Massachusetts General Laws
Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases
Title I - Crimes and Punishments

Section 10 - Carrying Dangerous Weapons; Possession of Machine Gun or Sawed-Off Shotguns; Possession of Large Capacity Weapon or Large Capacity Feeding Device; Punishment - Section 10. (a) Whoever, except as provided or exempted by...

Section 10e - Firearms Sales, Distributions or Transfers; Penalties; Eligibility for Probation, Parole, Furlough or Work Release - Section 10E. Whoever, except as provided by law, in a...

Section 10f - Illegal Sale, Gifts or Transfer of Large Capacity Weapons or Large Capacity Feeding Devices; Punishment - Section 10F. (a) Any person who sells, keeps for sale,...

Section 10g - Violations of Sec. 10 by Persons Previously Convicted of Violent Crimes or Serious Drug Offenses; Punishment - Section 10G. (a) Whoever, having been previously convicted of a...

Section 10h - Carrying Loaded Firearm While Under Influence of Liquor, Marijuana, Narcotic Drugs, Depressants, Stimulant or Toxic Vapor Substances; Punishment - Section 10H. Whoever, having in effect a license to carry...

Section 10i - Transporting Firearm, Rifle, Shotgun, Machine Gun or Sawed-Off Shotgun Into Commonwealth for Use in Commission of Criminal Activity or to Unlawfully Distribute, Sell or Transfer Possession to Prohibited Person; Penalty - Section 10I. (a) Whoever transports a firearm, rifle, shotgun, machine...

Section 10j - Breaking and Entering Building, Ship, Vessel or Vehicle to Steal Firearm; Penalty - Section 10J. (a) Whoever in the nighttime or the daytime...

Section 10k - Breaking and Entering Building in Which Firearm Retailer, Wholesaler or Manufacturer Conducts Business; Unlawfully Obtaining or Distributing Firearm, Rifle, Shotgun, Machine Gun or Ammunition; Punishment - Section 10K. (a) Whoever in the nighttime or the daytime...

Section 11 - Printing Statutes for Posters; Display - Section 11. The state secretary shall, annually, cause to be...

Section 11a - Definitions - Section 11A. For the purposes of this section and sections...

Section 11b - Possession or Control of Firearm With Serial or Identification Number Removed or Mutilated, While Committing or Attempting a Felony; Destruction - Section 11B. Whoever, while in the commission or attempted commission...

Section 11c - Removal or Mutilation of Serial or Identification Numbers of Firearms; Receiving Such Firearm; Destruction - Section 11C. Whoever, by himself or another, removes, defaces, alters,...

Section 11e - Serial Identification Numbers on Firearms - Section 11E. All firearms, rifles and shotguns of new manufacture,...

Section 12 - Manufacturing and Selling Knives, Slung Shots, Swords, Bludgeons and Similar Weapons - Section 12. Whoever manufactures or causes to be manufactured, or...

Section 12a - Air Rifles; Sale to Minors - Section 12A. Whoever sells to a minor under the age...

Section 12b - Air Rifles; Possession by Minors; Shooting - Section 12B. No minor under the age of eighteen shall...

Section 12d - Rifle or Shotgun Loaded With Shells or Cartridges; Unloaded Rifle or Shotgun; Carrying on Public Way Prohibited; Exceptions; Punishment - Section 12D. (a) Except as exempted or provided by law,...

Section 12e - Discharge of a Firearm Within 500 Feet of a Dwelling or Other Building in Use; Exceptions - Section 12E. Whoever discharges a firearm as defined in section...

Section 12f - Airport Secure Areas; Possession or Placement of a Cutting Device or Prohibited Weapon; Punishment - Section 12F. (a) For the purposes of this section, the...

Section 13 - False Alarms of Fire - Section 13. Whoever, without reasonable cause, by outcry or the...

Section 13a - False Reports to Police Officers - Section 13A. Whoever intentionally and knowingly makes or causes to...

Section 14 - Deadly Weapons, Explosives, Chemical or Biological Agents, or Other Deadly Device or Substance; Threatened Use or Presence; Threat to Hijack; Disruption of School, Public Building or Transport; Punishment; Restitution - Section 14. (a) For the purposes of this section, the...

Section 14a - Annoying Telephone Calls or Electronic Communication - Section 14A. Whoever telephones another person or contacts another person...

Section 14b - Willful and Malicious Communication of False Information to Public Safety Answering Points; Penalty; Restitution - Section 14B. As used in this section, the following words...

Section 15 - Stink Bombs; Sale - Section 15. Whoever sells or offers for sale a stink...

Section 16 - Arrowheads Used for Hunting; Sale - Section 16. Whoever sells or offers for sale devices known...

Section 17 - Hazing; Organizing or Participating; Hazing Defined - Section 17. Whoever is a principal organizer or participant in...

Section 18 - Failure to Report Hazing - Section 18. Whoever knows that another person is the victim...

Section 19 - Copy of Secs. 17 to 19; Issuance to Students and Student Groups, Teams and Organizations; Report - Section 19. Each institution of secondary education and each public...

Chapter 270 - Crimes Against Public Health

Section 1 - Adulterating Liquor; Sale; Forfeiture - Section 1. Whoever, for the purpose of sale, adulterates any...

Section 1a - Eyeglasses or Sunglasses; Specifications; Flammable Frames; Sales - Section 1A. No person shall distribute, sell or deliver any...

Section 3 - Drugs or Other Substance Injurious to Users; Distribution - Section 3. Whoever distributes, delivers or gives away in any...

Section 3a - Poison for Rodents; Placement Where It May Cause Injury - Section 3A. Whoever negligently or maliciously places any poison or...

Section 4 - Wood Alcohol Contained in Food or Drink; Sale or Possession - Section 4. Whoever, himself, or by his servant or agent,...

Section 5 - Alcoholic Beverages or Drugs; Sale or Delivery to Hospital Patients - Section 5. Whoever, except under the direction of a physician,...

Section 6 - Sale or Provision of Tobacco Product to Person Under 21 Years of Age - Section 6. (a) As used in this section and sections...

Section 6a - Sale of Tobacco Rolling Papers to Person Under 21 Years of Age - Section 6A. A person who sells tobacco rolling papers to...

Section 7 - Posting Copy of Secs. 6 and 6a; Signage for Smoking Cessation Resources - Section 7. (a) A copy of sections 6 and 6A...

Section 8 - Candy Containing Alcohol; Sale - Section 8. Whoever sells to a person any candy enclosing...

Section 8a - Foods Containing Foreign Injury Causing Substances; Distribution or Sale - Section 8A. Whoever sells, gives, or distributes to anyone candy...

Section 9 - Feeding Garbage or Refuse to Animals - Section 9. Whoever knowingly feeds or has in his possession...

Section 10 - Toys or Confectionery Containing or Coated With Material Containing Arsenic - Section 10. Whoever, himself, or by his agent or servant,...

Section 11 - Arsenic; Samples for Analysis - Section 11. Whoever offers or exposes for sale or exchange...

Section 12 - Fabric or Paper Containing Arsenic - Section 12. Whoever, himself, or by his agent or servant,...

Section 13 - Water; Refusal or Neglect to Furnish - Section 13. A corporation engaged in selling or distributing water,...

Section 14 - Spitting - Section 14. Whoever expectorates or spits upon any public sidewalk,...

Section 15 - Arrest Without Warrant for Spitting - Section 15. Any person detected in the act of violating...

Section 16 - Disposal of Rubbish, Etc. on or Near Highways and Coastal or Inland Waters; Penalties; Enforcement; Park Rangers - Section 16. Whoever places, throws, deposits or discharges or whoever...

Section 16a - Alternative Noncriminal Disposition of Violations of Sec. 16 - Section 16A. If any officer empowered to enforce section sixteen...

Section 17 - Garbage or Refuse; Disposal in Containers Placed Along Highways - Section 17. Whoever disposes of household or commercial garbage or...

Section 18 - Substance Having Property of Releasing Toxic Vapors - Section 18. No person shall intentionally smell or inhale the...

Section 19 - Glue or Cement; Sale to Minors; Smelling Deterrent Ingredients - Section 19. Any person who sells glue or cement to...

Section 20 - Burning of Refuse, Etc. Within Marine or Shoreline Boundaries - Section 20. No person shall burn refuse, rubbish or demolition...

Section 22 - Smoking in Public Places - Section 22. (a) As used in this section, the following...

Section 23 - Flea Markets; Smoking Prohibition; Penalty - Section 23. (a) As used in this section, ''flea market''...

Section 24 - Mercury Thermometers; Sale or Supply; Instructions Regarding Breakage - Section 24. No person shall sell or supply, including online,...

Section 25 - Ice Cream Truck Vending; Permit Requirements - Section 25. (a) For the purposes of this section, the...

Section 26 - Use of Employee Restroom by Customer Suffering From Eligible Medical Condition or Using Ostomy Device; Non-Liability; Penalty for Violation - Section 26. (a) For the purposes of this section, the...

Section 27 - Liquid Nicotine Containers and Liquid or Gel Substances Containing Nicotine; Use of Child Restraint Packaging - Section 27. (a) As used in this section, the following...

Chapter 271 - Crimes Against Public Policy

Section 1 - Gaming or Betting; Forfeiture - Section 1. Whoever, on a prosecution commenced within eighteen months...

Section 1a - ''house'', ''building'' and ''place'' Including Ship or Vessel - Section 1A. The words ''house'', ''building'' and ''place'' used severally...

Section 2 - Gaming or Betting in Public Conveyance or Place or While Trespassing in Private Place; Arrest Without Warrant - Section 2. Whoever, in a public conveyance or public place,...

Section 3 - Innholders and Others Keeping or Suffering Implements to Be Used for Gaming - Section 3. Except as permitted under chapter 23K, every innholder,...

Section 4 - Gaming in Inns and Other Occupied Places; Use of Billiard Table, Bowling Alley or Other Implement for Gaming - Section 4. Whoever, in any place mentioned in the preceding...

Section 5 - Gaming, Lottery, Pool or Betting Houses; Tables or Apparatus for Gaming - Section 5. Whoever, except as permitted under chapter 23K, keeps...

Section 5a - Gambling Devices; Forfeiture; Antique Slot Machines - Section 5A. Whoever manufactures, transports, sells, offers for sale, stores,...

Section 5b - Unlawful Possession of Electronic Machine or Device for Conducting or Promoting Sweepstakes Through Entertaining Display; Lawful Exceptions; Penalty - Section 5B. (a) As used in this section the following...

Section 6 - Gaming Relative to Cattle Shows, Military Muster or Public Gathering; Arrest Without Warrant - Section 6. Whoever, during or within twelve hours of the...

Section 6a - Plans Under Which Purchasers Agree to Obtain More Purchasers; Injunction; Receivers - Section 6A. Whoever sets up or promotes a plan by...

Section 6b - Skilo and Similar Games - Section 6B. Whoever, except as provided in section twenty-two B,...

Section 7 - Lotteries; Disposal of Property by Chance - Section 7. Whoever sets up or promotes a lottery for...

Section 7a - Raffles and Bazaars; Conduct by Certain Organizations - Section 7A. In this section the following words shall have...

Section 8 - Permitting Lotteries, Raffles and Games of Chance in Buildings - Section 8. Whoever owns, occupies or is in control of...

Section 9 - Lottery Tickets; Sale, or Possession - Section 9. Whoever, for himself or for another, sells or...

Section 10 - Subsequent Offenses Within Five Years of Conviction - Section 10. Whoever, within five years after being convicted of...

Section 10a - Arrest Without Warrant - Section 10A. Any person who is discovered by a police...

Section 11 - Lottery Tickets; Advertising - Section 11. Whoever, himself or by another, advertises a lottery...

Section 12 - False Lottery Tickets; Creation, Sale, or Possession - Section 12. Whoever makes or sells, or has in his...

Section 13 - Lottery Tickets, Tokens or Shares Deemed False - Section 13. Upon the trial of a person charged with...

Section 14 - Forfeiture of Money, Prizes, or Other Property Disposed of by Chance; Recovery - Section 14. Money or other thing of value drawn as...

Section 15 - Lottery for Money Drawn Out of Commonwealth; Aiding or Promoting - Section 15. Whoever, except as provided in section five of...

Section 16 - Tickets of Lottery Described in Sec. 15; Sale or Possession - Section 16. Whoever sells, for himself or another, or offers...

Section 16a - Organizing or Promoting Gambling Facilities or Services - Section 16A. Whoever knowingly organizes, supervises, manages or finances at...

Section 17 - Place for Registering Bets or Dealing in Pools; Owner or Occupant; Custodian or Depository - Section 17. Whoever keeps a building or room, or any...

Section 17a - Telephones; Use for Gaming Purposes - [ Text of section effective until July 31, 2022. See...

Section 17b - Use of Electronic Communications Records in Ongoing Criminal Investigations; Subpoena of Records - Section 17B. Except as otherwise prohibited under section 2703 of...

Section 18 - Policy Lotteries or Shops; Production, Sale or Possession of Lottery Tickets or Tokens - Section 18. Whoever keeps, sets up, promotes or is concerned...

Section 19 - Production, Advertisement or Delivery of Tickets; Receipt of Money; Prima Facie Evidence - Section 19. The printing, writing, advertising, issuing or delivery of...

Section 20 - Tickets, Memoranda, Books and Sheets; Nuisance; Possession; Concealment - Section 20. All lottery, policy or pool tickets, slips or...

Section 21 - Words, Figures or Characters Referring to Game or Contest; Prima Facie Evidence; Proof - Section 21. In a prosecution or proceeding relative to lotteries,...

Section 22 - Delivery to or From a Person Engaged in a Lottery or Other Illegal Gaming - Section 22. Whoever receives a letter, package or parcel for...

Section 22a - Whist or Bridge for Charitable and Similar Purposes - Section 22A. Nothing in this chapter shall authorize the prosecution,...

Section 22b - Beano; Sale of Lottery Tickets - Section 22B. Nothing in this chapter shall authorize the prosecution,...

Section 23 - Oath and Warrant to Enter Gaming or Lottery Place, Arrest Persons and Seize Implements and Materials; Disposal of Articles - Section 23. If a person makes oath before a district...

Section 24 - Race Tracks; Owners, Proprietors Of, or Persons Present - Section 24. This chapter shall not authorize the arrest or...

Section 25 - Obstructions Barring Access to Gaming Places; Removal; Lien of Expenses - Section 25. If a captain of police in Boston or...

Section 26 - Subsequent Obstructions; Removal; Punishment; Lien - Section 26. If, within one year after removal of said...

Section 27 - Judicial Notice of Methods and Character of Lotteries, Policy Games, Pools and Betting; Prima Facie Evidence - Section 27. Any court or magistrate having criminal jurisdiction may...

Section 28 - Lotteries or Illegal Gaming; Complaints and Indictments - Section 28. No plea of misnomer shall be received to...

Section 29 - Sale, Exchange or Disposition of Property; Misrepresentation - Section 29. Whoever sells, exchanges or disposes of any property,...

Section 30 - Trading Stamps or Similar Devices; Sale or Delivery - Section 30. Whoever, in connection with the sale of any...

Section 31 - Racing Horses for Bets or Stakes - Section 31. Whoever, except in trials of speed of horses...

Section 31a - Racing Results or Information; Transmission for Unlawful Purposes - Section 31A. Whoever transmits the results of a race, or...

Section 32 - Horse Racing; Fraud - Section 32. Whoever, for the purpose of competing for a...

Section 33 - Race Grounds in Towns - Section 33. No land within a town shall be laid...

Section 34 - Race Grounds as Nuisance; Abatement - Section 34. Every race ground or trotting park established, laid...

Section 35 - Definition of Words and Phrases Used in Secs. 35 to 38 - Section 35. The following words and phrases used in this...

Section 36 - Bucketing Contracts; Keeper of Shop; Domestic and Foreign Corporations - Section 36. Whoever makes, or offers to make, any contract...

Section 37 - Prohibited Contracts; Price Quotations - Section 37. Whoever shall communicate, receive, exhibit or display in...

Section 38 - Purchases and Sales of Securities or Commodities; Written Statement - Section 38. Every person shall furnish, upon demand, to any...

Section 39 - Gifts to Influence Business Affairs; Threats - Section 39. (a) Whoever, in relation to any transaction or...

Section 39a - Gifts to Influence Action of Participants In, and Others Connected With, a Game or Contest - Section 39A. Whoever gives, promises or offers to any professional...

Section 40 - Appointment, Reinstatement or Discharge of Employee of Public Service Corporation or Racing Licensee on Recommendation of Public Officer, Officer Elect or Candidate - Section 40. No railroad, street railway, electric light, gas, telegraph,...

Section 41 - Offices Not Public Offices Under Sec. 40 - Section 41. The offices of probation officer, notary public, justice...

Section 42 - Boxing Matches or Exhibitions; Betting or Selling Pools - Section 42. Whoever bets or wagers or sells pools on...

Section 43 - Solicitation, Disclosure, Receipt or Use of Information Concerning Public Assistance - Section 43. Any person who, except for purposes directly connected...

Section 44 - Hospital or Sanitarium Patient; Settlement, Release or Statement; Admissibility - Section 44. Except as provided below, no settlement or general...

Section 46 - Discarded Containers Originally Used for Refrigerative Purposes; Removal of Doors - Section 46. Whoever fails to remove the door or doors...

Section 47 - Telephones; Gambling Convictions; Approval for Installation; Notices of Convictions and Removals - Section 47. A telephone shall not be installed for a...

Section 48 - Civil Service Preparatory Courses; Advertisement - Section 48. Any school or person offering courses in preparation...

Section 49 - Criminal Usury - Section 49. (a) Whoever in exchange for either a loan...

Section 50 - Sale of Research Papers, etc.; Taking of Examinations for Another at Educational Institutions - Section 50. Whoever, alone or in concert with others, sells...

Chapter 271a - Enterprise Crime

Section 1 - Definitions - Section 1. As used in this chapter, the following words...

Section 2 - Enterprise Crime; Penalties - Section 2. Whoever knowingly: (1) through a pattern of criminal...

Section 3 - Seizure and Forfeiture of Proceeds or Property Obtained as Result of Violation of Chapter - Section 3. All monetary proceeds or other property, real, intellectual...

Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order

Section 1 - Enticing Away Person Under 16 for Marriage - Section 1. Whoever fraudulently and deceitfully entices or takes away...

Section 2 - Enticing Away Person for Prostitution or Sexual Intercourse - Section 2. Whoever fraudulently and deceitfully entices or takes away...

Section 3 - Drugging Persons for Sexual Intercourse - Section 3. Whoever applies, administers to or causes to be...

Section 4 - Inducing Person Under Eighteen to Have Sexual Intercourse - Section 4. Whoever induces any person under 18 years of...

Section 4a - Inducing Minor Into Prostitution - Section 4A. Whoever induces a minor to become a prostitute,...

Section 4b - Living Off or Sharing Earnings of Minor Prostitute - Section 4B. Whoever lives or derives support or maintenance, in...

Section 6 - Owner of Place Inducing or Suffering Person to Resort in Such Place for Sexual Intercourse - Section 6. Whoever, being the owner of a place or...

Section 7 - Support From, or Sharing, Earnings of Prostitute - Section 7. Whoever, knowing a person to be a prostitute,...

Section 8 - Soliciting for Prostitute - Section 8. Whoever solicits or receives compensation for soliciting for...

Section 9 - Oath and Warrant to Enter Place for Prostitution; Detention of Person in Control and Prostitute; Recognizance to Appear as Witness - Section 9. If a person makes oath before a district...

Section 10 - Arrest Without Warrant - Section 10. Nothing in the preceding section shall prevent the...

Section 11 - Corroboration of One Witness; Limitations - Section 11. A person shall not be convicted under sections...

Section 12 - Procuring Person to Practice, or Enter a Place For, Prostitution; Employment Office Procuring Person - Section 12. Whoever knowingly procures, entices, sends, or aids or...

Section 13 - Detaining, or Drugging to Detain, Person in Place for Prostitution - Section 13. Whoever, for any length of time, unlawfully detains...

Section 15 - Polygamy - Section 15. Whoever, having a former husband or wife living,...

Section 16 - Open and Gross Lewdness and Lascivious Behavior - Section 16. A man or woman, married or unmarried, who...

Section 17 - Incestuous Marriage or Sexual Activities - Section 17. Persons within degrees of consanguinity within which marriages...

Section 21a - Furnishing Drugs, Articles or Information for Prevention of Pregnancy or Conception - Section 21A. An authorized health care provider may administer or...

Section 21b - Privately Controlled Hospital or Health Facility; Abortion or Sterilization Procedures; Contraceptive Devices and Family Planning Services - Section 21B. No privately controlled hospital or other health facility...

Section 22 - Concealment of Death of Child Born Out of Wedlock - Section 22. A parent who conceals the death of the...

Section 23 - Joinder of Charges of Murder and Offense Under Sec. 22 - Section 23. A parent indicted for murder of the infant...

Section 24 - Keeping House of Ill Fame - Section 24. Whoever keeps a house of ill fame which...

Section 25 - Obstructing View of Restaurant or Tavern Patrons; Barricaded Entrances - Section 25. Any person owning, managing or controlling a restaurant,...

Section 26 - Resorting to Restaurants or Taverns for Immoral Purposes - Section 26. Whoever, for the purpose of immoral solicitation or...

Section 27 - Record of Convictions Under Sec. 25 or Sec. 26 Sent to Licensing Officers - Section 27. The clerk of the court in which any...

Section 28 - Matter Harmful to Minors, Dissemination; Possession; Defenses - Section 28. Whoever purposefully disseminates to a person he knows...

Section 28c - Information or Petition Against Obscene Books; Order of Notice to Show Cause; Notice of Order; Interlocutory Adjudication; Defense - Section 28C. Whenever there is reasonable cause to believe that...

Section 28d - Answer to Notice; Right to Jury Trial - Section 28D. Any person interested in the dissemination of said...

Section 28e - Order of Default; Adjudication - Section 28E. If no person appears and answers within the...

Section 28f - Hearing; Evidence; Adjudication - Section 28F. If an appearance is entered and answer filed,...

Section 28g - Objection That Mere Judgment Sought and No Relief Claimed on Issue of Knowledge - Section 28G. An information or petition in equity under the...

Section 28h - Proceeding Under Sec. 28c as Evidence in Trial Under Sec. 29; Presumptions as to Knowledge - Section 28H. In any trial under section twenty-nine on an...

Section 28i - Certain Procedures as Condition Precedent to Institution of Proceedings for Dissemination of Obscene Books - Section 28I. The procedures set forth in sections twenty-eight C,...

Section 29 - Dissemination or Possession of Obscene Matter; Punishment; Defense - Section 29. Whoever disseminates any matter which is obscene, knowing...

Section 29a - Posing or Exhibiting Child in State of Nudity or Sexual Conduct; Punishment - Section 29A. (a) Whoever, either with knowledge that a person...

Section 29b - Dissemination of Visual Material of Child in State of Nudity or Sexual Conduct; Punishment - Section 29B. (a) Whoever, with lascivious intent, disseminates any visual...

Section 29c - Knowing Purchase or Possession of Visual Material of Child Depicted in Sexual Conduct; Punishment - Section 29C. Whoever knowingly purchases or possesses a negative, slide,...

Section 30 - Injunctive Relief Against Dissemination of Obscene Matter; Jurisdiction; Procedures; Appeal - Section 30. The superior court shall have jurisdiction to enjoin...

Section 30d - Dissemination of Visual Material of Child in State of Nudity or Sexual Conduct; Injunction; Jurisdiction - Section 30D. The superior court shall also have jurisdiction to...

Section 31 - Definitions - Section 31. As used in sections twenty-eight, twenty-eight C, twenty-eight...

Section 32 - Motion Picture Theater Managers or Operators; Applicability of Secs. 28, 29 and 29a - Section 32. The provisions of sections twenty-eight, twenty-nine and twenty-nine...

Section 33 - Exhibition of Deformities - Section 33. Whoever exhibits for hire an albino person, a...

Section 34 - Crime Against Nature - Section 34. Whoever commits the abominable and detestable crime against...

Section 35 - Unnatural and Lascivious Acts - Section 35. Whoever commits any unnatural and lascivious act with...

Section 35a - Unnatural and Lascivious Acts With Child Under 16 - Section 35A. Whoever commits any unnatural and lascivious act with...

Section 36 - Blasphemy - Section 36. Whoever wilfully blasphemes the holy name of God...

Section 36a - Sporting Events; Penalty for Abuse of Participants and Officials - Section 36A. Whoever, having arrived at the age of sixteen...

Section 38 - Disturbance of Assembly for Worship - Section 38. Whoever wilfully interrupts or disturbs an assembly of...

Section 39 - Selling Goods and Provisions, Caring for Horses, Illegal Gaming, Horse Racing or Exhibits Near Camp Meetings - Section 39. Whoever, during the time of holding a camp...

Section 40 - Disturbance of Assemblies; Conduct of Students on School Grounds or in the Course of School-Related Events - Section 40. Whoever willfully interrupts or disturbs an assembly of...

Section 40a - Alcoholic Beverages; Gift, Sale, Delivery or Possession on Public School Premises - Section 40A. Whoever gives, sells, delivers or has in his...

Section 41 - Disturbance of Libraries - Section 41. Whoever wilfully disturbs persons assembled in a public...

Section 42 - Disturbance of Funerals - Section 42. Whoever wilfully interrupts or by fast driving or...

Section 42a - Disturbance of Funeral Services - Section 42A. Whoever pickets, loiters or otherwise creates a disturbance...

Section 42b - Disturbance of Military Funeral Service; Penalty - Section 42B. Whoever willfully pickets, loiters or otherwise creates a...

Section 43 - Disorderliness in Public Conveyances; Disturbance of Travelers - Section 43. Whoever, in or upon a railroad carriage, steamboat...

Section 43a - Smoking or Carrying Open Flame or Lighted Match, Pipe or Tobacco Product in Public Conveyances and Transportation Terminals - Section 43A. Whoever, in or upon a railroad carriage, steamboat,...

Section 53 - Penalty for Certain Offenses - Section 53. (a) Common night walkers, common street walkers, both...

Section 53a - Engaging in Sexual Conduct for a Fee; Engaging in Sexual Conduct With Child Under Age 18 for a Fee; Penalties - Section 53A. (a) Whoever engages, agrees to engage or offers...

Section 54 - Apprehension for Certain Offences, Without Warrant; Custody - Section 54. Whoever is found in a public way or...

Section 56 - Subsequent Offenses; Breach of Recognizance on Appeal - Section 56. If a person convicted under section fifty-three appeals...

Section 57 - Discharge Upon Recognizance; Payment of Expenses of Prosecution - Section 57. When a person is brought before a magistrate...

Section 58 - Employing or Permitting Employment of Minor Under 15 to Beg - Section 58. A parent or other person who employs a...

Section 59 - Ordinances or Regulations Relating to Streets, Reservations, or Parkways; Alcoholic Beverages; Profanity; Arrest Without Warrant - Section 59. Whoever remains in a street or elsewhere in...

Section 60 - Disposal of Rubbish, etc.; Refusal to Remove; Arrest Without Warrant - Section 60. Whoever commits a misdemeanor, as defined by a...

Section 61 - Conviction After Discharge From Sentence Under Sec. 53 - Section 61. Whoever, having been discharged under section one hundred...

Section 62 - Third Conviction of Being a Common Nightwalker - Section 62. If a complaint charges a person with being...

Section 63 - Tramps; Begging or Riding Freight Trains as Prima Facie Evidence - Section 63. Whoever, not being under seventeen, or a person...

Section 64 - Tramps; Punishment; Entering Buildings; Injuries to or Threats Against Persons or Property; Carrying Weapons - Section 64. A tramp shall be punished by imprisonment in...

Section 65 - Arrest of Tramps Without Warrant; Making Complaint - Section 65. A sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable or police officer,...

Section 66 - Vagrants - Section 66. Persons wandering abroad and begging, or who go...

Section 67 - Vagrants; Arrest Without Warrant; Taking Before Court; Complaint - Section 67. Sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, constables and police officers, acting...

Section 68 - Vagabonds - Section 68. A person known to be a pickpocket, thief...

Section 69 - Vagabonds; Arrest Without Warrant; Taking Before Court; Complaint - Section 69. Sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, constables and police officers shall...

Section 70 - Taking Dead Body on Process or Execution - Section 70. A sheriff, deputy sheriff or constable who takes...

Section 71 - Disinterring Bodies - Section 71. Whoever, not being lawfully authorized by the proper...

Section 72 - Buying, Selling or Possessing Dead Bodies - Section 72. Whoever buys or sells, or has in his...

Section 73 - Tombs, Graves, Memorials, Trees, Plants; Injuring, Removing - Section 73. Whoever wilfully destroys, mutilates, defaces, injures or removes...

Section 73a - Removal of Gravestones and Other Memorials for Repair or Reproduction - Section 73A. In any city or town which accepts this...

Section 73b - Sale of or Attempt to Sell Stolen Commemorative Grave Marker; Receipt, Retention or Disposal of Stolen Commemorative Grave Marker - Section 73B. (a) For purposes of this section, ''commemorative grave...

Section 74 - Desecrating Place of Burial; Use and Occupation as Evidence of Title - Section 74. Whoever wrongfully, and by any act not included...

Section 75 - Removal of Flowers, Flags or Memorial Tokens From Burial Lot - Section 75. Whoever, without authority, removes flowers, flags or memorial...

Section 76 - Ways, Railroads, Canals or Public Easements Through Burial Grounds - Section 76. Whoever lays out, opens, or makes a highway...

Section 77 - Cruelty to Animals; Prohibition From Work Involving Contact With Animals - Section 77. Whoever overdrives, overloads, drives when overloaded, overworks, tortures,...

Section 77a - Willfully Injuring Police Dogs and Horses - Section 77A. Whoever willfully tortures, torments, beats, kicks, strikes, mutilates,...

Section 77b - Exhibition of Wild Animals - Section 77B. No person shall exhibit or sponsor an exhibition...

Section 77c - Sexual Contact With Animal - Section 77C. (a) For the purposes of this section, the...

Section 78 - Selling, Leading, or Using Horses Not Fit for Work; Forfeiture of Auctioneer's License - Section 78. No person holding an auctioneer's license shall receive...

Section 78a - Sale of Foals Under Five Months; Penalty - Section 78A. No person shall sell, offer for sale or...

Section 79 - Violations by Business Entities of Statutes Relating to the Treatment, Care and Protection of Animals - Section 79. A for-profit corporation, nonprofit corporation, business, professional corporation,...

Section 79a - Cutting Bones or Muscles to Dock or Set Tail of Horse; Wound as Evidence - Section 79A. Whoever cuts the bone of the tail of...

Section 79b - Exhibiting Horse With Tail Cut Under Sec. 79a; Affidavit as to Cutting in State Where Not Prohibited; Inspection - Section 79B. Whoever shows or exhibits at any horse show...

Section 801/2 - Devocalization of Dogs or Cats; Definitions; Penalty; Exceptions; Records - Section 801/2. (a) For the purposes of this section, the...

Section 80a - Cropping or Cutting Off Ear of Dog; Wound as Prima Facie Evidence - Section 80A. Whoever, not being a veterinarian duly registered under...

Section 80b - Exhibiting Dogs With Ears Cropped or Cut Off - Section 80B. Whoever shows or exhibits or procures to be...

Section 80c - Taking Cat, Dog or Bird to Exhibit It, Subject It to Experimentation or Mutilation, or to Sell It for Such Purposes; Application of Law - Section 80C. Whoever, without the consent of the owner, takes...

Section 80d - Living Rabbits, Baby Chickens, Ducklings or Other Fowl; Sale, Barter or Gift - Section 80D. No person shall sell, offer for sale, barter...

Section 80e - Putting Animal to Death by Use of Decompression Chamber - Section 80E. Whoever puts any animal to death by the...

Section 80e1/2 - Putting Animal to Death by Drowning - Section 80E1/2. Whoever puts an animal to death by drowning...

Section 80f - Giving Away Live Animals as Prize or Award - Section 80F. No person shall offer or give away any...

Section 80g - Experiments on Vertebrates; Vivisection, Dissection of Animals; Care - Section 80G. No school principal, administrator or teacher shall allow...

Section 80h - Motor Vehicles; Striking, Injuring or Killing Dogs or Cats - Section 80H. The operator of a motor vehicle that strikes...

Section 80i - Leasing or Renting Dogs; Penalties - Section 80I. (a) As used in this section, the following...

Section 81 - Rest, Water and Feed for Transported Animals; Lien; Liability for Detention - Section 81. Railroad corporations shall not permit animals carried or...

Section 82 - Arrest Without Warrant for Violation of Sec. 77 or 81; Notice; Care of Animals; Lien - Section 82. A person found violating any provision of section...

Section 83 - Complaint, Warrant and Search Relative to Cruelty to Animals - Section 83. If complaint is made to a court or...

Section 84 - Prosecutions Under Secs. 77 to 81 - Section 84. Sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, constables and police officers shall...

Section 85a - Injuring, Taking Away or Harboring Domesticated Animals or Birds; Removal of Dog License Tag, Collar or Harness; Imitation Tag - Section 85A. Whoever with wrongful intent kills, maims, entices or...

Section 85b - Assistance Animals Stolen or Attacked; Actions for Economic and Non-Economic Damages - Section 85B. (a) A physically impaired person who uses an...

Section 86 - Stabling Horses or Mules on Second or Higher Floors, in Places Other Than Cities - Section 86. No person shall stable a horse or mule...

Section 86a - Stabling Horses and Mules Above First Floor; Exceeding Six; Fire Exits - Section 86A. No person shall stable a horse or mule...

Section 86b - Stabling Horses or Mules Exceeding Fifteen - Section 86B. No person shall stable horses or mules exceeding...

Section 86c - Smoking in Buildings Used for Stabling Horses or Mules - Section 86C. No person shall have a lighted cigarette, cigar...

Section 86d - Pails of Water and Sand in Buildings Used for Stables - Section 86D. On every floor of a building not equipped...

Section 86e - Entry Upon Premises to Enforce Secs. 86a to 86d; Orders - Section 86E. The chief of the fire department or any...

Section 86f - Violation of Secs. 86 to 86d; Refusal or Neglect to Comply With Sec. 86e Orders - Section 86F. Whoever violates any provision of sections eighty-six to...

Section 87 - Keeping or Using Birds to Be Shot At; Shooting Them; Permitting Premises to Be Used for Shooting - Section 87. Whoever keeps or uses any live bird, to...

Section 88 - Complaints and Warrants Relative to Fighting Animals; Searches; Arrests - Section 88. If complaint is made to a court or...

Section 89 - Exhibition Place of Fighting Animals; Entry Without Warrant; Arrests; Seizure of Animals - Section 89. Any officer authorized to serve criminal process, or...

Section 90 - Custody of Arrested Persons; Time Limitation - Section 90. Persons arrested under either of the two preceding...

Section 91 - Forfeiture of Animal or Property Used or Employed in Violation of Sec. 94; Application; Notice; Hearing; Adjudication; Assessment of Forfeited Animal for Suitability for Adoption; Transfer or Other Disposition of Animal - Section 91. After seizure and removal of animals or property...

Section 92 - Appeal; Recognizance; Custody and Disposition of Animals - Section 92. An owner or claimant aggrieved by such judgment...

Section 92a - Advertisement, Book, Notice or Sign Relative to Discrimination; Definition of Place of Public Accommodation, Resort or Amusement - Section 92A. No owner, lessee, proprietor, manager, superintendent, agent or...

Section 93 - Expenses of Care and Destruction of Fighting Animals - Section 93. The necessary expenses incurred in the care and...

Section 94 - Owning, Possessing or Training Fighting Animals; Establishing or Promoting Exhibition; Loaning, Selling or Exporting Fighting Animals; Owning or Possessing Animals for Breeding Fighting Animals - Section 94. Whoever: (i) owns, possesses, keeps or trains any...

Section 95 - Aiding or Being Present at Exhibition of Fighting Animals - Section 95. Whoever is present at any place, building or...

Section 96 - False Notice of Birth, Marriage or Death - Section 96. Whoever wilfully sends to the publisher of a...

Section 97a - Demands, Notices or Other Documents Resembling Court Process; Complaint; Order to Discontinue - Section 97A. Forms of demands or notices or other documents...

Section 98 - Discrimination in Admission To, or Treatment In, Place of Public Accommodation; Punishment; Forfeiture; Civil Right - Section 98. Whoever makes any distinction, discrimination or restriction on...

Section 98a - Physically Handicapped Persons With Dog Guides; Public Places or Conveyances; Charges or Fares; Penalties - Section 98A. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any blind...

Section 98b - Discrimination in Employment on Public Works or in Public Relief or Transitional Assistance - Section 98B. Whoever, knowingly and wilfully, employs discriminatory practices in...

Section 98c - Libel; Groups of Persons; Defenses; Punishment; Prosecutions - Section 98C. Whoever publishes any false written or printed material...

Section 99 - Interception of Wire and Oral Communications - Section 99. Interception of wire and oral communications.— A. Preamble....

Section 99a - Jury Deliberations; Overhearing by Use of Devices - Section 99A. Whoever secretly overhears, or attempts secretly to overhear...

Section 104 - Security for Seizure and Impoundment of Animals Relating to Cruelty to Animals or Animal Fighting - Section 104. (a) As used in this section, the word...

Section 105 - Photographing, Videotaping or Electronically Surveilling Partially Nude or Nude Person or the Sexual or Other Intimate Parts of a Person Around the Person's Clothing; Exceptions; Punishment - Section 105. (a) As used in this section, the following...

Section 106 - Stolen Valor; Penalty - Section 106. (a) A person commits the crime of stolen...

Section 107 - Transmission of Certain Fines to State Treasurer for Deposit Into Victims of Human Trafficking Trust Fund - Section 107. The court shall transmit fines collected pursuant to...

Chapter 273 - Desertion, Non-Support and Illegitimacy

Section 1 - Abandonment and Nonsupport; Failure to Comply With Support Order; Decree Establishing Rights of Spouse as Prima Facie Evidence - Section 1. A spouse or parent shall be guilty of...

Section 2 - Jurisdiction; Venue; Supervision of Parent by Municipal or District Court Probation Officers - Section 2. Proceedings under section one shall be begun if...

Section 3 - Payment of Fines - Section 3. The court imposing a fine under section fifteen...

Section 6 - Recognizance on Release on Probation; Compliance With Judgment or Order for Support; Forfeiture - Section 6. The court shall also have the power to...

Section 7 - Evidence of Marriage and Parentage; Husband and Wife as Witnesses; Self Incrimination; Evidence of Wilfulness; Confidential Communications - Section 7. No other or greater evidence shall be required...

Section 8 - Lack of Custody as Defence; Duty to Support Child - Section 8. In proceedings under sections one or fifteen against...

Section 10 - Uniform Construction - Section 10. Sections one to eight, inclusive, shall be so...

Section 15 - Duty to Support Child Born Out of Wedlock; Conclusiveness of Adjudication or Acknowledgment of Paternity - Section 15. A parent of a minor child born out...

Section 15a - Abandonment and Willful Nonsupport; Penalties; Alternative Sentencing; Restitution - Section 15A. (1) The penalty for violation of sections one...

Section 15b - Receiving, Concealing or Transferring Assets for the Purpose of Avoiding Payment; Penalty - Section 15B. Whoever receives or conceals an asset of another...

Section 16 - Proceedings Under Secs. 1 and 15 - Section 16. The provisions of sections two, six, seven and...

Section 17 - Dismissal of Case - Section 17. If the court having jurisdiction of a case...

Section 18 - Money Forfeited or Recovered Upon Recognizance or Deposit Used for Support - Section 18. If money is forfeited or recovered upon a...

Section 18a - Support Obligations Under Prior Law; Enforcement; Insurance Coverage; Amended Orders - Section 18A. (a) Any order issued by a court pursuant...

Section 20 - Neglect or Refusal to Support Parent - Section 20. Any person, over eighteen, who, being possessed of...

Section 21 - Venue; Complainants - Section 21. Proceedings under the preceding section shall be begun,...

Section 22 - Orders; Applicability of Secs. 1 to 10 of This Chapter - Section 22. Before trial, with the consent of the defendant,...

Section 23 - Needy Disabled Persons; Neglect or Refusal of Parents to Support; Penalty - Section 23. The father or mother of any needy disabled...

Chapter 273a - Uniform Reciprocal Enforcement of Support - [Repealed by 1995, 5, Sec. 105.]

Chapter 274 - Felonies, Accessories and Attempts to Commit Crimes

Section 1 - Felonies and Misdemeanors - Section 1. A crime punishable by death or imprisonment in...

Section 2 - Aiders; Accessories Before Fact; Punishment - Section 2. Whoever aids in the commission of a felony,...

Section 3 - Counselling or Procuring Felony; Prosecution as Accessory Before Fact or Principal; Punishment; Venue - Section 3. Whoever counsels, hires or otherwise procures a felony...

Section 4 - Accessories After Fact; Punishment; Relationship as Defence; Cross-Examination; Impeachment - Section 4. Whoever, after the commission of a felony, harbors,...

Section 5 - Felon's Conviction or Amenability to Justice; Venue - Section 5. An accessory to a felony after the fact...

Section 6 - Attempts to Commit Crimes; Punishment - Section 6. Whoever attempts to commit a crime by doing...

Section 7 - Conspiracy; Penalties - Section 7. Any person who commits the crime of conspiracy...

Section 8 - Solicitation, Counsel, Advice or Enticement of Crime; Penalties - Section 8. Whoever solicits, counsels, advises, or otherwise entices another...

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Massachusetts General Laws Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases Title I - Crimes and Punishments

Massachusetts General Laws
Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases
Title I - Crimes and Punishments