Executive Order

Executive Order  No. 334: Reestablishing a commission to advise the Governor and the Secretary of Public Safety relative to further measures to prevent, effectively respond to, and protect the victims of domestic violence in the Commonwealth

Date: 04/10/1992
Issuer: William F. Weld
Mass Register: No. 685
Revoked and Superseded by: Executive Order 357

Table of Contents

WHEREAS, there is a state of emergency in this Commonwealth resulting from the unacceptable frequency and severity of domestic violence; and

WHEREAS, Section 14 of Chapter 403 of the Acts of 1990 created a committee to advise the Secretary of Public Safety in the establishment of a policy for law enforcement response to  domestic violence; and

WHEREAS, the Secretary of Public Safety has established said policy and the advisory committee has fulfilled its statutory purpose; and

WHEREAS, there remains an immediate and urgent public interest in stemming the tide of domestic violence and protecting its victims from loss of life and grave physical and psychological injury; and

WHEREAS, the advisory committee has continued to meet, at the request of the Secretary of Public Safety, to consider further measures to address this crisis; and

WHEREAS, there remains an urgent need to develop stronger legislation and policy to prevent domestic violence, punish and treat its perpetrators, and protect its victims;

NOW, THEREFORE, I William F. Weld, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Supreme Executive Magistrate, do hereby order as follows:

Section 1. There is hereby established within the Executive Office of Public Safety an Advisory Commission on Domestic Violence. It shall be the responsibility of the Commission to make recommendations to the Governor, through the Secretary of Public Safety, on all aspects of the domestic violence crisis in the Commonwealth, and to that end, the Commission shall:

  1. consider the need for further legislation to more effectively punish and treat perpetrators, protect victims, and reduce, deter, and alleviate the incidence of domestic violence;
  2. monitor, on a continuing basis, the response of the law enforcement and judicial systems to the needs of domestic violence victims;
  3. consider the need for further policy initiatives to assure effective law enforcement and judicial response, including but not limited to the timely and accurate sharing of information between the law enforcement and judicial systems, and further training of law enforcement, prosecutorial, and judicial personnel and the private bar;
  4. address the need for greater public education and awareness of domestic violence as a criminal act and the need to provide necessary protection and shelter to victims; and
  5. consider such other measures to address the crisis of domestic violence as the Commission deems appropriate.

Section 2. The Commission shall be chaired by the Secretary of Public Safety or his designee, and its membership shall be appointed by the Secretary, including at least one representative each from the Attorney General's office, the district attorneys of the Commonwealth, victims' assistance agencies, police departments, and certified batterer's treatment programs, one member of the Massachusetts bar experienced in criminal defense, one judge of the Massachusetts trial court to be appointed with the approval of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Judicial Court, and such other members as the Secretary may appoint. Commission members shall serve at the Secretary's pleasure.

Section 3. The Commission shall meet at such times and at such intervals as the Secretary or his designee shall direct.

Given at the Executive Chamber in Boston this 10th day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety-two.

William F. Weld, Governor
Commonwealth of Massachusetts

Michael Joseph Connolly
Secretary of the Commonwealth

Contact   for No. 334: Reestablishing a commission to advise the Governor and the Secretary of Public Safety relative to further measures to prevent, effectively respond to, and protect the victims of domestic violence in the Commonwealth

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