Bill > H1900

This bill aims to prevent juvenile adjudications from being used to impose mandatory minimum sentences or enhance adult criminal sentences. Specifically, the bill modifies several sections of Massachusetts law to clarify that any type of juvenile adjudication (including delinquent child or youthful offender adjudications, juvenile adjudications from other jurisdictions, or adult convictions from other jurisdictions that would be considered juvenile adjudications in Massachusetts) cannot be used as a prior conviction to trigger enhanced sentencing for adults or juveniles. The bill also provides retroactive relief, allowing individuals currently serving sentences where a juvenile adjudication was used as a predicate conviction to be resentenced without that adjudication being considered, with the important caveat that their new sentence cannot be longer than their original sentence. Additionally, the bill refines the definition of certain criminal offenses and removes provisions related to mandatory commitment periods for juveniles. The intent of the bill appears to be protecting young individuals from having their past juvenile legal encounters used against them in future criminal proceedings, recognizing the developmental differences between juvenile and adult offenders and promoting a more rehabilitative approach to juvenile justice.

Budget and Finance, Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H1900