In
July of this year, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a bill to do just
that. The bill, S.2334, An Act Relative to Domestic Violence, creates new
criminal offenses, increases penalties, protects and empowers victims, and
creates new employment rights within the workplace. Specifically, the
act, which was signed into law by Governor Patrick on August 8, 2014, includes:
· The
creation of a first offense domestic assault and battery charge on a family or
household member punishable by imprisonment in a house of corrections for up to
2 ½ years and a fine of $5,000;
· The creation of a felony charge of strangulation and suffocation punishable by imprisonment in a state prison by 5 years, or 2 ½ years in a house of corrections, and a fine of $5,000;
· The standardization of records to be shared by law enforcement and the judicial system;
· The further training of domestic violence programs for police, district attorneys, court, and medical personnel;
· The delaying of bail for offenders by 6 hours to provide the victim with adequate time to relocate safely; and
· The establishing of fees for domestic violence offenses, which will fund a newly created Domestic and Sexual Violence Prevention and Victim Assistance account.
Additionally,
the bill now requires places of business with 50 or more employees to allow up
to 15 days of leave (paid or unpaid), to any employee who is a victim of
domestic violence. Employees can use that time to obtain medical
attention, counseling, housing, protection orders, or legal assistance.
