1 of 1
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3412 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1848
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
Kate Lipper-Garabedian
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to judicial discretion for probation.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Kate Lipper-Garabedian32nd Middlesex1/17/2025 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3412 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1848
By Representative Lipper-Garabedian of Melrose, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
1848) of Kate Lipper-Garabedian relative to judicial discretion for probation. The Judiciary.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1634 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_______________
In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
_______________
An Act relative to judicial discretion for probation.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Section 87 of chapter 276 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the
2following paragraph:-
3 “A judge may exercise discretion in placing a defendant on probation and consider the
4following:
5 (i) age;
6 (ii) nature of the defendant’s military service, if any;
7 (iii) education;
8 (iv) injuries or wounds sustained;
9 (v) military discipline record, if the defendant served in the military; 2 of 2
10 (vi) past and current medical status;
11 (vii) family and medical psychological reports;
12 (viii) nature of past criminal convictions, if any;
13 (ix) age of previous criminal convictions, if any;
14 (x) employment status;
15 (xi) arrest record;
16 (xii) nature of current criminal matter and, if violent, the nature and extent of any injuries
17to the victim and the relationship of victim to defendant;
18 (xiii) the availability of family and community support systems;
19 (xiv) the proposed probation terms; and
20 (xv) any other facts or circumstances having a bearing on pre-trial probation."