§ 1 Murder defined
§ 2 Punishment for murder; parole; executive clemency
§ 3 Duel; wound without and death within state; venue
§ 4 Accessory in duel
§ 5 Duel; conviction or acquittal in foreign state; effect
§ 9 Prize fighting; engaging
§ 10 Prize fight; aiding or promoting; penalty
§ 11 Prize fight; appointment within and fight without state; penalty
§ 12 Boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts or other unarmed combative sporting matches or sparring exhibitions; penalty
§ 13 Manslaughter; punishment; business organization as defendant
§ 131/2 Punishment for manslaughter while operating a motor vehicle
§ 13A Assault or assault and battery; punishment
§ 13B Indecent assault and battery on child under age of 14; penalties
§ 13B1/2 Commission of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14 during commission of certain offenses or by mandated reporters; penalties
§ 13B3/4 Commission of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14 by certain previously convicted offenders; penalties
§ 13C Assault and battery to collect loan; penalty
§ 13D Assault and battery upon public employees; attempt to disarm police officer; assault and battery upon a police officer; penalties
§ 13D1/2 Firefighters, injuries resulting from criminal offenses; penalty
§ 13F Indecent assault and battery on a person with an intellectual disability; assault and battery
§ 13G Commission of a felony for hire; additional punishment
§ 13H Indecent assault and battery on person fourteen or older; penalties
§ 13H1/2 Indecent assault and battery committed by law enforcement officers on certain vulnerable persons in their custody
§ 13I Assault or assault and battery on emergency medical technician, ambulance operator, ambulance attendant or health care provider
§ 13J Assault and battery upon a child; penalties
§ 13K Assault and battery upon an elderly or disabled person; definitions; penalties
§ 13L Wanton or reckless behavior creating a risk of serious bodily injury or sexual abuse to a child; duty to act; penalty
§ 13M Assault or assault and battery on a family or household member; second or subsequent offense; penalty
§ 13N Transmission of conviction information for misdemeanor offense having as element the use or attempted use of physical force or the threatened use of deadly weapon where victim or intended victim was family or household member to department of criminal jus
§ 14 Mayhem; punishment
§ 15 Assault; intent to murder or maim; penalty
§ 15A Assault and battery with dangerous weapon; victim sixty or older; punishment; subsequent offenses
§ 15B Assault with dangerous weapon; victim sixty or older; punishment; subsequent offenses
§ 15C Assault by means of hypodermic syringe or needle; assault and battery by means of hypodermic syringe or needle
§ 15D Strangulation or suffocation; penalty; aggravating factors; batterer’s intervention program
§ 15E Assault and battery by discharge of firearm, large capacity weapon, rifle, shotgun, sawed-off shotgun or machine gun; penalty
§ 15F Attempt to commit assault and battery by discharge of firearm, large capacity weapon, rifle, shotgun, sawed-off shotgun or machine gun; penalty
§ 16 Attempt to murder
§ 17 Armed robbery; punishment
§ 18 Assault with intent to rob or murder; weapons; punishment; victim sixty years or older; minimum sentence for repeat offenders
§ 18A Dangerous weapon; assault in dwelling house; punishment
§ 18B Use of firearms while committing a felony; second or subsequent offenses; punishment
§ 18C Entry of dwelling place; persons present within; weapons; punishment
§ 19 Robbery by unarmed person; punishment; victim sixty or older; minimum sentence for repeat offenders
§ 20 Simple assault; intent to rob or steal; punishment
§ 21 Stealing by confining or putting in fear
§ 21A Assault, confinement, etc. of person for purpose of stealing motor vehicle; weapons; punishment
§ 22 Rape, generally; weapons; punishment; eligibility for furlough, education, training or employment programs; offenses committed by law enforcement officer against person in his or her custody
§ 22A Rape of child; punishment
§ 22B Rape of a child during commission of certain offenses or by use of force; penalties
§ 22C Rape of a child through use of force by certain previously convicted offenders; penalties
§ 23 Rape and abuse of child
§ 23A Rape and abuse of child aggravated by age difference between defendant and victim or by when committed by mandated reporters; penalties
§ 23B Rape and abuse of child by certain previously convicted offenders; penalties
§ 24 Assault with intent to commit rape; weapons; punishment; eligibility for furloughs, education, training or employment programs
§ 24A Venue
§ 24B Assault of child; intent to commit rape; weapons; punishment
§ 24C Victim’s name; confidentiality
§ 25 Attempted extortion; punishment
§ 26 Kidnapping; weapons; child under age 16; punishment
§ 26A Kidnapping of minor or incompetent by relative; punishment
§ 26B Drugging persons for kidnapping
§ 26C Definition of ”entice”; enticement of child under age 16; punishment
§ 26D Enticement of child under age 18 to engage in prostitution, human trafficking or commercial sexual activity
§ 27 Kidnapping; venue
§ 27A Kidnapping of minor or incompetent by relative; venue
§ 28 Poison; use with intent to injure; punishment
§ 29 Assault; intent to commit felony; punishment
§ 30 Gross negligence; persons having care of common carrier; penalty
§ 32 Glass; throwing in public streets and beaches; penalty
§ 34 Tattooing body of person by other than qualified physician; punishment
§ 35 Throwing or dropping objects onto public way; punishment
§ 36 Throwing or dropping objects at sporting events; punishment
§ 37 Violations of constitutional rights; punishment
§ 39 Assault or battery for purpose of intimidation; weapons; punishment
§ 40 Causing serious bodily injury to participants in physical exercise training programs; punishment
§ 41 Sentence not imposing imprisonment; specific reasons in record
§ 42 Use of radios without earphones on public conveyances; punishment
§ 43 Stalking; punishment
§ 43A Criminal harassment; punishment
§ 44 Coercion of child under eighteen into criminal conspiracy; penalties
§ 45 Community parole supervision for life following imprisonment, probation or treatment center sentence; covered offenses
§ 46 Taking from deceased victim’s estate prohibited
§ 47 Global positioning system device to be worn by certain sex offender probationers
§ 48 Ice cream truck vending by sex offender prohibited
§ 49 Definitions applicable to Secs. 49 to 57
§ 50 Trafficking of persons for sexual servitude; trafficking of persons under 18 years for sexual servitude; trafficking by business entities; penalties; tort actions brought by victims
§ 51 Trafficking of persons for forced service; victims under 18 years; trafficking by business entities; penalties; tort actions brought by victims
§ 52 Subsequent violations of Sec. 50 or 51; penalties; evidence of prior adjudication or conviction
§ 53 Organ trafficking; victims under 18 years; penalties
§ 54 Transmittal of fines to state treasurer
§ 55 Forfeiture of funds used to facilitate violation of Sec. 50 or 51; victim restitution
§ 56 Property subject to forfeiture resulting from violations of Secs. 50 or 51; procedure; exceptions; records; preliminary orders for seizure; referral to office of seized property management; homestead exemptions; recording of certificate of fact of final j
§ 57 Victim of human trafficking as affirmative defense to charges of common night walking or common streetwalking
§ 58 Possession of deceptive weapon device during commission of violent crime; penalty
§ 59 Human trafficking victimization as affirmative defense to certain offenses; grounds to vacate conviction, adjudication of delinquency or continuance without finding and to withdraw guilty plea
§ 60 Female genital mutilation; definitions; penalties; defenses
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Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws > Chapter 265 - Crimes Against the Person

  • Acquittal:
    1. Judgement that a criminal defendant has not been proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
    2. A verdict of "not guilty."
     
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Attorney-in-fact: A person who, acting as an agent, is given written authorization by another person to transact business for him (her) out of court.
  • Bail: Security given for the release of a criminal defendant or witness from legal custody (usually in the form of money) to secure his/her appearance on the day and time appointed.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Continuance: Putting off of a hearing ot trial until a later time.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Decedent: A deceased person.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Dismissal: The dropping of a case by the judge without further consideration or hearing. Source:
  • Escrow: Money given to a third party to be held for payment until certain conditions are met.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Fiduciary: A trustee, executor, or administrator.
  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Hearsay: Statements by a witness who did not see or hear the incident in question but heard about it from someone else. Hearsay is usually not admissible as evidence in court.
  • Indictment: The formal charge issued by a grand jury stating that there is enough evidence that the defendant committed the crime to justify having a trial; it is used primarily for felonies.
  • Injunction: An order of the court prohibiting (or compelling) the performance of a specific act to prevent irreparable damage or injury.
  • Joint tenancy: A form of property ownership in which two or more parties hold an undivided interest in the same property that was conveyed under the same instrument at the same time. A joint tenant can sell his (her) interest but not dispose of it by will. Upon the death of a joint tenant, his (her) undivided interest is distributed among the surviving joint tenants.
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Nolo contendere: No contest-has the same effect as a plea of guilty, as far as the criminal sentence is concerned, but may not be considered as an admission of guilt for any other purpose.
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Plaintiff: The person who files the complaint in a civil lawsuit.
  • Plea: In a criminal case, the defendant's statement pleading "guilty" or "not guilty" in answer to the charges, a declaration made in open court.
  • Power of attorney: A written instrument which authorizes one person to act as another's agent or attorney. The power of attorney may be for a definite, specific act, or it may be general in nature. The terms of the written power of attorney may specify when it will expire. If not, the power of attorney usually expires when the person granting it dies. Source: OCC
  • Probable cause: A reasonable ground for belief that the offender violated a specific law.
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • Reporter: Makes a record of court proceedings and prepares a transcript, and also publishes the court's opinions or decisions (in the courts of appeals).
  • Restitution: The court-ordered payment of money by the defendant to the victim for damages caused by the criminal action.
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • Temporary restraining order: Prohibits a person from an action that is likely to cause irreparable harm. This differs from an injunction in that it may be granted immediately, without notice to the opposing party, and without a hearing. It is intended to last only until a hearing can be held.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Verdict: The decision of a petit jury or a judge.