Boston Criminal Defense Law Blog

Massachusetts is known for its numerous quality establishments of higher education. College is supposed to be a time of learning and making lifelong decisions for the future. Such growth into adulthood often involves making mistakes. Unfortunately, sometimes these errors in judgment can cross the line into criminal activity. When this happens, students may face both…

Criminal trials are conducted according to strict procedural rules. One of the most important set of rules governs the admissibility in a trial of various types of evidence. These rules go by various names — in Massachusetts, they are called the Guide to Evidence — but they control the kinds of statements, exhibits and objects that can…

The phrase “Miranda warning” is known to most residents of Massachusetts, but the exact meaning of the phrase is often unclear. The phrase refers to the title of a famous United States Supreme Court ruling in Miranda v. Arizona, decided in 1966. The case turned on whether local police properly and clearly informed Mr. Miranda…

It is no surprise to anyone that teenagers sometimes get into trouble. Adolescence is often a time of rebellion and experimentation. As a parent, it is important for you to know about the risk of juvenile crime and to get legal help if law enforcement arrests your child. One important step in preventing your high…

Police in Massachusetts use many different techniques to gather evidence in a criminal investigation. One of the most frequently used techniques is the pre-arranged transaction, such as the sale and purchase of illegal drugs. To execute the scheme, a police officer will offer to sell (or purchase) illegal drugs from the suspect, and the suspect…

Operating while under the influence is a serious offense in Massachusetts. A first offense for an OUI, even one that does not result in any injuries or property damage, can still result in a suspension of your driver’s license and jail time up to two-and-a-half years. It does not take many alcoholic drinks to go…

The advent of the Internet has spawned a variety of criminal activities that are commonly referred to as “cybercrimes,” “computer crimes,” and “network crimes.” The terms are used interchangeably and do not vary in their meaning. A Massachusetts who resident commits one of the enumerated crimes involving computers may be charged with one or more…

Federal courts in Massachusetts and elsewhere use two kinds of juries: petit and grand. Petit juries hear evidence at trial and return a verdict of guilty or not guilty. The work of grand juries focuses on investigating federal crimes to determine whether probable cause exists that a certain person committed a certain crime. Its work…

As you are driving home, police officers stop you. They ask you to take a breath test and you comply; the results indicate an illegal breath alcohol count. Now you face an OUI case against you. In this situation, many people make the major mistake of just giving up. Instead of consulting a lawyer, they…

As certain drugs become legal in some states, people may believe that the war on drugs is nearing an end. However, this is far from true, and those who face charges for drug trafficking or distribution may have long roads ahead of them. In such cases, it can be helpful to understand the various aspects of the…