Healey proposes eliminating statute of limitations for rape when DNA evidence exists

Local News

The current statute of limitations in Massachusetts is the third most strict deadline in the country at 15 years.

By Darin Zullo

February 8, 2026 | 11:00 AM

1 minute to read

Gov. Maura Healey has proposed eliminating Massachusetts’ current 15-year statute of limitations for rape cases when a DNA match exists.

Healey included the policy proposal in her recent budget recommendation for the 2027 fiscal year, according to a press release. If the provision passes, it would allow for prosecutions beyond 15 years if investigators are able to determine a DNA match.

To ensure that DNA evidence is preserved, the proposal would require all evidence collection kits in cases of sexual assault to be stored for a minimum of 15 years, the release said. Healey’s budget recommendation itself lays out a more detailed set of guidelines for handling and preserving DNA evidence.

Under Section 27 of the budget recommendation, Healey advised that law enforcement agencies must take possession of all sexual assault evidence kits within three days of their use. The kits must be stored in crime labs either by Massachusetts State Police or by local police departments for municipalities with a minimum population of 150,000, according to the recommendation.

Law enforcement agencies are then required to test the kits and enter the full profile into the state’s DNA database within 30 days, the recommendation said.

Massachusetts has one of the shortest deadlines without exceptions for DNA evidence in cases of rape nationwide. WBUR reported last year that the only states with shorter deadlines are New Hampshire and North Dakota.

The Healey-Driscoll administration has also taken recent measures to prevent sex crimes through a five-year statewide plan to address sex trafficking. The plan includes nearly 200 action steps aiming to hold offenders accountable and provide a greater variety of resources to survivors.

“As Attorney General, my office investigated and prosecuted human traffickers while also expanding resources for survivors,” Healey said in a statement about the plan. “As Governor, I want to make sure we are doing all that we can to prevent human trafficking, hold perpetrators accountable and support survivors.”