MA H1756

Raises the age threshold for juvenile offender classification from 18 to 19 years old in relevant statutes

Requires murder cases involving youth ages 14-15 to be transferred from superior court to juvenile court rather than being tried as adults

Establishes parole eligibility after 15 years for second-degree murder convictions committed by offenders ages 16-18, with parole decisions based on demonstrated maturity and rehabilitation

Creates a comprehensive juvenile competency evaluation framework requiring qualified psychiatric/psychological examiners, with a rebuttable presumption that children under 13 are incompetent and mandatory case dismissal timelines (180 days for misdemeanors, 2 years for felonies, 5 years for murder)

Mandates parole be granted unless the board finds by clear and convincing evidence the prisoner will reoffend, requires use of validated risk assessment tools, and sets subsequent review hearings at 3 years for those who committed crimes under age 18