HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2959        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1748

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Kate Lipper-Garabedian

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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 bill:

An Act relative to judicial discretion for probation.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 2959        FILED ON: 2/18/2021

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 1748

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Second General Court
(2021-2022)

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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:
 

SECTION 1. Section 87 of chapter 276 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:-

“A judge may exercise discretion in placing a defendant on probation and consider the following:

(i) age;

(ii) nature of the defendant’s military service, if any;

(iii) education;

(iv) injuries or wounds sustained;

(v) military discipline record, if the defendant served in the military;

(vi) past and current medical status;

(vii) family and medical psychological reports;

(viii) nature of past criminal convictions, if any;

(ix) age of previous criminal convictions, if any;

(x) employment status;

(xi) arrest record;

(xii) nature of current criminal matter and, if violent, the nature and extent of any injuries to the victim and the relationship of victim to defendant;

(xiii) the availability of family and community support systems;

(xiv) the proposed probation terms; and

(xv) any other facts or circumstances having a bearing on pre-trial probation."