The bill amends Section 18 of chapter 6A of the General Laws to enhance data collection and reporting standards for the trial court and various criminal justice agencies. It replaces existing clauses (12) through (14) with new provisions that require the establishment of a comprehensive data collection system. This system mandates the use of a unique statewide identification number for individuals entering the criminal justice system, which will facilitate the tracking of various data points, including demographics, offense details, risk assessments, and participation in evidence-based programs. Additionally, the bill stipulates that anonymized cross-agency data must be made publicly accessible for analysis.

Furthermore, the bill modifies Section 11 of chapter 7D to require the Justice Reinvestment Oversight Board to meet quarterly to review compliance with the new data collection and reporting standards. The board will assess whether the trial court and criminal justice agencies are effectively collecting and submitting the required data, making it publicly available, and maintaining accurate data collection practices across racial, ethnic, and gender classifications. An annual report on compliance with these standards and justice reinvestment policies will be submitted to the clerks of the house of representatives and the senate by July 1 each year.

Statutes affected:
Bill Text: 6A-18, 7D-11