An Act to expand juvenile court justice access
Generates a plain-language summary of the bill text and history.
| Date | Branch | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 3/26/2026 | House | Accompanied a study order, see H5281↗ (under House Rule 27) |
| — | House | Reported by committee to Clerk’s Office for processing, will accompany a study order |
| 11/4/2025 | Joint | Hearing rescheduled to 11/04/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1 and Virtual — Hearing updated to New End Time |
| 11/4/2025 | Joint | Hearing rescheduled to 11/04/2025 from 01:00 PM-02:30 PM in A-1 and Virtual — Hearing updated to New End Time |
| 10/29/2025 | Joint | Hearing scheduled for 11/04/2025 from 01:00 PM-05:00 PM in A-1 |
| 2/27/2025 | Senate | Senate concurred |
| 2/27/2025 | House | Referred to the committee on The Judiciary |
No additional cosponsors.
| Committee | Recommendation | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| J19 | Accompanied | — |
Amendment to Chapter 218 of the General Laws
of Chapter 218 of the General Laws, as most recently amended by Chapter 154 of the Acts of 2018, is hereby amended by striking out the number of justices specified for each county and replacing it with the following revised totals. These adjustments increase the total number of justices in the Juvenile Court Department from 42 to 80, reflecting population growth and youth demographics in each county: Suffolk County: 10 justices Middlesex County: 10 justices Worcester County: 8 justices Franklin and Hampshire Counties: 3 justices Bristol County: 6 justices Essex County: 8 justices Norfolk County: 5 justices Plymouth County: 6 justices Barnstable County and the Town of Plymouth: 3 justices Berkshire and Hampden Counties: 5 justices
Assignment and Distribution of Justices The Chief Justice of the Juvenile Court Department, in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Trial Court, shall develop a detailed plan for the assignment of the newly authorized justices to the respective divisions. This plan shall include, but not be limited to: Caseload Analysis: An assessment of existing and projected caseloads to determine areas of highest need. Demographic Considerations: An evaluation of county population trends, youth demographics, and socio-economic factors that impact the demand for juvenile justice services. Equitable Allocation: Ensuring that resources are distributed equitably among counties to address disparities in access to justice. Periodic Review: Establishing a system of periodic review and reallocation to adapt to changing needs and circumstances. The Chief Justice shall submit a report detailing the assignment plan to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary and the Senate and House Committees on Ways and Means within 90 days of the enactment of this legislation.
Implementation and Training To ensure the effective implementation of this act, the following steps shall be taken: Judicial Appointments: The Governor, in consultation with the Judicial Nominating Commission, shall prioritize the appointment of qualified individuals to fill the newly created judicial positions. Training and Orientation: Newly appointed justices shall undergo comprehensive training on juvenile justice, including trauma-informed practices, restorative justice approaches, and relevant statutory and case law. Support Staff: Adequate funding shall be allocated to hire and train support staff, including clerks, probation officers, and court-appointed advocates, to assist the expanded judiciary. Facilities Assessment: The Executive Office of the Trial Court shall conduct an assessment of court facilities to ensure that the physical infrastructure can accommodate the expanded judiciary and increased caseloads.
Funding The General Court shall appropriate the necessary funds to support the expansion of the Juvenile Court Department, including but not limited to judicial salaries, staff hiring, training programs, and infrastructure improvements. These funds shall be allocated in a manner that ensures timely implementation of this act.
Effective Date This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027, or upon passage, whichever occurs later. All preparatory measures, including judicial appointments and facility assessments, shall commence immediately upon passage to ensure full readiness by the effective date.
Reporting and Accountability The Chief Justice of the Juvenile Court Department shall submit an annual report to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary detailing the impact of the expanded judiciary, including metrics on case resolution times, access to justice, and any identified areas for further improvement. The first report shall be submitted no later than December 31, 2027.
SECTION 1. Amendment to Chapter 218 of the General Laws Section 58 of Chapter 218 of the General Laws, as most recently amended by Chapter 154 of the Acts of 2018, is hereby amended by striking out the number of justices specified for each county and replacing it with the following revised totals. These adjustments increase the total number of justices in the Juvenile Court Department from 42 to 80, reflecting population growth and youth demographics in each county: Suffolk County: 10 justices Middlesex County: 10 justices Worcester County: 8 justices Franklin and Hampshire Counties: 3 justices Bristol County: 6 justices Essex County: 8 justices Norfolk County: 5 justices Plymouth County: 6 justices Barnstable County and the Town of Plymouth: 3 justices Berkshire and Hampden Counties: 5 justices SECTION 2. Assignment and Distribution of Justices The Chief Justice of the Juvenile Court Department, in consultation with the Chief Justice of the Trial Court, shall develop a detailed plan for the assignment of the newly authorized justices to the respective divisions. This plan shall include, but not be limited to: Caseload Analysis: An assessment of existing and projected caseloads to determine areas of highest need. Demographic Considerations: An evaluation of county population trends, youth demographics, and socio-economic factors that impact the demand for juvenile justice services. Equitable Allocation: Ensuring that resources are distributed equitably among counties to address disparities in access to justice. Periodic Review: Establishing a system of periodic review and reallocation to adapt to changing needs and circumstances. The Chief Justice shall submit a report detailing the assignment plan to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary and the Senate and House Committees on Ways and Means within 90 days of the enactment of this legislation. SECTION 3. Implementation and Training To ensure the effective implementation of this act, the following steps shall be taken: Judicial Appointments: The Governor, in consultation with the Judicial Nominating Commission, shall prioritize the appointment of qualified individuals to fill the newly created judicial positions. Training and Orientation: Newly appointed justices shall undergo comprehensive training on juvenile justice, including trauma-informed practices, restorative justice approaches, and relevant statutory and case law. Support Staff: Adequate funding shall be allocated to hire and train support staff, including clerks, probation officers, and court-appointed advocates, to assist the expanded judiciary. Facilities Assessment: The Executive Office of the Trial Court shall conduct an assessment of court facilities to ensure that the physical infrastructure can accommodate the expanded judiciary and increased caseloads. SECTION 4. Funding The General Court shall appropriate the necessary funds to support the expansion of the Juvenile Court Department, including but not limited to judicial salaries, staff hiring, training programs, and infrastructure improvements. These funds shall be allocated in a manner that ensures timely implementation of this act. SECTION 5. Effective Date This act shall take effect on January 1, 2027, or upon passage, whichever occurs later. All preparatory measures, including judicial appointments and facility assessments, shall commence immediately upon passage to ensure full readiness by the effective date. SECTION 6. Reporting and Accountability The Chief Justice of the Juvenile Court Department shall submit an annual report to the Joint Committee on the Judiciary detailing the impact of the expanded judiciary, including metrics on case resolution times, access to justice, and any identified areas for further improvement. The first report shall be submitted no later than December 31, 2027.