Animal cruelty is a crime in Massachusetts. The highest court in the state recently decided a new case on the defense of animal cruelty. What are the facts of the new case? In the new case, Commonwealth v. Robin Adams, a man took his dog to a public…
Confidential Informants and Search Warrants What is a search warrant? A search warrant is a piece of paper that gives police permission to search you or something you own. Search warrants are signed by judges or magistrates. Under the Fourth Amendmen…
Testimony at a criminal trial can come from many different sources. Police officers, bystanders, family members, friends, and even the alleged victims of crimes can take the stand. Another source is an incarcerated informant, sometimes called a “a…
Assault and battery is a criminal offense in Massachusetts. There are different types of assault and battery. The types usually have to do with who the victim is. Certain categories of vulnerable people have special protection under the law. Some exa…
Sexual abuse is a serious crime that comes from a wide variety of conduct. One way a person can be sexually abused is through revenge porn. Across the country, states have been passing laws to criminalize revenge porn. Massachusetts is one of the lat…
Massachusetts is a state that takes sex crimes very seriously. Sex offenses include crimes like rape, possession of child porn*graphy, and sexual assault of a minor. Another offense that falls under the category of sex crimes is secretly photographin…
What is a subsequent offense? A subsequent offense is a crime that a person has been convicted of before. It happened subsequent or after your first conviction. A subsequent offense does not always mean “second offense.” It could be a third, four…
What is gunshot residue? Gunshot residue, often abbreviated “GSR”, is a type of forensic evidence. GSR is the substances that come out of a firearm after it is discharged. Pulling the trigger of a firearm causes a small explosion to occur inside…
Operating under the influence of alcohol is a crime that is taken seriously in Massachusetts. If you are convicted, the punishment will impact not only your freedom but also possibly your relationships with others and employment opportunities. When c…
The Second Amendment gives people the constitutional right to keep and use firearms. But the right isn’t unlimited. There has been much debate in politics on what restrictions states and local communities should be able to place on gun ownership. T…
