Criminal Justice and Public Safety
► Sex Offender Reform - Senator Brown is widely known as the state's leading advocate for reforming the sex offender management system in Massachusetts. He has sponsored a number of bills, including the Sex Offender Omnibus Bill which is a comprehensive reform package that addresses numerous discrepancies in the system.
► Sex Offender Omnibus Bill – This legislation which has significant bipartisan support would require all offenders to register with local authorities their home address as well as any other addresses where they stay overnight. The bill establishes an intensive parole system for offenders, and any offender who fails to register or provides’ false information will be put on lifetime parole.
► Repealing Statue of Limitations for Sexual Abuse - Senator Brown proposes repealing the statute of limitations for sexual abuse. Currently, these crimes can only be prosecuted within a defined timetable, robbing many victims of an opportunity to seek justice through the criminal system. It often takes years for victims to come forward and speak with authorities. While it is difficult to pursue a case decades after an incident occurs, these victims should have access to the full judicial process. The decision should be left with prosecutors as to whether enough evidence exists to warrant criminal charges. Sexual offenders should not be safe from the law simply because an arbitrary number of years have passed.
► Closing the Youthful Offender Loophole – Currently many offenders under age 18 are slipping through the cracks of the sex offender registration system. Judges currently have the discretion to decide whether or not an offender must register. Too often judges are letting offenders avoid the Sex Offender Registry Board even when they are found guilty of serious sexual offenses. Sen. Brown filed legislation to require all offenders convicted of qualifying sexual offenses to register with the Sex Offender Registry Board. This legislation was featured in a recent Fox 25 News investigative report.
- Jessica’s Bill – Senator Brown led the Senate Republican Caucus in pushing for passage of Jessica's Law (legislation to strengthen sex offender laws, named for Jessica Lunsford, a child who was raped and murdered in FL). Brown filed the bill as an amendment to a child abuse prevention bill. That amendment and several other common sense measures were ruled out of order because they were deemed “not related” to a child abuse. Sen. Brown and Republican colleagues countered by saying that raping and murdering children is the ultimate form of child abuse. Sen. Brown is still pushing for the passage of this bill and is cautiously optimistic.
- Melanie’s Law – This legislation was signed into law on October 28, 2005. Senator Brown worked diligently with other proponents of the bill which drastically toughens the state’s drunk driving statutes. The law was named after Melanie Powell, a 13-year old killed by a repeat drunk driver. Its purpose is to enhance the penalties and administrative sanctions for Operating Under the Influence (OUI) offenders in Massachusetts. Melanie’s Law requires repeat offenders, upon the expiration of their license suspension, the installation of an ignition interlock device in all cars that they operate. The interlock device requires drivers to take a breathalyzer to start the car, and subsequent random tests to continue operation.
- Haleigh’s Bill – This legislation protects victims from those who have been charged with their abuse or neglect. Brown filed “Haleigh’s Bill” in response to the tragedy of the Haleigh Poutre case in Westfield in 2005. Haleigh had been hospitalized as the result of alleged abuse at the hands of her adoptive mother and stepfather. While on life support, Haleigh’s stepfather attempted to obtain guardianship of his stepdaughter even though he was suspected of the abuse. This bill prohibits an individual from being appointed a guardian or medical proxy if they have been charged with assault and battery, or neglect of the incapacitate. In Haleigh’s case, this bill would have removed any ambiguity as soon as the stepfather was charged. Haleigh’s Bill was filed as an amendment to the recent child abuse reform bill and was accepted by a unanimous vote of the Senate.