Bill > S2467

This bill establishes a new chapter in the General Laws dedicated to restorative justice, which is defined as a voluntary process where parties involved in a criminal offense, community members, and other impacted individuals collectively identify and address harms, needs, and obligations to understand the impact of a crime, requiring the offender to accept responsibility and make reparation. It introduces "community-based restorative justice programs" as a means to engage these parties in developing plans for repair. The bill mandates that restorative justice principles be utilized as an option for criminal and juvenile justice practitioners to reduce recidivism and the likelihood of more serious crimes, with participation being voluntary for both juvenile and adult offenders and requiring consent from the court, district attorney, and victim where applicable; successful completion of such a program can lead to the dismissal of charges. However, individuals charged with sexual offenses, domestic violence, or offenses resulting in serious bodily injury are ineligible. Communications and work product from these programs are considered confidential and inadmissible as evidence of guilt, though they can be used if obtained from an independent source. The bill also creates an advisory committee composed of representatives from various government agencies, legal professionals, and community programs to oversee, monitor, and make recommendations regarding these restorative justice programs, with a mandate to report annually on their findings and approved programs.