Worcester, Mass. - Emotional testimony from survivors of violent crimes highlighted a roundtable discussion at Quinsigamond Community College.

“The fear that they’re still out there and that I could run into them anytime has been on my mind,” one victim said.  

What You Need To Know

  • Survivors joined the Governor and Lt. Governor to share their stories at QCC on Wednesday
  • The Baker-Polito Administration is also re-filing An Act Relative to the Harmful Distribution of Sexually Explicit Visual Materials: this legislation seeks to close a loophole under current law by creating penalties for adults who distribute a sexually explicit image for purposes of revenge or embarrassment
  • Wednesday's roundtable was the third for this bill, with others happening in Plymouth and Springfield. The Governor says they plan on speaking with more survivors

An Act to Protect Victims of Crimes and the Public was first filed in 2018, and the Baker-Polito administration is bringing it to the forefront again.

“We’re not asking to turn the criminal justice system upside down,” Gov. Baker said. “We are asking to close some very particular and specific loopholes.”

The bill would expand the list of offenses which are grounds for a dangerousness hearing, including sexual abuse and crimes of threatened or potential violence.

A defendant’s history of serious criminal activity may also be a reason for a hearing.

“The man who abused me, along with my sisters and several other children from four other families, was never held on a dangerousness status, despite being charged with nearly 25 counts of child sexual abuse,” said another victim.

The legislation would also make it a felony to remove court-ordered GPS devices. It is something one victim had experience with.

“Comfort gave way to utter panic when probation had notified us he cut off his GPS device, and his whereabouts were unknown,” she said. “We were overcome with fear.”

Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito have traveled across the state listening to survivor stories.

“I was unable to fight the law as a child, but as an adult, I can now,” said another survivor. “Allowing my statement to be read is the first step in having my voice heard as the importance of this legislation.”

The bill needs to go through the house and the senate, and the administration says it needs to happen soon.

“It’s a basic human right to feel safe,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Terrence Reidy. “That says it all.”