. Specifically, the bill broadens the definition of "designated offenses" for which wiretaps can be authorized, adding first-degree murder to the existing list of crimes primarily associated with organized crime. The legislation emphasizes that electronic surveillance should only be used when traditional investigative methods have been ineffective or are unlikely to succeed, and must be conducted under strict judicial supervision. The bill expands the rationale for using such surveillance techniques, acknowledging that in certain specific circumstances, modern electronic monitoring methods may be necessary to investigate crimes that are not directly linked to organized criminal activities. By making these changes, the bill aims to provide law enforcement with additional tools to investigate serious criminal offenses while maintaining judicial oversight to protect individual privacy rights.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S1284