Section 15. Whoever unlawfully keeps in his possession any public record or removes it from the room where it is usually kept, or alters, defaces, mutilates or destroys any public record or violates any provision of this chapter shall be punished by a fine of not less than ten nor more than five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. Any public officer who refuses or neglects to perform any duty required of him by this chapter shall for each month of such neglect or refusal be punished by a fine of not more than twenty dollars.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Section 1 - Supervision of Public Records; Powers and Duties
Section 3 - ''record'' Defined; Quality of Paper and Film; Microfilm Records
Section 4 - Regulation of Recording Materials and Devices; Mandamus
Section 5 - Municipal Records; Copies
Section 5a - Records of Meetings of Boards and Commissions; Contents
Section 6 - Records of Public Proceedings; Preparation; Custody
Section 6a - Records Access Officers; Designation; Powers and Duties
Section 7 - Custody of Old and Other Records
Section 8 - Preservation and Destruction of Records, Books and Papers
Section 8a - Destruction of Certain Records by City and Town Clerks if Micro-Photographed
Section 8b - Destruction or Disposal of Records in Accordance With Chapter 93i
Section 9 - Preservation and Copying of Worn, etc., Records
Section 11 - Fireproof Vaults and Safes
Section 12 - Arrangement of Records
Section 13 - Custodian to Demand Records; Compelling Compliance
Section 14 - Surrender of Records by Retiring Officer
Section 16 - Surrender of Church Records; Jurisdiction of Superior Court
Section 17 - Municipality in Which Records to Be Kept; Contracts for Records Storage; Penalty
Section 17a - Public Assistance Records; Public Inspection; Destruction
Section 17c - Failure to Maintain Public Records of Meetings; Orders to Maintain
Section 18 - Application of Chapter
Section 20 - Payroll, Financial and Other Data in Centralized State Accounting and Payroll Systems
Section 21 - Documents Related to Pensions of Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Employees