General Laws of Massachusetts - Chapter 263A Witness Protection in Criminal Matters

• Massachusetts General Laws - Definitions - Chapter 263A, Section 1
  For the purposes of this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings:— “Board”, the witness protection board established in section 2. “Prosecuting officer”,...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Witness protection board; composition; powers and duties - Chapter 263A, Section 2
  There is hereby established a witness protection board within the executive office of public safety consisting of the secretary of public safety, the attorney general,...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Petition requesting witness protection services - Chapter 263A, Section 3
  In any criminal investigation or proceeding, the prosecuting officer with jurisdiction over the investigation or proceeding may file a petition with the board requesting witness...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Temporary action based on exigent circumstances without prior approval by board - Chapter 263A, Section 4
  If a prosecuting officer determines that exigent circumstances exist regarding an imminent threat to the safety of a critical witness, he may take any appropriate...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Protective services provided to critical witnesses; notice to defense counsel - Chapter 263A, Section 5
  Protective services provided to a critical witness may include, but not be limited to:— (a) any necessary armed protection or escort, marked or unmarked surveillance...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Written memorandum of understanding; persons required to sign; contents - Chapter 263A, Section 6
  Before providing witness protection services to any critical witness under this chapter, except where it is determined that temporary protective services are necessary pursuant to...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Refusal of protective services; revocation of services upon violation of memorandum of understanding - Chapter 263A, Section 7
  If a witness, after being offered protective services under this chapter, at any time declines to receive such services, the prosecuting officer shall request that...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Relocation of critical witness within public housing system - Chapter 263A, Section 8
  Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, or any regulation, rule or ordinance, if a petition and plan for witness protection, approved by...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Relocation of critical witness to another public school - Chapter 263A, Section 9
  Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, or any regulation, rule or ordinance, if a petition and plan for witness protection, approved by...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Entitlement or private right of action not available; governmental immunity - Chapter 263A, Section 10
  Nothing in this section shall be construed as creating a right, entitlement or cause of action on behalf of any person against any public employee,...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Liaison with United States Marshal’s office; pursuit of federal resources and funding - Chapter 263A, Section 11
  The board shall establish a liaison with the United States Marshal’s office in order to facilitate the legal processes over which the federal government has...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Confidentiality of records - Chapter 263A, Section 12
  Records of the board and all records relating to petitions and filed with the board shall be confidential and shall not be public records. Section...
• Massachusetts General Laws - Disclosure of identity or location of witness or other sensitive information; penalties - Chapter 263A, Section 13
  (a) A prosecuting officer may disclose or refuse to disclose the identity or location of a protected witness, or any other matter concerning a protected...

Last modified: September 11, 2015