1 of 15 DOCUMENTS ANNOTATED LAWS OF MASSACHUSETTS ...

ALM GL ch. 209A, § 5
Page 40
without severe hardship due to the plaintiff's physical condition, then a representative may appear in court on the
plaintiff's behalf and file the requisite complaint with an affidavit setting forth the circumstances preventing the plaintiff
from appearing personally. Notice to the plaintiff and defendant and an opportunity for the defendant to be heard shall
be given as provided in said section four.
Any order issued under this section and any documentation in support thereof shall be certified on the next court
day by the clerk-magistrate or register of the court issuing such order to the court having venue and jurisdiction over the
matter. Such certification to the court shall have the effect of commencing proceedings under this chapter and invoking
the other provisions of this chapter but shall not be deemed necessary for an emergency order issued under this section
to take effect.
HISTORY: 1978, 447, § 2; 1983, 678, § 4; 1990, 403, §§ 5, 6; 1996, 298, §§ 3, 4; 2011, 93, § 40.
NOTES: Editorial Note
The 1983 amendment substantially rewrote this section, making, among other changes, the following changes: (1)
expanding the category of justices who can grant relief under this section; (2) adding other language in the first
paragraph relative to notice and a subsequent hearing on such relief; (3) deleting the paragraph which provided that
orders issued under this section would terminate as of the close of business on the next day the court is in session; and
(4) adding language to the last paragraph to provide that certification of an order shall not be necessary for such order to
take effect.
The 1990 amendment in the first paragraph, added the second sentence relative to relief granted and
communicated by telephone, and in the first sentence of the second paragraph, following "clerk-magistrate", inserted "or
register." Sections 14-16 provide:
Section 14. The secretary of public safety shall establish a policy for law enforcement response to domestic
violence consistent with the provisions of this act; provided, however, that he may revise, terminate, or revoke such
policy at his discretion. Such policy shall be developed after consultation with the director of the victim assistance
office, at least two representatives of a certified or provisionally certified batterer's treatment program, and at least four
representatives from the governor's anti-crime council including at least one district attorney, one member of the
Massachusetts bar experienced in criminal defense, one police chief and one judge or his designee. Such policy for law
enforcement response to domestic violence shall be promulgated within six months of the effective date of this act.
Section 15. Each law enforcement agency shall establish and implement specific operational guidelines consistent
with the policy established under the provisions of section fourteen or adopt said policy. Local operational guidelines
shall be submitted to the secretary of public safety for review within sixty days of the adoption of said policy. The
secretary shall provide written notice of approval of the local guidelines within thirty days of receipt of said guidelines.
Upon approval, said guidelines shall be effective immediately at the local law enforcement agency. Prior to, or in the
absence of approved guidelines, the law enforcement agency shall implement said policy.
Section 16. Within six months of the effective date of this act, guidelines and standards for the certification of
batterer's treatment programs by the department of public health shall be set up by a commission to be established by
the chief justice of the trial court department, one member of which shall be a district attorney or his designee, two of
which shall be members of a recognized batterer's treatment program with training experience, two of which shall be
members of a domestic violence program or the statewide coalition of programs which provide services to victims of
domestic violence and one of whom shall be a member from a probation department. Prior to the establishment of such
guidelines and standards, the department of public health may provisionally certify batterer's treatment programs
pursuant to regulations promulgated by the department. Such provisional certification shall expire upon establishment
of guidelines under this section. The department of public health shall thereafter certify and monitor batterer's treatment
programs according to the standards established and promulgated by the commission. Programs so certified shall be the