reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 276a § 10 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 276a - District Court Pretrial Diversion of Selected Offenders|Section 10 - Diversion of Veterans, Persons on Active Service in the Armed Forces or Persons With History of Military Service

Section 10. A probation officer of a district court, in Boston, the municipal court of the city of Boston or the officer's official designee, when gathering information in accordance with section 85 of chapter 276, shall, at or prior to arraignment of a defendant on a criminal complaint, use best efforts to confirm the defendant's status as a veteran, as defined in clause Forty-third of section 7 of chapter 4, a person on active service in the armed forces of the United States, as defined in said clause Forty-third of said section 7 of said chapter 4 or a person with a history of military service in the armed forces of the United States.  The district courts, and in Boston, the municipal court of the city of Boston, shall have jurisdiction to divert to a program any person who is a veteran, as defined in said clause Forty-third of said section 7 of said chapter 4, on active service in the armed forces of the United States, as defined in said clause Forty-third of said section 7 of said chapter 4, or who has history of military service in the armed forces of the United States who is charged with an offense against the commonwealth for which a term of imprisonment may be imposed, regardless of age, who has not previously been convicted of a violation of any law of the commonwealth or of any other state or of the United States in any criminal court proceeding after having reached the age of 18 years, except for traffic violations for which no term of imprisonment may have been imposed, who does not have any outstanding warrants, continuances, appeals or criminal cases pending before any courts of the commonwealth or any other state or of the United States and who has received a recommendation from a program that such person would, in light of the capacities of and guidelines governing it, benefit from participation in said program.
MA Gen L ch 276a § 11 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 276a - District Court Pretrial Diversion of Selected Offenders|Section 11 - Continuance for Veterans, Persons on Active Service in the Armed Forces or Persons With History of Military Service for Assessment and Advisement by State or Federal Agency Having Knowledge and Experience in Veterans Affairs

Section 11. A defendant who is determined to be a veteran, on active service or has a history of military service in the armed forces of the United States and who is eligible for diversion or treatment under section 10 may, at arraignment, be afforded a 14–day continuance by the court to seek an assessment by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the department of veterans' services or another state or federal agency with suitable knowledge and experience of veterans affairs to provide the court with treatment options available to the defendant, including diversion programs, if appropriate. If the defendant has demonstrated symptomatology suggestive of a mental illness, a qualified psychiatrist, clinical psychologist or physician shall, in consultation with the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, the department of veterans' services or another federal or state agency, provide a written report to the court to assist in sentencing or diversion. The court may consider the recommendations of any diagnosing or treating licensed mental health professional for the defendant for pre-trial diversion or the imposition of a sentence. Prior to offering a continuance, the court shall inquire into the circumstances of the charge.  If the court offers a 14–day continuance to seek an assessment and a defendant chooses to accept the offer of a continuance, the defendant shall notify the court at arraignment. Upon receipt of such notification, the judge may grant a 14–day continuance. The court, through the probation office or the officer's official designee, shall direct the defendant to an assessment program, shall inform the program of the action and shall require that the program provide the probation department and court with its findings. A court may grant a defendant who is preliminarily determined not to be eligible for pre-trial diversion a 14–day continuance for assessment. The court shall consider the opinion of the commonwealth on the merits of granting or denying the continuance. A court may grant a continuance sua sponte or upon motion by the defendant.
MA Gen L ch 276a § 12 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 276a - District Court Pretrial Diversion of Selected Offenders|Section 12 - Discretionary Authority to Divert Offender Not Limited by This Chapter or Chapter 276b

Section 12. Nothing in this chapter or chapter 276B shall limit or govern the authority of a district attorney or a police department to divert an offender or to require a district attorney or police department to accept an offender into a program that they operate.
MA Gen L ch 276b § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 276b - Restorative Justice|Section 2 - Voluntary Participation in Community-Based Restorative Justice Program by Juvenile and Adult Defendants; Disposition of Case Upon Completion

Section 2. Participation in a community-based restorative justice program shall be voluntary and may be available to both a juvenile and adult defendant. A juvenile or adult defendant may be diverted to a community-based restorative justice program pre-arraignment or at any stage of a case with the consent of the district attorney and the victim. Restorative justice may be a final case disposition, with judicial approval. If a juvenile or adult defendant successfully completes the community-based restorative justice program, the charge shall be dismissed. If a juvenile or adult defendant does not successfully complete the program or is found to be in violation of program requirements, the case shall be returned to the court in which the defendant was arraigned in order to commence with proceedings. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit pre-arraignment law enforcement based programs and other programs.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 1 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 277 - Indictments and Proceedings Before Trial|Section 1 - Issuance of Writs of Venire Facias for Grand Jurors; Attendance at Sittings of Court

Section 1. The clerk of the courts for each county, except Suffolk, Middlesex, Essex, Hampden, Norfolk, Plymouth and Worcester shall, not less than twenty-eight days before the commencement of the first sitting of the superior court for criminal business in each year, issue writs of venire facias for forty-five veniremen, from whose numbers the court shall select twenty-three grand jurors who shall serve in said court until the first regular sitting in the year next after they have been impanelled and until another grand jury has been impanelled in their stead. In counties where sittings of the court are established for the transaction of criminal business, they shall be required to attend only at such sittings.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 1a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 277 - Indictments and Proceedings Before Trial|Section 1a - Completion of Investigations by Grand Juries; Notice; Order

Section 1A. Upon a written notice by the attorney general or any district attorney made to any justice of the superior court that public necessity requires further time by a grand jury to complete an investigation then in progress, the court may order such grand jury to continue to serve until said investigation has been completed and shall take up no new matter.  This section shall not be construed to prevent the issuance of writs of venire facias authorized by section one for impanelling a grand jury whose duty shall include all business not then before the grand jury continued under authorization of this section.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 277 - Indictments and Proceedings Before Trial|Section 2 - Suffolk County; Issuance of Writs of Venire Facias for Grand Jurors

Section 2. The clerk of the superior court for criminal business in Suffolk county shall, not less than twenty-eight days before the first Mondays of January and July, respectively, issue writs of venire facias for forty-five veniremen of whom thirty-nine shall be from Boston and two each from Chelsea, Revere and Winthrop. From these forty-five veniremen the court shall then select twenty-three grand jurors to serve in said court, who shall serve for each sitting thereof for six months and until another grand jury has been impanelled in their stead.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 2a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 277 - Indictments and Proceedings Before Trial|Section 2a - Issuance of Writs of Venire Facias for Special Grand Jury

Section 2A. The clerk of the courts in any county, or in Suffolk county the clerk of the superior court for criminal business, shall, upon written request of the attorney general accompanied by a certificate that public necessity requires such action, signed by the chief justice of the superior court, issue writs of venire facias for forty-five veniremen of whom the court shall select twenty-three for service as a special grand jury to hear, consider and report on such matters as the attorney general may present. Said jurors shall serve for a period of six months, unless sooner discharged by the attorney general or by the said chief justice, and shall be drawn, summoned and returned in the same manner, and shall have the same powers and receive the same compensation, as grand jurors summoned for service under sections one and two, and the provisions of sections three to fourteen, so far as apt, shall apply to such jurors. In Middlesex county, the clerk of the courts shall send a letter of venire to the jury commissioner as set forth in section twelve of chapter two hundred and thirty-four A.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 2b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 277 - Indictments and Proceedings Before Trial|Section 2b - Middlesex County; Issuance of Letters of Venire for Grand Jurors

Section 2B. The clerk of courts in Middlesex county shall, not less than seventy days before the first Monday of January and July, respectively, issue letters of venire to the jury commissioner for thirty-five prospective grand jurors from whom the court shall select twenty-three grand jurors who shall serve in said court for each sitting thereof for six months and until another grand jury has been impanelled in their stead.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 2c (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 277 - Indictments and Proceedings Before Trial|Section 2c - Hampden County; Issuance of Writs of Venire Facias for Grand Jurors

Section 2C. The clerk of the court for Hampden county shall, not less than twenty-eight days before the first Mondays of January and May, and the second Monday of September respectively, issue writs of venire facias for forty-five veniremen from whom the court shall select twenty-three grand jurors to serve in said court, who shall serve for each sitting thereof for four months and until another grand jury has been impanelled in their stead.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 2d (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 277 - Indictments and Proceedings Before Trial|Section 2d - Plymouth County; Issuance of Writs of Venire Facias for Grand Jurors

Section 2D. The clerk of the court for Plymouth County shall, not less than twenty-eight days before the first Mondays of January and May, and the second Monday of September respectively, issue writs of venire facias for forty-five veniremen from whom the court shall select twenty-three grand jurors to serve in said court, who shall serve for each sitting thereof for four months and until another grand jury has been impanelled in their stead.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 2e (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 277 - Indictments and Proceedings Before Trial|Section 2e - Worcester County; Issuance of Writs of Venire Facias for Grand Jurors

Section 2E. The clerk of the court for Worcester county shall, not less than twenty-eight days before the first Mondays of January and May, and the second Monday of September, respectively, issue writs of venire facias for fifty veniremen from whom the court shall select twenty-three grand jurors to serve in said court, who shall serve for each sitting thereof for four months and until another grand jury has been impanelled in their stead.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 2f (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 277 - Indictments and Proceedings Before Trial|Section 2f - Norfolk County; Issuance of Writs of Venire Facias for Grand Jurors

Section 2F. The clerk of the court for Norfolk county shall, not less than twenty-eight days before the first Mondays of January and July respectively, issue writs of venire facias for fifty veniremen from whom the court shall select twenty-three grand jurors to serve in said court, who shall serve for each sitting thereof for six months and until another grand jury has been impanelled in their stead.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 2g (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 277 - Indictments and Proceedings Before Trial|Section 2g - Essex County; Issuance of Writs of Venire Facias for Grand Jurors

Section 2G. The clerk of the court for Essex county shall, not less than twenty-eight days before the first Mondays of January and May, and the second Monday of September respectively, issue writs of venire facias for forty-five veniremen from whom the court shall select twenty-three grand jurors to serve in said court, who shall serve for each sitting thereof for four months and until another grand jury has been impanelled in their stead.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 2h (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 277 - Indictments and Proceedings Before Trial|Section 2h - Bristol County; Issuance of Writs of Venire Facias for Grand Jurors

Section 2H. The clerk of the court for Bristol county shall, not less than twenty-eight days before the first Mondays of January and July respectively, issue writs of venire facias for fifty veniremen from whom the court shall select twenty-three grand jurors to serve in said court, who shall serve for each sitting thereof for six months and until another grand jury has been impanelled in their stead.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 277 - Indictments and Proceedings Before Trial|Section 3 - Drawing and Summoning of Grand Jurors

Section 3. Grand jurors shall be drawn, summoned and returned in the same manner as traverse jurors; and, if drawn at the same time with traverse jurors, the number of persons required whose names are first drawn shall be returned as grand jurors, and those whose names are afterward drawn shall be returned as traverse jurors. In Middlesex county, the selection and management of grand jurors shall be governed by chapter two hundred and thirty-four A and other applicable provisions of the General Laws.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 3a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 277 - Indictments and Proceedings Before Trial|Section 3a - Suffolk County; Impanelling Grand Jurors

Section 3A. On the day when veniremen are summoned pursuant to section one, section two, section two A, section two B, section two C, section two D, section two E or section two F to attend court for the formation of a grand jury, the clerk of courts in any county, or in Suffolk county the clerk of the superior court for criminal business, shall cause the name of each person so summoned, and who appears and who has not been excused or set aside, to be written on separate ballots, substantially of uniform size, and shall cause such ballots to be placed in a box provided therefor. The clerk in open court, after shaking the ballots thoroughly, shall draw them out in succession until he has drawn the names of twenty-three grand jurors.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 277 - Indictments and Proceedings Before Trial|Section 4 - Deficiency of Grand Jurors

Section 4. If there is a deficiency of grand jurors, writs of venire facias may be issued to the constables of such towns as the court orders to return forthwith the further number of grand jurors required. In Middlesex county, letters of venire shall be issued to the jury commissioner as set forth in chapter two hundred and thirty-four A.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 277 - Indictments and Proceedings Before Trial|Section 5 - Impanelling and Oath

Section 5. The clerk of the court shall prepare an alphabetical list of the names of all persons returned as grand jurors, and, when they are to be impanelled, the first two persons named thereon shall be first called, and the following oath shall be administered to them:  You, as grand jurors of this inquest for the body of this county of , do solemnly swear that you will diligently inquire, and true presentment make, of all such matters and things as shall be given you in charge; the commonwealth's counsel, your fellows' and your own, you shall keep secret; you shall present no man for envy, hatred or malice, neither shall you leave any man unpresented for love, fear, favor, affection or hope of reward; but you shall present things truly, as they come to your knowledge, according to the best of your understanding; so help you God.  The other jurors shall then be called in such divisions as the court considers proper, and the following oath shall be administered to them:  The same oath which your fellows have taken on their part, you and each of you on your behalf shall well and truly observe and keep; so help you God.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 277 - Indictments and Proceedings Before Trial|Section 6 - Affirmation in Lieu of Oath

Section 6. If a person who is returned as a grand juror is conscientiously scrupulous of taking the oath prescribed, he may affirm.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 11 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 277 - Indictments and Proceedings Before Trial|Section 11 - Re-Summoning at Same Sitting

Section 11. If the grand jury are dismissed before the court is adjourned without day, they may be summoned to attend again in the same sitting, at such time as the court orders.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 14 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 277 - Indictments and Proceedings Before Trial|Section 14 - Grand Juror Serving as Traverse Juror

Section 14. No member of the grand jury which has found an indictment shall serve upon the jury for the trial thereof.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 14a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 277 - Indictments and Proceedings Before Trial|Section 14a - Right to Counsel; Grand Jury Proceedings

Section 14A. Any person shall have the right to consult with counsel and to have counsel present at every step of any criminal proceeding at which such person is present, including the presentation of evidence, questioning, or examination before the grand jury; provided, however, that such counsel in a proceeding before a grand jury shall make no objections or arguments or otherwise address the grand jury or the district attorney. No witness may refuse to appear for reason of unavailability of counsel for that witness.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 15 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 277 - Indictments and Proceedings Before Trial|Section 15 - Discharge of Accused Person Not Indicted

Section 15. The grand jury shall, during its session, make daily return to the court of all cases wherein it has finally determined not to present an indictment against an accused person held in custody pending its action, and such person shall thereupon forthwith be discharged by order of the court unless he is held on other process. Whoever is held in custody on a charge of crime shall be discharged if he is not indicted before the end of the second sitting of the court at which he is held to answer, unless the court finds that the witnesses for the prosecution have been enticed or kept away, or are detained and prevented from attending the court by illness or accident, and except as provided in the following section.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 18 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 277 - Indictments and Proceedings Before Trial|Section 18 - Circumstances of the Act

Section 18. The circumstances of the act may be stated according to their legal effect, without a full description thereof.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 19 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 277 - Indictments and Proceedings Before Trial|Section 19 - Name of Accused Person; Description by Fictitious Name; Entry of True Name

Section 19. If the name of an accused person is unknown to the grand jury, he may be described by a fictitious name or by any other practicable description, with an allegation that his real name is unknown. An indictment of the defendant by a fictitious or erroneous name shall not be ground for abatement; but if at any subsequent stage of the proceedings his true name is discovered, it shall be entered on the record and may be used in the subsequent proceedings, with a reference to the fact that he was indicted by the name or description mentioned in the indictment.