reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 277 § 20 (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 20 - Time and Place of Commission of Crime

Section 20. The time and place of the commission of the crime need not be alleged unless it is an essential element thereof. The allegation of time in the caption shall, unless otherwise stated, be considered as an allegation that the act was committed before the finding of the indictment, after it became a crime, and within the period of limitations. The name of the county and court in the caption shall, unless otherwise stated, be considered as an allegation that the act was committed within the territorial jurisdiction of the court. All allegations of the indictment shall, unless otherwise stated, be considered to refer to the same time and place.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 21 (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 21 - Means

Section 21. The means by which a crime is committed need not be alleged in the indictment unless an essential element of the crime.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 22 (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 22 - Description of Written Instrument; Variance

Section 22. If an allegation relative to a written instrument consisting wholly or in part of writing, print or figures is necessary, it may describe such instrument by any name or designation by which it is usually known, or by the purport thereof, without setting out a copy or facsimile of the whole or of any part thereof; and no variance between such recital or description and the instrument produced at the trial shall be material, if the identity of the instrument is evident and the purport thereof is so described as not to prejudice the defendant.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 23 (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 23 - Description of Money

Section 23. If an allegation relative to any bullion, money, notes, bank notes, checks, drafts, bills of exchange, obligations or other securities for money of any country, state, county, city, town, bank, corporation, partnership or person is necessary, it may describe it as money, without specifying any particulars thereof; and such descriptive allegation shall be sustained by proof of any amount of bullion, money, notes or other securities for money as aforesaid, although the particular nature thereof shall not be proved.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 24 (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 24 - Description of Value or Price

Section 24. The value or price of property need not be stated, unless an essential element of the crime. If the nature, degree or punishment of a crime depends upon the fact that the property exceeds or does not exceed a certain value, it may be described, as the case may be, of more than that value, or of not more than that value.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 25 (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 25 - Description of Ownership

Section 25. If an indictment for a crime involving the commission or attempted commission of an injury to property describes the property with sufficient certainty in other respects to identify the act, it need not allege the name of the owner.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 26 (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 26 - Description of Public Place

Section 26. If one element of the criminality of an act is its commission in a public place, and if such place is not more particularly defined in the statute, the act may be alleged generally to have been committed ''in a public place''.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 27 (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 27 - Description of Animal

Section 27. In an indictment for the larceny of an animal, or for any other crime in respect thereof, it may be described by the name by which it is commonly known, without stating its age or sex or whether it is alive or dead.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 28 (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 28 - Description of Judicial Proceedings

Section 28. If it is necessary to set forth the judicial proceedings in any case then or formerly pending in any court, civil or military, or any proceedings before a justice of the peace or any other magistrate, only the substance of said proceedings or such part thereof as shall constitute in whole or in part the crime charged need be alleged.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 29 (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 29 - Criminal Responsibility

Section 29. An allegation that the defendant committed the act charged shall be a sufficient allegation that he was criminally responsible therefor.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 30 (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 30 - Intent to Injure or Defraud; General Allegation

Section 30. If an intent to injure or defraud is an essential element of a crime, an intent to injure or defraud may be alleged generally, without naming the person, corporation or government intended to be injured or defrauded. Proof of an intent to injure or defraud any person or body corporate shall be competent to support the allegation.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 31 (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 31 - Alternative Allegations

Section 31. Different means or different intents by or with which a crime may be committed may be alleged in the same count in the alternative.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 32 (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 32 - Continuing Offenses

Section 32. An allegation that a crime was committed or that certain acts were done during a certain period of time next before the finding of the indictment shall be a sufficient allegation that the crime alleged was committed or that the acts alleged were done on divers days and times within that period.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 33 (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 33 - Unnecessary and Immaterial Allegations

Section 33. Presumptions and conclusions of law, matters of which judicial notice is taken and allegations not required to be proved need not be alleged. An indictment shall not be considered defective or insufficient because it omits to allege that the crime was committed, or the act was done ''traitorously'', ''feloniously'', ''burglariously'', ''wilfully'', ''maliciously'', ''negligently'', ''unlawfully'' or otherwise similarly to describe the crime, unless such description is an element of the crime charged, or because it omits to allege that the crime was committed or done with ''force and arms'', or ''against the peace'', or against the form of the statute or statutes, or against a by-law, ordinance, order, rule or regulation of any public authority, or because it omits to state or misstates the title, occupation, estate or degree of the defendant or of any other person named in the indictment, or of the name of the county, city, town or place of his residence, unless such omission or misstatement tends to the prejudice of the defendant, or by reason of describing a fine or forfeiture as enuring to the use of the commonwealth instead of to the use of the county, city or town, or by reason of any misstatement as to the appropriation of any fine or forfeiture, or by reason of its failure to allege or recite a special statute or a by-law or ordinance of a city or town or order of the mayor and aldermen or selectmen or rules or regulations of any public board of officers.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 34 (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 34 - Immaterial Defects

Section 34. An indictment shall not be dismissed or be considered defective or insufficient if it is sufficient to enable the defendant to understand the charge and to prepare his defense; nor shall it be considered defective or insufficient for lack of any description or information which might be obtained by requiring a bill of particulars.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 35 (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 35 - Variance; Prejudice

Section 35. A defendant shall not be acquitted on the ground of variance between the allegations and proof if the essential elements of the crime are correctly stated, unless he is thereby prejudiced in his defence. He shall not be acquitted by reason of an immaterial misnomer of a third party, an immaterial mistake in the description of property or the ownership thereof, failure to prove unnecessary allegations in the description of the crime or any other immaterial mistake in the indictment.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 36 (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 36 - Scope of Word ''oath''

Section 36. The word ''oath'' as used in an indictment shall include an ''affirmation''.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 37 (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 37 - Negativing Excuses, Exceptions or Provisos

Section 37. An excuse, exception or proviso not stated in the enacting clause of a statute creating a crime or stated only by reference to other provisions of the statute need not be negatived in the indictment unless necessary for a complete definition of the crime. If any statute shall prescribe a form of indictment in which an excuse, exception or proviso is not negatived, it shall be taken that it is not necessary to a complete definition of the crime that they should be negatived. If a statute creating a crime permits an act, therein declared to be criminal, to be performed without criminality under stated conditions, such conditions need not be negatived.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 38 (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 38 - Allegations, Bill of Particulars, Presumption and Proof in Prosecutions Involving Controlled Substances

Section 38. In a prosecution under any provision of chapter ninety-four C, for unlawfully manufacturing, dispensing or distributing a controlled substance in violation of any provision of said chapter, it shall be sufficient to allege that the defendant did unlawfully manufacture, dispense or distribute, as the case may be, such alleged substance, without any further allegations, without naming the person to whom it dispensed or distributed, or quantity of the substance; but the defendant shall be entitled to a bill of particulars. In such a prosecution, a defendant relying upon a prescription, written order, receipt, registration, appointment or authority, or exemption as a defense or justification shall prove the same, and until he has proved it the presumption shall be that he is not so justified or authorized.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 39 (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 39 - Construction of Certain Words Used in Indictment

Section 39. The words used in an indictment may, except as otherwise provided in this section, be construed according to their usual acceptation in common language; but if certain words and phrases are defined by law, they shall be used according to their legal meaning.  The following words, when used in an indictment, shall be sufficient to convey the meaning herein attached to them:  Adultery.—Sexual intercourse by a married person with a person not his spouse or by an unmarried person with a married person.  Affray.—Fighting together of two or more persons in a public place to the terror of the persons lawfully there.  Aggravated Rape.—Sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse by a person with another person who is compelled to submit by force and against his will or by threat of bodily injury; and either such sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse results in or is committed with acts resulting in serious bodily injury, or is committed by a joint enterprise, or is committed during the commission or attempted commission of an offense defined in section fifteen A, fifteen B, seventeen, nineteen or twenty-six of chapter two hundred and sixty-five, section fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, seventeen or eighteen of chapter two hundred and sixty-six, or section ten of chapter two hundred and sixty-nine.  False Pretences.—False representations made by word or act of such a character, or made under such circumstances and in such a way, with the intention of influencing the action of another, as to be punishable.  Forgery.—The false making, altering, forging or counterfeiting of any instrument described in section one of chapter two hundred and sixty-seven, or any instrument which, if genuine, would be a foundation for or release of liability of the apparent maker.  Fornication.—Sexual intercourse between an unmarried male and an unmarried female.  Murder.—The killing of a human being, with malice aforethought.  Rape.—Sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse by a person with another person who is compelled to submit by force and against his will or by threat of bodily injury, or sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse with a child under sixteen years of age.  Robbery.—The taking and carrying away of personal property of another from his person and against his will, by force and violence, or by assault and putting in fear, with intent to steal.  Stealing. Larceny.—The criminal taking, obtaining or converting of personal property, with intent to defraud or deprive the owner permanently of the use of it; including all forms of larceny, criminal embezzlement and obtaining by criminal false pretences.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 41 (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 41 - Indictment for Criminal Dealing With Personal Property

Section 41. In an indictment for criminal dealing with personal property with intent to steal, an allegation that the defendant stole said property shall be sufficient; and such indictment may be supported by proof that the defendant committed larceny of the property, or embezzled it, or obtained it by false pretences.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 42 (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 42 - Prosecutions for Buying, Receiving or Aiding in Concealment of Stolen Property

Section 42. In prosecutions for buying, receiving or aiding in the concealment of stolen property known to have been stolen, it shall not be necessary to allege or prove that the person who stole the property has been convicted.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 43 (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 43 - Indictment for Perjury

Section 43. In an indictment for perjury alleged to have been committed in a criminal case an allegation of the substance of the crime shall be sufficient; if alleged to have been committed in a civil case, an allegation of the nature of the controversy in general terms shall be sufficient. In both cases, the court or magistrate before whom the oath or affirmation was taken shall be alleged, but no part of the proceeding in which, or the commission or authority of the court or person before whom, the perjury was committed need be alleged.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 44 (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 44 - Indictment for Subornation of Perjury

Section 44. If, in an indictment for subornation of perjury or for attempting to incite or procure another person to commit perjury, it is alleged that perjury has been committed, an allegation of the perjury as provided in the preceding section and an allegation that the defendant wilfully incited or procured said person to commit said perjury shall be sufficient. If it is not alleged that such perjury has been committed, an allegation of the substance of the crime with which the defendant is charged shall be sufficient, without allegations as to matters or things which by the preceding section are declared to be unnecessary.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 45 (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 45 - Indictment for Unnatural and Lascivious Acts

Section 45. In an indictment under section thirty-five of chapter two hundred and seventy-two, an allegation that the defendant committed an unnatural and lascivious act with the person named or referred to in the indictment shall be sufficient.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 47 (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 47 - Arraignment in Capital Cases; Sentence; Assignment of Counsel

Section 47. If a prisoner, under indictment for a capital crime, pleads guilty, upon being arraigned, the court shall award sentence against him; if he does not plead guilty, the court may assign him counsel and take all other measures preparatory to a trial, which shall, subject to the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure, be held as soon after the finding of the indictment as the other official duties of the justices will admit and the circumstances of the case require.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 47a (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 47a - Defenses or Objections; Time of Motion

Section 47A. In a criminal case, any defense or objection based upon defects in the institution of the prosecution or in the complaint or indictment, other than a failure to show jurisdiction in the court or to charge an offense, shall only be raised prior to trial and only by a motion in conformity with the requirements of the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure. The failure to raise any such defense or objection by motion prior to trial shall constitute a waiver thereof, but a judge or special magistrate may, for cause shown, grant relief from such waiver. A defense or objection based upon a failure to show jurisdiction in the court or the failure to charge an offense may be raised by motion to dismiss prior to trial, but shall be noticed by the court at any time.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 53 (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 53 - District Attorneys; Authority and Duty as to Transferred Cases

Section 53. If a case is transferred for plea or trial and sentence pursuant to the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure, the district attorney for the county to which the case is transferred or the district attorney for the county from which the case is transferred shall have the same authority and duty in the case as if it had not been transferred, depending upon which of the district attorneys is to try the case.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 54 (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 54 - Custody and Delivery of Prisoner

Section 54. If a change of venue is ordered, the sheriff having custody of the prisoner shall forthwith deliver him to the sheriff of the county to which the venue has been changed, who shall receive and safely keep him as if the indictment had been found in such county.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 55 (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 55 - Compensation of Counsel of Prisoner

Section 55. A justice of the court, sitting at the trial or other proceedings upon an indictment for murder, may allow reasonable compensation for the services of counsel assigned to defend the prisoner if he is otherwise unable to procure counsel, and such compensation shall be paid by the county where the indictment is found.
MA Gen L ch 277 § 56 (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 56 - Expenses of Counsel of Prisoner

Section 56. The reasonable expenses incurred and paid by counsel assigned by the court for the defense of a person indicted for murder, who is otherwise unable to procure counsel, shall be paid by the commonwealth after approval by a justice sitting at the trial or other proceedings of the case.