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S 1276

An Act relative to dangerousness hearings

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by John Velis

Massachusetts bill establishing procedures and standards for court dangerousness hearings that evaluate whether individuals pose public safety threats and may result in preventive restrictions on liberty.

Reporting date extended to Friday July 31, 2026
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Bill Summary · S 1276

Legislative bill overview

S 1276 establishes procedures and standards for "dangerousness hearings" in Massachusetts, which are legal proceedings to determine whether someone poses a significant threat to public safety. The bill appears to create or modify the framework for how courts evaluate dangerousness claims and what evidence or criteria should be used in these determinations.

Why is this important

Dangerousness hearings can result in preventive detention or other restrictions on liberty before someone has been convicted of a crime. The standards and procedures used in these hearings directly affect both public safety outcomes and individual constitutional protections, making this a high-stakes balance between security and due process rights.

Potential points of contention

  • Due process concerns: Standards for proving "dangerousness" may be challenged as too vague or insufficiently protective of constitutional rights, particularly regarding burden of proof and evidentiary standards
  • Preventive detention authority: Defining the scope of government power to restrict freedom based on predictions of future behavior raises civil liberties questions about presumption of innocence
  • Consistency and fairness: Questions about whether criteria for dangerousness determinations will be applied equally across demographic groups and whether judges have adequate guidance to prevent arbitrary decisions

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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