Bill > H3303

This bill establishes an Office of Restorative Justice within the Executive Office for Administration and Finance to promote and support restorative justice practices across Massachusetts. The office will be led by a director with substantial professional experience in restorative justice, who will oversee efforts to build restorative justice capacity across multiple disciplines. Restorative justice, as defined in the bill, involves victim-centered practices like conferences, circles, and other community-based approaches that aim to heal harm and can be used at any point before, during, or after court involvement. The office will have broad responsibilities including designing and funding restorative justice programs, creating best practice standards, conducting educational programs, serving as a resource repository, and promoting restorative justice initiatives. A statewide advisory committee of up to 18 members, equally composed of government and non-government representatives from diverse backgrounds, will guide the office's work. The director can establish fees for services, accept grants and contributions, and will be required to submit an annual report detailing the office's activities and financial information to various state leadership and legislative committees by December 31st each year.

Government Affairs

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H3303