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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1047 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1751
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Patrick M. O'Connor
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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
resolve:
Resolve establishing a commission to study the Commonwealth’s response to and resources for
victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Patrick M. O'ConnorFirst Plymouth and Norfolk 1 of 3
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1047 FILED ON: 1/15/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1751
By Mr. O'Connor, a petition (accompanied by resolve, Senate, No. 1751) of Patrick M. O'Connor
that provisions be made for an investigation and study by a special commission to study the
Commonwealth’s response to and resources for victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Public Safety and Homeland Security.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1576 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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Resolve establishing a commission to study the Commonwealth’s response to and resources for
victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
1 Resolved, Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, there shall be
2established a special commission to study the Commonwealth’s response to and resources for
3victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
4 (a) The commission shall be comprised of the following members: the commissioner of
5probation; the director of the juvenile court probation department; the director of the probate and
6family court probation department; the director of the office of community corrections; the
7director of the electronic monitoring center; the executive director of the governor’s council to
8address sexual assault and domestic violence; an assistant attorney general to be appointed by the
9attorney general; the secretary of the executive office of public safety and security; the director
10of the Massachusetts office for victim assistance; two SAFEPLAN advocates to be appointed by 2 of 3
11the director of the Massachusetts office for victim assistance; the director of Jane Doe Inc. of
12Boston; the director of New Hope, Inc. of Attleboro; the director of the South Shore Resource
13and Advocacy Center; the director of the Massachusetts intimate partner abuse education
14program; a law enforcement officer with experience in domestic violence and sexual assault
15cases to be appointed by the governor; the head of the domestic violence unit within the Boston
16police department; and two survivors of domestic abuse to be appointed by the governor. The
17board shall be chaired by the director of the Massachusetts office for victim assistance. Each
18such member may appoint a designee to serve in the member's place.
19 (b) The commission shall analyze current resource offerings to victims of domestic
20violence and sexual assault; study the efficiency of state departments in maintaining victim
21safety, including but not limited to probation departments; consider ways to provide robust
22opportunities for victim and community engagement, ongoing analysis, and oversight of
23probation department policies, practices, and procedures; analyze income-based privileges and
24disadvantages for victims in participating with probation proceedings; consider ways to ensure
25that victims are part of the probation process while holding offenders accountable and
26simultaneously reducing the rates of recidivism; analyze probation violation reporting advisories
27and other written resources and whether they are helpful, understandable, and effective for
28victims; and determine the feasibility of a complaint communication tool for victims to report
29probation officer misconduct.
30 (c) The first meeting of the commission shall take place no later than December 1, 2025
31and shall be organized by the director of the Massachusetts office for victim assistance. 3 of 3
32 (d) The commission shall produce a report of their findings and analysis along with any
33recommendations for legislation to the Clerks of the House and Senate and the chairs of the Joint
34Committee on the Judiciary no later than December 1, 2026.