(Spectrum News- Amanda Keane) Massachusetts is one of only two states in the nation without revenge porn laws on the books, but legislators are one step closer to changing that as the Senate unanimously passed a bill to criminalize the act of sharing images without consent.
There was one theme on the Senate floor, and that was that the bill is a long time coming.
“I can think of nothing more reprehensible and someone doing that intentionally to another human being and harming them,” said Senator John Velis (D-Hampden and Hampshire). “So to create a criminal offense when we are one of only two states that has not done so far, so far, I think is really, really important.”
The bill criminalizes revenge porn with 2 1/2 years in jail, and a $10,000 fine for the first offense.
For survivors like Alex Hagerty, who had images posted by an ex-partner without his knowledge, it was horrifying to learn it wasn’t against the law, and he just had to accept what happened.
“I went to the Abington Police Department to report the crime and to find, to my horror, that that revenge porn was legal in Massachusetts,” said Hagerty. “It’s humbling to see now that finally that work is getting done to give bring accountability for the survivors and victims and their families.”
The sponsor of the bill, Senator John Keenan (D-Norfolk and Plymouth), invited Hagerty and other survivors to be there when the bill was passed 40-0. He became emotional describing what the moment felt like.
“It felt great. have been truly motivational. I mean, their what they’ve done, and I mentioned it on the floor. I’d like to think that if it happened in my family, that I would do what they did. It really was very, very courageous. And they did it not only to help them and their families, but more than that, they did it to help other people,” Hagerty said.
The bill goes to a conference committee where the House and Senate will finalize the details before it heads to the governor for her signature.