Bill > H2270

This bill establishes the Massachusetts Innocence Commission, a new body tasked with analyzing why innocent people are charged, prosecuted, convicted, and incarcerated, and with advising the legislature on how to prevent such wrongful convictions. The commission will examine various aspects of the criminal justice system, including access to DNA and forensic evidence after conviction, eyewitness identification procedures, the recording of suspect interrogations, the use of informant testimony, the timely disclosure of evidence that could prove innocence (known as exculpatory information), law enforcement training, the reliability of forensic labs, oversight of misconduct by police, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges, and the costs associated with legal representation and investigations. The commission will be composed of representatives from various legal and correctional fields, including public counsel services, the Attorney General's office, state police, defense attorneys, correctional staff, police chiefs, district attorneys, a forensic scientist, a retired judge, and members of community and civil rights organizations, with members serving three-year terms. The commission will meet at least quarterly in public meetings and will submit an annual report with recommendations for legislative or other government action by December 15th, making these reports and recommendations public records.