HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4859

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, December 31, 2025.

The committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1685) of Tricia Farley-Bouvier, Brian M. Ashe and Jacob R. Oliveira relative to threats of suicide while in court custody, reports recommending that the accompanying bill (House, No. 4859) ought to pass.

For the committee,

MICHAEL S. DAY.

        FILED ON: 12/8/2025

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 4859

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)

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An Act relating to threats of suicide while in court custody.

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 36A of chapter 40 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2024 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the third and fourth paragraphs and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:

Whenever a person in custody attempts or threatens suicide at a lockup facility established under section 34 of chapter 40, at a correctional facility as defined by section 1 of chapter 125 or in transit to or from said facilities, the facility with custody shall, within 24 hours of such incident, report to the department of criminal justice information services the name, address and the age of such person, the reason for detention and the nature and date of said attempt or threat. Whenever a person appearing before a court of the Commonwealth as a criminal defendant or subject to a warrant of apprehension attempts or threatens suicide at a courthouse, the court shall, within 24 hours of such incident, report to the department of criminal justice information services the name, address and the age of such person, the reason for appearance and the nature and date of said attempt or threat. The information reported pursuant to this paragraph shall be made part of the criminal justice record system and shall be disseminated only to those agencies and officers authorized under section 172 of chapter 6. Whenever a person who has attempted or threatened suicide in the custody of a lockup or correctional facility or at a courthouse is transferred to another lockup or correctional facility or courthouse, the sending entity shall notify in writing the receiving entity of the exact nature of said attempt or threat.