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Bill

SD 1035

Victim and Witness Rights Program Plan Report

194th Legislature (2025-2026)

Massachusetts bill requiring the state to develop and report a comprehensive victim-witness assistance program plan with staffing, budget, and performance metrics to the legislature.

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Bill Summary · SD 1035

Legislative bill overview

SD 1035 requires the Massachusetts Office of Victim and Witness Rights to develop and submit a comprehensive program plan report to the legislature. The bill mandates inclusion of specific elements such as staffing needs, budget requirements, service delivery mechanisms, and performance metrics for victim and witness assistance programs across the state.

Why is this important

Victim and witness support directly affects criminal justice outcomes—including witness willingness to testify and victim recovery. This reporting requirement creates accountability for how the state allocates resources to these services and identifies gaps in current programming that may undermine public safety and justice system effectiveness.

Potential points of contention

  • Cost implications: Mandating comprehensive program expansion could require significant new state funding during budget constraints
  • Implementation scope: Unclear which agencies must comply and coordinate, potentially creating bureaucratic friction between victim services programs
  • Performance metrics debate: Disagreement over how to meaningfully measure victim/witness satisfaction and program success versus easily gamed numerical targets

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

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