§ 1 Perjury
§ 1A Statements containing declaration relative to penalties of perjury; verification; false statements
§ 2 Subornation of perjury
§ 3 Attempt to procure another to commit perjury
§ 4 Testimony creating presumption of perjury; commitment; recognizance; witnesses bound over; notice
§ 5 Presumption of perjury; papers, books and documents detained for prosecution
§ 6 False reports or testimony before state departments, board or commissioner; false entries in company books or statements; aiders or abettors
§ 6A False written reports by public officers or employees
§ 6B Process servers; false statements; penalty
§ 8B Compulsion or coercion to refuse appointment or promotion
§ 9A Public officers or employees; solicitations regarding testimonial dinners
§ 13 Corrupting or attempting to corrupt masters, auditors, jurors, arbitrators, umpires or referees
§ 13A Picketing court, judge, juror, witness or court officer
§ 13B Intimidation of witnesses, jurors and persons furnishing information in connection with criminal proceedings
§ 13C Disruption of court proceedings
§ 13D Distributing transcript or description of grand jury testimony with intent to interfere with criminal proceedings
§ 13E Tampering with record, document or other object for use in an official proceeding
§ 14 Receipt of gift by juror, arbitrator, umpire, referee, master or auditor
§ 14A Juror discharged from employment
§ 14B Witnesses in criminal actions; discharge, etc. from employment
§ 15 Aiding escape from a correctional institution or jail; rescue
§ 15A Escapes from jail
§ 16 Escape or attempt to escape, or failure to return from temporary release or furlough
§ 17 Aiding escape from officer or person having custody
§ 18 Jailer or officer suffering prisoner to escape
§ 19 Suffering or consenting to an escape from a penal institution
§ 20 Negligently suffering prisoner to escape; refusal to receive prisoner
§ 21 Suffering convict to be at large, visited, relieved or comforted
§ 21A Officer or other employee of penal or correctional institution; sexual relations with inmate; punishment
§ 22 Delay of service of warrants
§ 23 Refusal or delay to execute process resulting in escape
§ 24 Neglect or refusal to assist officer or watchman
§ 25 Refusal or neglect to obey order of justice of the peace to apprehend offender
§ 26 Delivering alcoholic beverages to prisoners; possession
§ 27 Delivering alcoholic beverages to patients of public institutions; possession
§ 28 Delivering drugs or articles to prisoners in correctional institutions or jails; possession
§ 29 Delivery, or permission of delivery, by officers, of alcoholic beverages, to prisoners; keeping together prisoners of different sexes or classes
§ 30 Disturbing correctional institutions or jail; attracting attention of, or communicating with, inmates
§ 31 Delivery or receipt of articles to or from inmates
§ 32 Interference or tampering with police or fire signal systems, or motorist highway emergency aid call boxes; false alarms or calls
§ 32A Interference with fire fighting operations
§ 32B Resisting arrest
§ 33 Falsely assuming to be justice of the peace or other officers
§ 33A Engaging in lead paint inspection without a license
§ 34 Disguises to obstruct execution of law, performance of duties, or exercise of rights
§ 34A Furnishing false name, Social Security number or other information establishing identity to law enforcement officer or official; penalty; restitution
§ 35 Unauthorized use of town seal; making or possessing badge of town officer
§ 36 Compounding or concealing felonies
§ 39 Perjury; statements alleging motor vehicle theft; penalty; subsequent offenses
§ 40 Reports of crimes to law enforcement officials
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Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws > Chapter 268 - Crimes Against Public Justice

  • Affidavit: A written statement of facts confirmed by the oath of the party making it, before a notary or officer having authority to administer oaths.
  • Amendment: A proposal to alter the text of a pending bill or other measure by striking out some of it, by inserting new language, or both. Before an amendment becomes part of the measure, thelegislature must agree to it.
  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Arrest: Taking physical custody of a person by lawful authority.
  • 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.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Conviction: A judgement of guilt against a criminal defendant.
  • Cross examine: Questioning of a witness by the attorney for the other side.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • 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.
  • Gift: A voluntary transfer or conveyance of property without consideration, or for less than full and adequate consideration based on fair market value.
  • Grand jury: agreement providing that a lender will delay exercising its rights (in the case of a mortgage,
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Juror: A person who is on the jury.
  • Oath: A promise to tell the truth.
  • 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.
  • Prosecute: To charge someone with a crime. A prosecutor tries a criminal case on behalf of the government.
  • 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.
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.
  • Subpoena: A command to a witness to appear and give testimony.
  • Testify: Answer questions in court.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Transcript: A written, word-for-word record of what was said, either in a proceeding such as a trial or during some other conversation, as in a transcript of a hearing or oral deposition.
  • 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.
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.