What are mandatory minimum sentences?
What are mandatory minimum sentences? How have changes to the law in Massachusetts impacted these sentences? What kinds of crimes have mandatory minimum sentences? Who do I contact if I need legal representation or have a question about these types of sentences?
In this post we discuss recent changes to Commonwealth law that have eliminated a mandatory minimum sentence for certain crimes. This is important for those that plea to sentences or are convicted of these crimes. The reason they are important is that the law changed and mandatory amount of time someone may have to serve for a particular sentence has been, in most cases, decreased. A mandatory minimum sentence means that the judge cannot reduce the amount of time in jail for that sentence; meaning if convicted, you must serve at least that amount of jail time.
What crimes no longer have a mandatory minimum sentence?
Convictions of unlawful manufacture, distribution, dispensing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, distribute or dispense, or cultivate the following controlled substances no longer carry mandatory minimum sentences:
Note that these sentencing changes apply to pending cases, as long as the initial convictions occurred on or after the effective date of the amendments.
IF YOU OR A LOVED ONE HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCES, AND YOU NEED AN EXPERIENCED CRIMINAL DEFENSE LAWYER WORKING ON YOUR SIDE TO PROTECT YOUR RIGHTS, PLEASE CONTACT CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY WILLIAM J. BARABINO.
CALL 781-393-5900 TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR AVAILABLE DEFENSES.
Related Articles:
