Mandatory Minimum Sentences May Be On The Way Out Just two days ago an article on masslive.com revealed a bold and hopefully accurate prediction by Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Ralph Gants . . . that mandatory minimum sentences will be repealed. A decade or two ago a majority…
Drug Ring and Attempted Murder Arrest in Boston Sometimes crimes can seem like something out of a movie or television drama once all of the facts surrounding the case come to light. A recent incident involving a Massachusetts high school dean and his alleged involvement in a drug ring rises…
Texting and Driving in Massachusetts Recently my office has seen a rash of criminal cases originating when the operator of a motor vehicle is stopped for suspicion of texting while driving. The newly enacted law, G.L. c. 90 Section 13B states that anyone caught sending or reading an electronic message…
Involuntary Manslaughter Charges for Encouraging Suicide An interesting case is developing in Massachusetts concerning whether a young woman’s text messages encouraging her friend to take his own life can be construed as involuntary manslaughter. Michelle Carter, of Plainville, was friends with Conrad Roy, of Mattapoisett, and the two engaged in…
What is a lobby conference? A very small percentage of criminal cases go to trial. Much of the pretrial criminal work is geared towards learning as much about the prosecution’s case as we can. Through the discovery process we understand the strengths and weaknesses of our own case as well.…
Getting A Heroin Conspiracy and Possession Case Dismissed Heroin has become the most problematic drug for prosecutors to deal with in Massachusetts. The number of heroin possession arrests builds everyday. No community is immune. From the most impoverished cities to the most affluent suburbs heroin use and addiction to the…
Kidnapping Charges in Massachusetts Kidnapping is a felony charge, and is considered to be a violent crime in Massachusetts because the act of kidnapping involves forcibly or secretly confining a person against his or her will. Violent crimes carry serious consequences, and being charged with a violent crime, such as…
Most Massachusetts district courts hear criminal matters on a daily basis. There are many criminal cases however that never find their way into a courtroom. These cases get resolved before a clerk magistrate at what in known as a criminal clerk’s hearing. This is a proceeding to determine whether a…
Criminal Records and Prospective Employment If you have a criminal record, it can add a layer of complication to your life when it comes to getting a job. Getting arrested and convicted for a violent crime or a drug crime could have a lingering effect on your career. Under Massachusetts…
Defending College Students Charged With Shoplifting One of the most common criminal charges college students face, particularly in Massachusetts is the crime of shoplifting. The courts in Boston see a significant number of these cases. The last thing a college student can afford is having a criminal record so effective,…