Bill > H4114

This bill establishes a comprehensive approach to addressing unsolved homicides in Massachusetts by creating three key components: an Office of Unsolved Homicides within the Attorney General's office, a Statewide Unsolved Homicides Task Force, and a state-wide database of unsolved homicide cases. The Office of Unsolved Homicides will allow immediate family members of homicide victims whose cases have remained unsolved for more than three years to petition for a full reinvestigation, with the office required to provide a detailed written response within 90 days. The Statewide Unsolved Homicides Task Force will be composed of various law enforcement and community representatives, tasked with investigating unsolved homicides, establishing investigative teams, creating a toll-free tip line and website for reporting information, and submitting annual reports on their progress. A new state-wide database will be maintained to collect and share comprehensive information about unsolved homicide cases, ensuring interoperability with federal databases. Additionally, the bill creates an Unsolved Homicides Task Force Fund, which will be financed through federal grants, private donations, state appropriations, asset forfeiture funds, and an initial transfer of $10 million from the General Fund, to support the task force's operations and investigations.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H4114