Bill > H3127

This bill, known as the Justice Safety Valve Act, would allow courts to depart from mandatory minimum sentences for criminal offenses under certain circumstances. Specifically, the court may deviate from the mandatory minimum if it finds substantial and compelling reasons that the mandatory minimum sentence is not necessary to protect the public and would result in substantial injustice to the defendant, or if the defendant is eligible for an alternative sentence or program based on a risk and needs assessment. The bill defines "non-violent offenses" and gives the court discretion to depart from mandatory minimums for such crimes. The bill also requires the district court clerk in each county to submit an annual report on these sentencing departures to the Massachusetts Sentencing Commission and state legislature.

Justice

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/190/H3127