New Ch. 258E of the General Laws extends the legal protections available to stalking and sexual abuse victims by permitting them to receive protective orders against people who are neither domestic partners nor family members. Under Ch. 209A, the existing protective order statute, victims can receive such protective orders only if the abuser or stalker is a family member, someone living in their home, or someone with whom they have a “substantial dating relationship.” At this week’s signing session Governor Patrick noted that the new law “closes a glaring loophole” in the remedies available to victims. See this Boston Globe article for Patrick’s comments as well as a look at the law’s ten-year, emotional, history.

Jeanie Fallon
Legal Reference Librarian

Source: Massachusetts Law Updates

Labels: harassment, stalking