False Name Upon Arrest in…

False Name Upon Arrest in Massachusetts: What G.L. c. 268, § 34A Covers, What the Commonwealth Must Prove, and the Penalties

You were arrested. At the station, or in the cruiser, an officer asked for your name, date of birth, or address. Something you said did not match what they expected. Now the paperwork includes a charge for giving a false name upon arrest, and you are…
Read More
False Report of a Crime i…

False Report of a Crime in Massachusetts (G.L. c. 269, § 13A): Penalties & Defenses

You talked to the police about something that happened. Maybe you called them. Maybe they came to you. Later, they decided what you told them wasn’t true. Now you have a court date for “false report of a crime.” Here’s what that charge means.…
Read More
Unauthorized Transfer of…

Unauthorized Transfer of Sound Recordings

What does the government have to show to prove that the defendant illegally transferred sound recordings? In order to prove a defendant guilty of the offense of unauthorized transfer of sound recordings, the Commonwealth must prove the following four…
Read More
Categories: Blog
Deriving Support from Pro…

Deriving Support from Prostitution in Massachusetts (G.L. c. 272, § 7): Penalties & Defenses

Massachusetts law makes it a serious felony to knowingly live off, derive support from, or share in the earnings of a person engaged in prostitution...
Read More
Interfering with Firefigh…

Interfering with Firefighters in Massachusetts (G.L. c. 268, § 32A): Penalties & Defenses

Getting in the way of firefighters at a fire scene is a felony in Massachusetts. Under G.L. c. 268, § 32A, it is a crime to willfully obstruct, interfere with, or hinder a firefighter or a firefighting force doing its lawful duty. The key word i…
Read More
Categories: Blog
Attaching Wrong Plates in…

Attaching Wrong Plates in Massachusetts (G.L. c. 90, § 23): Penalties & Defenses

A police officer says the plate on a car didn’t belong to that car, or that the plate was covered or missing. Now you have a citation or a court date for a charge under G.L. c. 90, § 23. Here’s what that charge means. At a Glance: Wrong Plates /…
Read More
Hardship License and Igni…

Hardship License and Ignition Interlock in Massachusetts: What to Expect After an OUI Suspension

Last reviewed: September 12, 2026 Losing your license after an OUI is not only a court problem. It is also an RMV problem—and the two tracks do not always move together. Many people ask: Can I get a hardship license so I can keep working? Will I ne…
Read More
What is an affray?

What is an affray?

An “affray” is the fighting of people in a public place to the terror of the persons there. Engaging in an affray with another person is a crime under Commonwealth law. Note that nothing in the definition of affray prevents a defendant charged wi…
Read More
Prior Bad Acts

Prior Bad Acts

What are prior bad acts? When a defendant is not charged with committing any crime other than the charge or charges in the complaint, oftentimes there is mention of other acts allegedly done by the defendant separate from the crime in question. These…
Read More
Strangulation and Suffoca…

Strangulation and Suffocation in Massachusetts (G.L. c. 265, § 15D): Penalties & Defenses

Strangulation and suffocation are felonies in Massachusetts under G.L. c. 265, § 15D. Putting substantial pressure on someone’s neck or blocking their nose or mouth, in a way that interferes with their breathing or blood flow, can lead to…
Read More