reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 278a § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 278a - Post Conviction Access to Forensic and Scientific Analysis|Section 6 - Hearing

Section 6. (a) The court shall order a hearing on the motion if the motion meets the requirements of section 3. The moving party shall be present for the hearing unless the moving party waives the party's presence at the hearing.  (b) The judge who conducted the trial or accepted the moving party's plea of guilty or nolo contendere in the underlying case shall conduct the hearing if possible.
MA Gen L ch 278a § 9 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 278a - Post Conviction Access to Forensic and Scientific Analysis|Section 9 - Time for Performing Analysis

Section 9. Upon allowance of a motion under section 3, analysis shall take place as soon as practicable.
MA Gen L ch 278a § 10 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 278a - Post Conviction Access to Forensic and Scientific Analysis|Section 10 - Cost of Analysis

Section 10. The costs of the analysis shall be paid:  (1) by the moving party if the moving party does not meet the definition of indigency under section 2 of chapter 211D and has sufficient means to make such payment;  (2) if the moving party meets the definition of indigency under said section 2 of said chapter 211D, as an extra fee or cost under sections 27A through 27G, inclusive, of chapter 261; or  (3) if a person is indigent, but has the ability to pay a reduced fee as defined under said section 2 of said chapter 211D, by the moving party to the maximum feasible amount possible given the financial resources of the moving party as the court deems equitable.
MA Gen L ch 278a § 11 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 278a - Post Conviction Access to Forensic and Scientific Analysis|Section 11 - Effect of Proceedings on Terms of Sentence Imposed

Section 11. Proceedings under this chapter shall not stay or otherwise interfere with a term of incarceration, parole, probation or other sentence imposed.
MA Gen L ch 278a § 12 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 278a - Post Conviction Access to Forensic and Scientific Analysis|Section 12 - Disclosure of Analysis Results; Orders to Produce Data, Documents and Notes

Section 12. (a) The results of the analysis shall be simultaneously disclosed to the moving party, the prosecuting attorney and the court.  (b) The court shall, at the request of a party or on its own initiative, order production of the underlying laboratory data, documents and notes.
MA Gen L ch 278a § 13 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 278a - Post Conviction Access to Forensic and Scientific Analysis|Section 13 - Additional Analysis Ordered Upon Inconclusive Findings

Section 13. If the analysis is inconclusive, the court may order any additional analysis requested if the court concludes that the requirements of subsection (b) of section 7 are met.
MA Gen L ch 278a § 14 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 278a - Post Conviction Access to Forensic and Scientific Analysis|Section 14 - Victim Notification

Section 14. (a) If a motion is filed under section 3, the prosecuting attorney shall notify the victim of the crime in the underlying case.  (b) The prosecuting attorney shall notify the victim if the court allows a motion for forensic or scientific analysis and, if the victim is notified of the allowance of the motion, shall promptly notify the victim of the result of the analysis.
MA Gen L ch 278a § 15 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 278a - Post Conviction Access to Forensic and Scientific Analysis|Section 15 - Waiver of Right to File Motion Prohibited

Section 15. The right to file a motion under this chapter shall not be waived. This prohibition of any waiver includes, but is not limited to, any stated or unstated waiver that is or is alleged to be part of any agreement or understanding related to any plea of guilty or of nolo contendere or to any sentencing or appellate proceeding or to any correctional placement or conditions.
MA Gen L ch 278a § 16 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 278a - Post Conviction Access to Forensic and Scientific Analysis|Section 16 - Retention and Preservation of Evidence or Biological Material by Governmental Entities; Regulations

Section 16. (a) Any governmental entity that is in possession of evidence or biological material that is collected for its potential evidentiary value during the investigation of a crime, the prosecution of which results in a conviction, shall retain such evidence or biological material for the period of time that a person remains in the custody of the commonwealth or under parole or probation supervision in connection with that crime, without regard to whether the evidence or biological material was introduced at trial. Each governmental entity shall retain all such evidence or biological material in a manner that is reasonably designed to preserve the evidence and biological material and to prevent its destruction or deterioration. The evidence or biological material need not be preserved if it is to be returned to a third party or if it is of such a size, bulk or physical character as to render retention impracticable.  (b) The director of the crime laboratory within the department of state police, in consultation with the forensic sciences advisory board established by section 184A of chapter 6, shall promulgate regulations governing the retention and preservation of evidence or biological material by any governmental entity. The regulations shall include standards for maintaining the integrity of the materials over time, the designation of officials at each governmental entity with custodial responsibility and requirements for contemporaneously recorded documentation of individuals having and obtaining custody of any evidence or biological material.
MA Gen L ch 278a § 17 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 278a - Post Conviction Access to Forensic and Scientific Analysis|Section 17 - Civil or Criminal Liability of Governmental Officials; Willful or Wanton Misconduct or Gross Negligence by Governmental Entities Resulting in Deterioration or Destruction of Evidence; Damages

Section 17. (a) Governmental officials and employees acting in good faith shall not be liable in a civil or criminal proceeding for any act under this chapter.  (b) If a governmental entity responsible for the preservation of evidence or biological material engages in willful or wanton misconduct or gross negligence, which results in the deterioration or destruction of evidence or biological material so that a laboratory is unable to perform adequate or proper analysis, that entity shall be subject to proceedings for contempt.  (c) Nothing in this chapter shall create any cause of action for damages against the commonwealth or any of its subdivisions or officers, employees, agents or subdivisions, except as provided in this section.
MA Gen L ch 278a § 18 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 278a - Post Conviction Access to Forensic and Scientific Analysis|Section 18 - Appeals

Section 18. An order allowing or denying a motion for forensic or scientific analysis filed under this chapter shall be a final and appealable order. If the moving party appeals an order denying a motion for forensic or scientific analysis the moving party shall file a notice of appeal with the court within 30 days after the entry of the judgment.
MA Gen L ch 279 § 1a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 279 - Judgment and Execution|Section 1a - Suspension of Execution of Sentence; Probation; Child Support Payments

Section 1A. When a person convicted before a court is sentenced to fine and imprisonment, the court may direct that the execution of the sentence, or any part thereof, be suspended, and that he be placed on probation for such time and on such terms and conditions as it shall fix. The court may direct, as one of such terms and conditions, that payment of the fine may be made to the probation officer in one payment, or in part payments, during the period of probation or any extension thereof, and when such fine shall have been fully paid the order of commitment as to the fine shall be void, but the order of commitment as to imprisonment shall not be affected by such payment. The probation officer shall give a receipt for every payment so made, shall keep a record of the same, shall pay the fine, or all sums received in part payment thereof, to the clerk of the court at the end of the period of probation or any extension thereof, and shall keep on file the clerk's receipt therefor. If during or at the end of said period the probation officer shall report that the fine is in whole or in part unpaid, and in his opinion the person is unwilling or unable to pay it, the court may either extend said period, place the case on file or revoke the suspension of the execution of the sentence. When such suspension is revoked, in a case where the fine has been paid in part, the defendant may be committed for default in payment of the balance, and may also be committed for the term of imprisonment fixed in the original sentence. This section shall not permit the suspension of the execution of the sentence of any person convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment for life or of a crime an element of which is being armed with a dangerous weapon, or of any person convicted of any other felony if it shall appear that he has been previously convicted of any felony. In granting probation under this section, the court shall include in its terms and conditions of probation that the person convicted shall pay any child support due under a support order, as defined in section 1A of chapter 119A, including payment toward any arrearage of support that accrues or has accrued or compliance with any payment plan between the person convicted and the IV–D agency as set forth in said chapter 119A.
MA Gen L ch 279 § 1b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 279 - Judgment and Execution|Section 1b - Funds Collection and Disbursement; Single Point for Clerk-Magistrate and Probation Offices

Section 1B. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the administrative justice of a department of the trial court may direct that both the clerk-magistrate's office and the probation office of one or more court divisions are to utilize a single funds collection and disbursement point within the courthouse.
MA Gen L ch 279 § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 279 - Judgment and Execution|Section 2 - Suspension of Execution of Orders of Commitment to Massachusetts Reformatory, Etc.

Section 2. In all cases the execution of orders of commitment to any training school or reformatory, however named, the department of youth services, or the department of public welfare may be suspended, and such suspension continued or revoked, in the same manner and with the same effect as the execution of sentences in criminal cases.
MA Gen L ch 279 § 3a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 279 - Judgment and Execution|Section 3a - Motion of District Attorney for Sentence

Section 3A. Not later than seven days after a plea of guilty or after a verdict of guilty and in any event before adjournment of the sitting at which such plea or verdict has been taken and recorded in a case of felony wherein no question of law has been reported for decision by the supreme judicial court, the district attorney shall move for sentence; provided, that nothing herein shall preclude the district attorney from again making such a motion in any case where the imposition of sentence is delayed under section forty-seven.
MA Gen L ch 279 § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 279 - Judgment and Execution|Section 4 - Imposition of Sentence; Stay of Execution

Section 4. Sentence shall be imposed upon conviction of a crime, regardless of whether an appeal has been taken, except as otherwise provided in section sixty-one in case of a conviction of a capital crime.  If sentence is imposed upon conviction of a crime punishable by death, the justice imposing the sentence shall at the same time stay the execution of the sentence, such stay to be effective until revoked by the superior court department of the trial court, which is hereby granted full powers of revocation in the premises. The clerk of such court shall, forthwith upon the revocation by the court of any such stay of execution of sentence, certify that said stay has been revoked and cause said certificate to be served upon the superintendent of the state prison, or the officer performing his duties, by any officer qualified to serve criminal process; and the officer serving the same shall forthwith make due return of service to the clerk.
MA Gen L ch 279 § 4b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 279 - Judgment and Execution|Section 4b - Notice to Victim of Sentencing Proceedings; Oral or Written Statements

Section 4B. Before disposition in any case where a defendant has been found guilty of any felony or any crime against the person or crime where physical injury to a person results, excluding any crime for which a sentence of death may be imposed, and which involves an identified victim whose whereabouts are known, the district attorney shall give the victim actual notice of the time and place of sentencing and of the victim's right to make a statement to the court, orally or in writing at the victim's option, as to the impact of the crime and as to a recommended sentence. Before disposition, the court shall allow any victim who elects to make such an oral statement the opportunity to do so in the presence of the defendant. Before disposition, the district attorney shall file any such written statement with the court and shall make it available to the defendant.  If the victim is unable to make an oral or written statement because of his mental, emotional, or physical incapacity or his age, his attorney or a designated family member shall be provided the notice and the opportunity to make a statement prescribed in this paragraph.  Before said disposition the office of the district attorney shall cause to be prepared a written statement as to the impact of the crime on the victim, which shall be filed with the court as part of the presentence report and made available to the defendant. The statement shall include the following: (1) the name of the victim; (2) documentation of the net financial loss, if any, suffered by the victim or a family member as a result of the crime; (3) in cases where the crime has had an impact on the victim's personal welfare or family relationship or has had a psychological impact on the victim or his family, a statement of such impact.  The court shall allow the defendant to have the opportunity to rebut the victim's oral or written statement and the district attorney's written statement if the court decides to rely upon such statements or parts thereof in imposing sentence.  No sentence shall be invalidated because of failure to comply with the provisions of this section. This section shall not be construed to create any cause of action or any right of appeal on behalf of any person.
MA Gen L ch 279 § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 279 - Judgment and Execution|Section 5 - Sentence if No Punishment Is Provided by Statute

Section 5. If no punishment for a crime is provided by statute, the court shall impose such sentence, according to the nature of the crime, as conforms to the common usage and practice in the commonwealth. If a person is convicted of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment, he may, unless otherwise expressly provided, be sentenced to imprisonment either in the jail or in the house of correction.
MA Gen L ch 279 § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 279 - Judgment and Execution|Section 6 - Sentence to Jail or House of Correction

Section 6. Whoever is convicted of a crime punishable wholly or in part by imprisonment in jail may be sentenced to such imprisonment in the house of correction or to confinement at hard labor either in the jail or house of correction; and if convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment in the house of correction may be sentenced to such imprisonment in a jail.
MA Gen L ch 279 § 6a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 279 - Judgment and Execution|Section 6a - Special Sentence of Imprisonment; Eligible Offenders; Revocation or Rescission of Special Sentence; Subsequent Crimes

Section 6A. When a person is sentenced on a first offense to imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for a term which does not exceed one year, the court may order the sentence to be served in whole or in part on weekends and legal holidays or such other periodic interval as the court may determine. Such a sentence shall be known as a special sentence of imprisonment. If an offender receives a special sentence of imprisonment under this section, he shall, unless otherwise provided by the sentence of the court, report to the institution to which he has been sentenced no later than 6:00 p.m. on Friday and shall be released at 7:00 a.m. on the succeeding Monday; provided, however, that if the succeeding Monday is a holiday, the offender shall not be released until 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday; and provided further, that the total time served shall be equal to the sentence imposed.  On application of the offender, of the department of correction or the director of the institution to which the offender is committed, or on its own motion, the court may after a hearing rescind or modify an order under the first paragraph, and may direct that the balance of the sentence of imprisonment shall be served consecutively. Before a special sentence is rescinded or modified, the court shall cause the notification thereof to be given to the district attorney and to the offender.  If while serving such a special sentence, such person is convicted of a subsequent crime other than a nonmoving motor vehicle violation, the terms of said special sentence shall be rescinded and said person shall complete the balance of his original sentence consecutively in the jail or house of correction in which he has been serving said special sentence.
MA Gen L ch 279 § 6b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 279 - Judgment and Execution|Section 6b - Consideration of Defendant's Status as Primary Caregiver of Dependent Child Before Imposing Sentence

Section 6B. (a) As used in this section the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:—  ''Dependent child'', a person under 18 years of age.  ''Primary caretaker of a dependent child'', a parent with whom a child has a primary residence.  (b) Unless a sentence of incarceration is required by law, the court may, upon conviction, consider the defendant's status as a primary caretaker of a dependent child before imposing a sentence. A defendant may request such consideration, by motion supported by an affidavit, not more than 10 days after the entry of judgment. Upon receipt of such a motion supported by an affidavit, the court shall make written findings concerning the defendant's status as a primary caretaker of a dependent child and alternatives to incarceration. If such a motion has been filed, the court shall not impose a sentence of incarceration without first making such written findings.
MA Gen L ch 279 § 7 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 279 - Judgment and Execution|Section 7 - Sentence to Jail or House of Correction for Non-Payment of Fine

Section 7. Whoever is convicted of a crime punishable by a fine, and is liable to imprisonment in the jail for its non-payment, may be sentenced to such imprisonment in the house of correction, or to confinement at hard labor either in the jail or house of correction.
MA Gen L ch 279 § 8 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 279 - Judgment and Execution|Section 8 - Commitments Upon Two or More Sentences

Section 8. A convict upon whom two or more sentences to imprisonment are imposed may be fully committed upon all such sentences at the same time, and shall serve them in the order named in the mittimuses upon which he is committed; but when fine and imprisonment are named in one of the sentences the prisoner shall always be committed upon the term sentence first.
MA Gen L ch 279 § 8a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 279 - Judgment and Execution|Section 8a - Determination of Time of Taking Effect of Sentence; ''from and After'' Sentence

Section 8A. For the purpose only of determining the time of the taking effect of a sentence which is ordered to take effect from and after the expiration of a previous sentence, such previous sentence shall be deemed to have expired when a prisoner serving such previous sentence shall have been released therefrom by parole or otherwise. Nothing in this section shall be construed to alter or control any provision of section one hundred and thirty-one or one hundred and forty-nine of chapter one hundred and twenty-seven.
MA Gen L ch 279 § 8b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title II - Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Chapter 279 - Judgment and Execution|Section 8b - Commission of Crime While Released on Personal Recognizance; Consecutive Sentence

Section 8B. If a defendant on release subject to the provisions of section fifty-eight of chapter two hundred and seventy-six, commits a crime, the sentence imposed for such a crime shall run consecutively to the earlier sentence for the crime for which he was on release.