MOVA works to promote strong laws that ensure rights and services to victims and provide appropriate sanctions for criminal behavior. The agency has been instrumental in drafting, advocating and securing passage of some of the most significant legislative reforms for crime victims, including the Victim Bill of Rights Law, Victim Compensation Reform, Juvenile Justice Reform and Truth in Sentencing. MOVA currently has several major legislative initiatives pending, including a bill to improve the ordering and collection of restitution and a bill to expand victim compensation. In addition, MOVA serves both as an information source on victim rights and services in Massachusetts and as a resource for public policy makers, legislators, criminal justice officials, victims, advocates and others interested in developing pro-victim legislation and policies.

View the full text of Massachusetts Victim Bill of Rights. Learn about MOVA's pending legislation to amend the MA Victim Bill of Rights: S.838, An Act to Protect and Enhance the Rights of Child and Adult Victims and Witnesses of Crime. Learn about the Drunk Driving Trust Fund, established by state law to further advocacy and support services for victims and survivors of drunk driving crashes. Read a summary or link to the complete text of Commonwealth v. Liang, a court case that protects the privacy of victim witness advocates’ notes in SJC Ruling: Advocates’ Notes Protected. Links to state and national legislation. Please note that MOVA is actively working to compile an updated list of recent cases of interest to the victim community and will be posting summaries and links to the full text of such cases in the near future.