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S 1751

Relates to penalties for certain crimes involving tampering with a witness or intimidating a victim or witness

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and 1 co-sponsor

A special commission will study Massachusetts’ response to domestic violence and sexual assault, assess victim resources and probation practices, and recommend policy changes.

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Bill Summary · S 1751

Summary — S.1751 (Resolve to establish a commission on the Commonwealth’s response to domestic violence and sexual assault)

Note on inconsistencies: the metadata provided with this request (bill title referencing witness‑tampering penalties, sponsors, and some committee actions) does not match the body of the bill text included. This summary focuses on the actual bill text submitted (a Massachusetts resolve establishing a special commission to study the Commonwealth’s response to and resources for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault).

Main purpose

Create a special commission to evaluate Massachusetts’ systems and resources for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, with a particular focus on how probation and related state departments interact with victim safety and participation. The commission will analyze current offerings, identify gaps, and recommend legislative or policy changes.

Key provisions

  • Establishes a special commission (a legislative resolve) to study the Commonwealth’s response to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
  • Membership (named positions and appointees):
    • Commissioner of Probation
    • Directors of juvenile court probation, probate & family court probation, office of community corrections, and the electronic monitoring center
    • Executive director of the Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence
    • Assistant Attorney General (appointed by the AG)
    • Secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security
    • Director of the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance (MOVAS) — chair of the commission
    • Two SAFEPLAN advocates (appointed by MOVAS director)
    • Directors of Jane Doe Inc. (Boston), New Hope, Inc. (Attleboro), South Shore Resource & Advocacy Center, and the Massachusetts Intimate Partner Abuse Education Program
    • One law enforcement officer with DV/SA experience (appointed by the governor)
    • Head of the Domestic Violence Unit, Boston Police Department
    • Two survivors of domestic abuse (appointed by the governor)
    • Members may appoint designees.
  • Scope of study and analysis:
    • Inventory and assessment of resources available to victims.
    • Evaluate efficiency of state departments (including probation) in maintaining victim safety.
    • Consider ways to increase victim and community engagement and oversight of probation policies/practices.
    • Examine income‑based barriers and privileges affecting victim participation in probation proceedings.
    • Explore mechanisms to include victims in probation processes while balancing offender accountability and recidivism reduction.
    • Review probation violation reporting advisories and other written materials for clarity and usefulness to victims.
    • Assess feasibility of a complaint/communication tool for victims to report probation officer misconduct.
  • Meetings and deliverables:
    • First meeting to be held no later than December 1, 2025, organized by the MOVAS director.
    • Final report with findings and recommended legislation due to the Clerks of the House and Senate and the chairs of the Joint Committee on the Judiciary by December 1, 2026.

Who is affected

  • Victims and survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault across Massachusetts.
  • Probation offices and officers, juvenile, probate & family courts, and related corrections and monitoring agencies.
  • Victim service providers and advocacy organizations named in the membership and the broader community of providers.
  • Law enforcement DV/SA units and the Attorney General’s office.
  • Policymakers: the Joint Committee on the Judiciary and state legislators who may act on recommendations.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • The text is a resolve (study commission), not an immediate statutory change.
  • Organizational deadline: first meeting by 12/01/2025.
  • Final report deadline: 12/01/2026.
  • The commission is empowered to produce legislative recommendations but does not itself change law.

If you would like, I can: (1) extract the commission’s membership into a one‑page checklist for outreach, (2) produce a short briefing memo for policymakers summarizing likely policy outcomes, or (3 compare this resolve to prior related legislation referenced in the text.

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

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