§ 1 Definitions
§ 2 Department; supervision and control
§ 3 Colonel of state police; powers and duties
§ 4 Divisions; heads of divisions
§ 5 Division of field services
§ 6 Division of investigation and intelligence; investigation and prosecution of state firearm crimes; criminal firearms and trafficking unit
§ 7 Division of special police services
§ 8 Division of support services
§ 9 Experts, clerks and assistants; appointment and removal
§ 10 Appointments to department of state police; governor’s authorization; restrictions
§ 10A State police cadet program
§ 11 Appointment for initial enlistment; competitive examination; eligible list
§ 12 Misdemeanors committed in presence of on-duty uniformed member; enforcement powers
§ 13 Charges against uniformed member; trial; review: suspension; other disciplinary actions
§ 14 Felony or controlled substance convictions; receipt of gratuities for official services
§ 15 Oath of office
§ 16 Expenses for injuries sustained during employment
§ 17 Estimate of expenses and patrolling time; recommendation of appropriations
§ 18 Additional work time; compensation
§ 19 Uniforms and identification cards; rules and regulations; violations
§ 20 Training programs for newly enlisted and uniformed department members
§ 21 Training programs for city or town police officers and certain state employees
§ 22 Evaluation reports; annual filing
§ 23 Affirmative action office; responsibilities; annual report
§ 24 Separation from employment due to lack of work or money or abolition of positions; reinstatement
§ 24A Persons retired for disability; certification for reinstatement
§ 25 Notice for promotional examinations; right to appeal questions or results; regulations
§ 26 Promotion of uniformed members; factors for consideration; list of eligible members
§ 27 Vacancies in titles of lieutenant colonel and major
§ 28 Period of service requirements for certain appointments
§ 28A Base salaries; review of salary schedule; adjustments
§ 29 Agreement with Massachusetts department of transportation for police services; contents
§ 30 Port Authority; agreement for police services; contents
§ 31 Water resources authority; agreement for police service; contents
§ 32 Definitions applicable to Secs. 33 to 35
§ 33 Collection of hate crime data; regulations
§ 34 Hate crime data reports; public record
§ 35 Availability of hate crime data to law enforcement and other agencies
§ 36 Identification of criminals; furnishing of information to other departments and states; transmission of information to the Federal Bureau of Investigation in cases where fingerprint identification sent though Interstate Identification Index
§ 36A Identifying and locating information from records; individuals wanted on default or arrest warrants
§ 37 Release or discharge of persons confined for certain sexual assaults and other crimes; notification to department and local authorities
§ 38 Criminal information section; duties and functions
§ 39 Chemical analysis of narcotic drug or drug substitute, etc.; certificate of results; prima facie evidence
§ 39A Analysis of samples of alcoholic beverages
§ 39B Procedural rules and policies for testing and analysis of drug samples; quality assurance program
§ 40 Narcotics unit; duties and functions
§ 41 Chemist’s analysis for presence of sperm cells; certificate of results; prima facie evidence
§ 42 Motor vehicle ownership records; certified copies; prima facie evidence
§ 43 Persons affected by orders of department; appeals
§ 44 Destruction or disposal of certain entertainment permit applications or reports
§ 45 Property lost, stolen or taken from arrested persons; unclaimed property; public auction
§ 46 Perishable property; property deteriorating in value; public auction
§ 47 Proceeds from public auctions
§ 48 Claim by owner after public auction; payment to owner
§ 49 Police reports; indication of domestic abuse
§ 50 Police officers’ duties on reservations
§ 51 Special state police officer appointments upon petition by railroad corporation
§ 52 Records of appointments under Sec. 51
§ 53 Swearing in of special state police officers; licenses; duration of appointment
§ 54 Aid to governor in performance of duties
§ 56 Agents of Massachusetts Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Children; appointment as special officers
§ 57 Agents of humane societies and associations; appointment as special officers
§ 58 Port of Boston Authority employees; appointment as special officers
§ 59 Employees of mental health or developmental services departments; appointment as special officers
§ 60 Public health department employees; appointment as special officers
§ 62 Employees of state-operated veterans’ home; appointment as special officers
§ 63 Employees of colleges, universities, other educational institutions and hospitals; appointment as special officers
§ 64 Civil defense agency employees; appointment as special officers
§ 65 Middlesex County Sanatorium employees; appointment as special officers
§ 66 Employment and training division employees; appointment as special officers
§ 67 State lottery commission employees; appointment as special officers
§ 68 Special state police officers; appointment; powers and duties
§ 69 Standards of skill for special officers licensed under Secs. 56 to 68; rules and regulations
§ 70 Gaming enforcement unit
§ 71 AMBER alert plan; activation
§ 72 Special audit unit
§ 73 Maintenance of certification or accreditation from state or nationally recognized accrediting agency

Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws > Chapter 22C - The Department of State Police

  • 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.
  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • Clerk of court: An officer appointed by the court to work with the chief judge in overseeing the court's administration, especially to assist in managing the flow of cases through the court and to maintain court records.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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:
  • 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.
  • Fraud: Intentional deception resulting in injury to another.
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • 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.
  • Joint committee: Committees including membership from both houses of teh legislature. Joint committees are usually established with narrow jurisdictions and normally lack authority to report legislation.
  • 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.
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.