Bill > H1677

This bill proposes to create a new section in Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 265, to address the penalty for rape of a child under 14 years of age by force. Specifically, it mandates that anyone who has sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse with a child under 14 and compels them to submit through force or threat of bodily injury will be punished by imprisonment in state prison for life or for any term of years, but with a minimum sentence of 30 years. This minimum sentence cannot be reduced, suspended, or eligible for probation, parole, work release, furlough, or good conduct deductions until 30 years have been served, and prosecutions cannot be continued without a finding, sealed, or placed on file. Furthermore, if the offense is committed while armed with a firearm, rifle, shotgun, machine gun, or assault weapon, the sentence will be life or a term of years, but not less than 45 years. For individuals over 18 committing a second or subsequent offense, the sentence will be life imprisonment, with similar restrictions on sentence reduction, suspension, and eligibility for early release programs.