Public Safety

Keeping our communities safe means supporting the first responders who protect us, investing in measures that prevent tragedies before they happen, and ensuring survivors of crime have a justice system that works for them. Massachusetts should continue modernizing its public safety laws while standing with victims, survivors, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and other public safety professionals.

Support the first responders who put themselves at risk for our communities. Police officers, firefighters, EMS personnel, correction officers, court officers, and other public safety employees routinely face risks to their health simply by doing their jobs. Massachusetts should ensure that public safety personnel who contract certain contagious diseases because of occupational exposure have access to appropriate medical, disability, workers' compensation, and survivor benefits.

Protect public safety employees affected by COVID-19. Police officers, firefighters, and other first responders continued reporting to work throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, often placing themselves at heightened risk of exposure. Public safety employees suffering disabling, long-term complications related to occupational COVID-19 exposure should have access to the workers' compensation benefits and protections they deserve.

Prevent wrong-way driving tragedies. Fatal wrong-way driving incidents have caused devastating and preventable losses on Massachusetts roadways. The Commonwealth should establish a comprehensive statewide strategy to prevent wrong-way driving on limited-access highways, including investments in detection technology, warning systems, infrastructure improvements, roadway design, and other proven safety measures. MassDOT and public safety agencies should have a clear implementation plan to identify high-risk locations and prevent these tragedies before they occur.

Strengthen justice for survivors of sexual assault. Survivors should not be denied an opportunity for justice simply because critical DNA evidence identifying an offender is discovered after the existing statute of limitations has expired. Massachusetts should provide an exception allowing prosecution of sexual assault cases when qualifying DNA evidence becomes available, ensuring advances in forensic technology can help hold perpetrators accountable.

Protect sensitive personal information in the legal system. Participation in the justice system should not unnecessarily expose victims, witnesses, families, or other individuals to identity theft, harassment, or the disclosure of sensitive personal information. Massachusetts should comprehensively review how private information is handled in legal documents and strengthen safeguards where necessary to protect confidentiality while preserving appropriate public access to judicial records.