Massachusetts General Laws ch. 7D sec. 11 – Inter-branch, interagency oversight board; justice reinvestment policies relative to data collection and its availability to the public
Section 11. There shall be an inter-branch, interagency oversight board to monitor and ensure that the justice reinvestment policies relative to data collection and its availability to the public achieve anticipated goals. The board shall consist of 16 members: the secretary of the executive office of technology services and security, who shall serve as chairperson; the attorney general or a designee; the chief justice of the trial court or a designee; the secretary of the executive office of public safety and security or a designee; the commissioner of probation or a designee, the chief counsel of the committee for public counsel services or a designee; the commissioner of correction or a designee; a member of the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association; a member of the Massachusetts Sheriffs Association, Inc.; the senate chair of the joint committee on the judiciary or a designee; the house chair of the joint committee on the judiciary or a designee; the chief legal counsel of the Massachusetts Bar Association or a designee; the executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, Inc. or a designee; and 3 members appointed by the governor: 1 of whom shall be an expert in addressing racial, ethnic, gender or age bias and 2 of whom shall be experts in data collection and analysis.
Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws ch. 7D sec. 11
- Joint committee: Committees including membership from both houses of teh legislature. Joint committees are usually established with narrow jurisdictions and normally lack authority to report legislation.
- Oversight: Committee review of the activities of a Federal agency or program.
- Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
- Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
The board shall meet quarterly to review the compliance of: (i) criminal justice agencies and the trial court, including the probation service, the parole board, the executive office of public safety and security, the department of correction, houses of correction and county jails in: (1) collecting and submitting data required by paragraphs (12), (13) and (14) of section 183/4 of chapter 6A; (2) making said data available to the public as required by said paragraphs 12, 13 and 14 of said section 183/4 through the development of data portals to make data without personally identifiable information so available; and (ii) criminal justice agencies and the trial court, including the department of correction, houses of correction and county jails, with policies ensuring accurate data collection across racial, ethnic and gender classifications; provided, that compliance shall include a review of whether the methods of data collection are appropriately screening for gender-specific risk or needs that may be addressed by evidence-based programs. A report on the collection of data and the compliance with justice reinvestment policies shall be submitted annually to the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate on or before July 1.