» Assault and Battery

License or Authority

License or Authority

What can I do with a license? It is the burden of the Commonwealth to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you did not have license or authority to do something when you are charged with a crime. However, under G.L. c. 278 § 7 a person relying on a…
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Resisting Arrest

Resisting Arrest

What is Resisting Arrest? In Massachusetts, under M.G.L. c. 268, §32B, a person can be convicted of Resisting Arrest. Resisting Arrest means knowingly preventing or attempting to prevent a police officer from making an arrest by using or threatening…
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Criminal Intent Explained

Criminal Intent Explained

Many crimes require intent for conviction. Intent means being aware of the natural and probable consequences of an action. Specific intent is a conscious act with the determination of the mind to do it according to Commonwealth v. Nickerson, 388 Mass…
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Assault and Battery on a…

Assault and Battery on a Police Officer or Public Employee

There are many different categories of assault and battery in Massachusetts. Under M.G.L. c. 265, § 13D a person who intentionally touches the person of a police officer or public employee in a way that could cause offense or bodily harm may be puni…
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Assault and Battery Causi…

Assault and Battery Causing Serious Bodily Injury in Massachusetts

Assault and battery causing serious bodily injury is an aggravated form of assault and battery under Massachusetts law...
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Massachusetts Domestic Vi…

Massachusetts Domestic Violence Law Reforms (2014): What Changed and Why It Still Matters

In August 2014, Massachusetts enacted a major rewrite of how the Commonwealth handles domestic-violence cases. Governor Deval Patrick signed St. 2014, c. 260 — An Act Relative to Domestic Violence — on August 8, 2014. Parts took effect immediatel…
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