Bill > H1372

This bill establishes the Massachusetts Innocence Commission, a new body tasked with analyzing the circumstances surrounding innocent individuals being charged, prosecuted, convicted, and incarcerated, and to advise the legislature on reforms to prevent such wrongful convictions. The commission will examine various areas, including post-conviction access to forensic evidence, eyewitness identification procedures, the videotaping of interrogations, the use of informant testimony, the timely disclosure of exculpatory information (evidence that could prove a defendant's innocence), 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 trial expenses. The commission will be composed of representatives from various legal and correctional fields, including the Chief Counsel of Public Counsel Services, the Attorney General, the Colonel of the State Police, the President of the Massachusetts Association of Defense Lawyers, correctional staff, the President of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, a forensic scientist, a retired judge, and members from community and civil rights organizations, all serving three-year terms. The commission will meet at least quarterly in public sessions and will submit an annual report with recommendations for legislative or governmental action to the legislature, governor, and the public, with all reports and recommendations being public records.