Bill > H826

This bill establishes the Massachusetts Innocence Commission, a commission that will analyze the circumstances of innocent persons being charged, prosecuted, convicted, and incarcerated. The commission will advise the legislature on the causes and factors associated with wrongful convictions, consider and recommend reforms to investigative, prosecutorial, judicial, and other processes, and propose legislation to reduce the likelihood of innocent persons being convicted of crimes. The commission will evaluate current practices and make recommendations in areas such as post-conviction access to DNA and forensic evidence, eyewitness identification procedures, videotaping of questioning, use of informants' testimony, compliance with disclosure of exculpatory information, law enforcement training, forensic laboratory operations, and oversight and disciplinary structures for misconduct. The commission will be composed of various stakeholders, including representatives from the public defender's office, attorney general's office, state police, criminal defense lawyers, corrections staff, police chiefs, district attorneys, forensic scientists, and community/civil rights organizations.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H826