FILED ON: 2/29/2012

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 3985

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Twelve

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An Act Relative To Caseworkers at the Department of Youth Services.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

Section 1

            Chapter 18a is hereby amended by adding the following section:

“Section 10:  Whenever a caseworker or other employee of the department of youth services charged with the care, custody or supervision of a youthful or juvenile offender, any volunteer or employee of a contractor of the department of youth services charged with the care custody or supervision or any duly authorized employee of the department of youth services engaged in the transportation of a youthful or juvenile offender for any lawful purpose the department of youth services of the commonwealth notifies their immediate supervisor that an assault on said employee has been committed by a juvenile or youthful offender in the care and custody of the department of youth services, the department of youth services shall forthwith notify the nearest state police unit  and the  district attorney for the county in which such assault occurred. Upon notification the department shall immediately provide said district attorney and state police official with any and all documentation pertaining to said assault including but not limited to video and audio recordings, written reports and any other evidence in the possession of the department of youth services.”

Section 2

            Section 3 of Chapter 258B is hereby amended by adding the following at the end thereof:

            “(w) Where the victim or witness is an employee of the department of youth services, no law enforcement agency, prosecutor, defense counsel, or parole, probation or corrections official may disclose or state the residential address, telephone number, or place of employment or school of the victim, a victim's family member, or a witness, except as otherwise ordered by the court. The court may enter such other orders or conditions to maintain limited disclosure of the information as it deems appropriate to protect the privacy and safety of victims, victims' family members and witnesses;