Having a criminal record can be scary. If you have one, there is a good chance that you may be worried about who can see it. Employers, schools, hospitals, and even the media might be interested in looking into your history. It is important to unders…
Read More
In Massachusetts, a “criminal record” is not one document. Court cases are recorded by the Commissioner of Probation, a separate state agency maintains the Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) database, and the law limits who can see which…
Read More
Learn how police, DA, judicial (276A), and Veterans diversion work in Massachusetts. Attorney William Barabino has successfully represented clients in every diversion pathway...
Read More
When most people hear about the consequences of a criminal charge, they think of the penalties a judge can order in court: jail or prison time, probation, fines, and community service
Read More
A Massachusetts criminal record can follow a person long after a case ends. Sealing hides a record from most people; expungement destroys it. The law allows expungement only in narrow situations. This guide walks through expungement in the order it h…
Read More
When someone with a serious mental illness is charged with a crime, one of the first questions families ask is whether the illness matters legally. In Massachusetts it can. A person is not guilty if, at the time of the offense, a mental disease or de…
Read More
Is there a veterans’ court? Yes, in Massachusetts, veterans’ treatment courts are available for people charged with crimes who have a history of military service. Veterans’ courts are designed to help veterans’ struggling from mental health a…
Read More
When you are applying for a job or admission to a school your CORI or criminal record will often be checked. This is an important part of the application process, because your future may depend on what your record says about you. There are many laws,…
Read More
When you are arrested, the public generally does not see your mug shot. But could they? And how? These are questions courts in Massachusetts are considering. How much information does the public see about you when after an arrest? What is a booking p…
Read More
This post will answer some frequently asked questions on mug shots. What happens in court if police showed a witness a photo of the accused? If one of the witnesses in any given case testifies that the police showed the witness a photo of the defenda…
Read More
