This post will discuss recent changes to Massachusetts law on four legal issues: Parent testimonial disqualification Drug rehabilitation Sentencing of a primary caretaker of a dependent child Criminal Justice Reform Many parents will ask: Can they ma…
What is restorative justice? Restorative justice is a voluntary process by which offenders collectively identify and address obligations resulting from an offense. So, under the system, the offender accepts responsibility for his or her actions. The…
Is there immunity for underage drinking? It is no secret that many adolescents under 21 years of age have consumed alcohol at some point in their life. Lawmakers adjusted the law so that when kids drink alcohol and need medical assistance they don…
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…
What are the punishments for being convicted of more than one OUI? The more times a person is found guilty of an OUI, “Operating Under the Influence” , the greater the penalties are for multiple or subsequent offenses. Massachusetts law has recen…
What is bail and how is it determined? Money given to court to hold until resolution of the case is called bail. A dismissed case; a plea agreement entered; or a trial with a verdict is a resolved case. The purpose of bail is to ensure that the perso…
What is operating without a license? Operating without a license is a fairly common criminal offense. Oftentimes, the offense involves someone whose license lapsed or never had a valid US license. Generally speaking, when these cases come to court an…
ANNOYING AND ACCOSTING PERSONS How does the Commonwealth prove a defendant guilty of annoying or accosting a person? In order to prove a defendant guilty of annoying or accosting a person, the Commonwealth must prove the following four elements of th…
What happens if you are arrested with a dangerous weapon? Under Massachusetts law, a defendant can be charged with carrying a dangerous weapon on his or her person, under his or her control in a vehicle, or when he or she was arrested on a warrant fo…
What is lawful gun storage? A safety device is properly engaged if it renders the firearm, rifle, or shotgun inoperable by any person other than the owner or other lawfully authorized user. Moreover, to qualify as a securely locked container, the con…
