Secrecy law in Massachusetts
Stories related to the state's unique and sweeping privacy law. The law was designed to help victims of sexual assault and domestic abuse, but it has shielded law enforcement departments and officers from scrutiny and blocked victims from obtaining records they need for custody battles and restraining orders.
Boston police failed to arrest 'serial rapist' for years despite DNA evidence
Experts say the case against Alvin Campbell is a striking example of how police and prosecutors often fail to take action when victims report sexual assaults, potentially allowing serial rapists...
Proposed task force would address Mass. domestic violence records law found to shield abusers
A WBUR investigation revealed that by keeping records secret, a statute designed to protect victims instead protects alleged abusers.
UMass Dartmouth hid sex assault allegations against former police officer, report finds
The report found former officer David Laudon sexually assaulted and harassed a UMass student and had an inappropriate relationship with another. But UMass allowed Laudon to quietly resign and eventually...
Blackstone police officer accused of sexual harassment resigns
David Laudon was one of the subjects of a recent WBUR investigation, which found many Massachusetts police officers got new jobs after being fired or caught in scandals at their...
Natick cop James Quilty resigns after pleading guilty to sexual assault
The town also released the independent investigation from 2020 that faults then-Lt. Cara Rossi for failing to fully investigate the incident.
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Advocates call for more police oversight after WBUR investigation
Criminal justice advocates are pushing the state to do more to oversee police after a WBUR investigation discovered some officers accused of wrongdoing simply moved to new departments.
'Officer shuffle': Some ousted cops find jobs at new departments in Mass.
WBUR found more than a dozen current Massachusetts police officers were previously fired or resigned from another department after the launch of a misconduct investigation.
Natick and its police continue to bury allegations of sexual assault against one of their own
Court records show Natick police initially shrugged off the allegations. And for more than two years, the town has fought to keep records about how it responded secret.
Mass. politicians call for review of domestic and sexual violence secrecy law
Massachusetts requires police to keep secret all reports and arrests related to sexual and domestic violence, something no other state does. Many elected officials want to look into changes.
9 takeaways from WBUR's investigation into the impact of Mass.' domestic and sexual violence secrecy law
A WBUR investigation found that a sweeping privacy law has shielded police departments and officers from scrutiny, thwarted researchers studying ways to reduce violence and blocked victims from obtaining records...
How a Mass. law intended to protect victims became a 'gift to abusers'
The state’s unique law, intended to protect the privacy of victims of domestic and sexual violence, has instead protected perpetrators and police, a WBUR investigation found. The law requires police...