Section 24. If a convict is sentenced to the state prison, except as an habitual criminal, the court shall not fix the term of imprisonment, but shall fix a maximum and a minimum term for which he may be imprisoned. The maximum term shall not be longer than the longest term fixed by law for the punishment of the crime of which he has be convicted, and the minimum term shall be a term set by the court, except that, where an alternative sentence to a house of correction is permitted for the offense, a minimum state prison term may not be less than one year. In the case of a sentence to life imprisonment, except in the case of a sentence for murder in the first degree, and in the case of multiple life sentences arising out of separate and distinct incidents that occurred at different times, where the second offense occurred subsequent to the first conviction, the court shall fix a minimum term which shall be not less than 15 years nor more than 25 years.
In the case of a sentence of life imprisonment for murder in the first degree committed by a person on or after the person's fourteenth birthday and before the person's eighteenth birthday, the court shall fix a minimum term of not less than 20 years nor more than 30 years; provided, however, that in the case of a sentence of life imprisonment for murder in the first degree with extreme atrocity or cruelty committed by a person on or after the person's fourteenth birthday and before the person's eighteenth birthday, the court shall fix a minimum term of 30 years; and provided further, that in the case of a sentence of life imprisonment for murder in the first degree with deliberately premeditated malice aforethought committed by a person on or after the person's fourteenth birthday and before the person's eighteenth birthday, the court shall fix a minimum term of not less than 25 years nor more than 30 years.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases
Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases
Chapter 279 - Judgment and Execution
Section 1a - Suspension of Execution of Sentence; Probation; Child Support Payments
Section 2 - Suspension of Execution of Orders of Commitment to Massachusetts Reformatory, Etc.
Section 3a - Motion of District Attorney for Sentence
Section 4 - Imposition of Sentence; Stay of Execution
Section 4b - Notice to Victim of Sentencing Proceedings; Oral or Written Statements
Section 5 - Sentence if No Punishment Is Provided by Statute
Section 6 - Sentence to Jail or House of Correction
Section 7 - Sentence to Jail or House of Correction for Non-Payment of Fine
Section 8 - Commitments Upon Two or More Sentences
Section 8a - Determination of Time of Taking Effect of Sentence; ''from and After'' Sentence
Section 8b - Commission of Crime While Released on Personal Recognizance; Consecutive Sentence
Section 9 - Second Sentence for Non-Payment of Fine
Section 10 - Conditional Sentence
Section 11 - Punishment by Imprisonment Only or by Fine Only When Law Prescribes Both
Section 12 - Recognizance of Husband Convicted of Assault Upon Wife
Section 13 - Recognizance to Keep the Peace or to Be of Good Behavior
Section 14 - Recognizance; Filing; Proceedings on Breach of Condition
Section 15 - Sentence to Jail or House of Correction in Any County
Section 16 - Sentencing of Female to Massachusetts Correctional Institution, Framingham
Section 19 - Place of Imprisonment of Females Convicted of Felony
Section 20 - Execution of Sentence of Imprisonment of Females Sentenced to Confinement at Hard Labor
Section 23 - Limitation of Sentences of Males to Jails or Houses of Correction
Section 25 - Punishment of Habitual Criminals
Section 26 - Further Sentence of Convict in State Prison
Section 30 - Vacation of Office From Time of Sentence to State Prison
Section 33a - Credit for Days of Confinement Awaiting and During Trial
Section 35 - Transmission of Complaint or Indictment to Correctional Institution
Section 36 - Sentences to State Farm
Section 37 - Setting Out Statutory Name of Crime in Warrant for Commitment
Section 38 - Powers of Sheriff or Constable in Execution of Warrant of Commitment
Section 39 - Return of Precept to Magistrate
Section 40 - Service of New Warrant of Commitment Upon Convict
Section 41 - Default of Corporation
Section 42 - Warrant of Distress to Compel Payment of Penalty or Assessment
Section 59 - Execution of Death Sentence; Time Constraints
Section 60 - Means of Execution of Death Sentence
Section 61 - Capital Crime Conviction; Imposition of Sentence; Insane and Pregnant Persons
Section 63 - Delay in Execution of Death Sentence; Consideration of Pardon
Section 64 - Judicial Stay of Execution of Death Sentence; Final Determination of Judicial Questions
Section 65 - Witnesses; Execution of Death Sentence
Section 66 - Execution of Death Sentence; Post Mortem Examination
Section 67 - Warrant for Execution of Death Sentence; Return to Clerk of Court After Execution
Section 69 - Aggravating and Mitigating Circumstances in Death Penalty Cases
Section 70 - Death Penalty Imposed; Jury Findings Necessary
Section 71 - Review of Death Sentence; Remand; Reversal; Affirmation