Photo: Gov. Charlie Baker
WORCESTER (WBZNewsRadio) - Emotional testimony from survivors of violent crimes were highlighted at a dangerousness legislation roundtable at Quinsigamond Community College on Wednesday. Governor Charlie Baker and Lt. Governor Karyn Polito were in attendance.
An Act to Protect Victims of Crime and the Public was first filed in 2018 and now the Baker-Polito administration is continuing to push for the legislation that provides comprehensive new protections for those who experience violent crimes.
The governor said that it is hard to make change without hearing stories from real people.
“It’s difficult to get survivors to speak publicly about what they’ve been through and I completely understand that,” Gov. Baker said, “and that’s why we’re honored in many respects and really grateful that you all are here today to talk a little bit about this as we make the case to the legislature to as the DA said, close some loopholes and deal with some very real issues with the way our court system currently works that puts victims and survivors in many cases in a 24/7 sense of fear for their own safety.”
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. The legislation would also make it a felony to remove court-ordered GPS devices. It is something one victim had experience with.
“It’s a basic human right to feel safe,” said Secretary of Public Safety and Security Terrence Reidy. “That says it all.”
WBZ's John Baibak (@JohnBaibak) reports
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