reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 273 § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 273 - Desertion, Non-Support and Illegitimacy|Section 2 - Jurisdiction; Venue; Supervision of Parent by Municipal or District Court Probation Officers

Section 2. Proceedings under section one shall be begun if in the superior court, in the county in which is situated the place where the husband and wife last lived together or where the husband or wife or parent of the child is living, and, if begun in a district court, in the court having such place within its judicial district; provided, that such a proceeding for an offense committed within the territorial limits of the Boston, the Worcester, Bristol county or the Springfield juvenile court, as designated by section fifty-seven of chapter two hundred and eighteen, if founded upon the same allegations as a proceeding under sections twenty-four to twenty-seven, inclusive, of chapter one hundred and nineteen, may be brought, heard and disposed of in said juvenile courts. Such a proceeding for an offense committed within the territorial limits prescribed for the criminal jurisdiction of any court other than the courts within the territorial limits of the Boston, the Worcester, Bristol county and the Springfield juvenile courts, if founded upon the same allegations as a proceeding under said sections twenty-four to twenty-seven, inclusive, of chapter one hundred and nineteen, may be heard and disposed of in the juvenile session of the court. Any parent placed on probation in such a proceeding in any of said juvenile courts shall at the request of the justice thereof be supervised by the probation officers of the municipal or district courts located within the territorial limits of that juvenile court.
MA Gen L ch 273 § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 273 - Desertion, Non-Support and Illegitimacy|Section 3 - Payment of Fines

Section 3. The court imposing a fine under section fifteen A may at any time order it paid in whole or in part to a probation officer, to be paid by him to the spouse or to the city, town, corporation, society or person actually supporting the spouse, child or children, or to the state treasurer for the use of the department of children and families if the child has been committed to said department.
MA Gen L ch 273 § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 273 - Desertion, Non-Support and Illegitimacy|Section 6 - Recognizance on Release on Probation; Compliance With Judgment or Order for Support; Forfeiture

Section 6. The court shall also have the power to release the defendant from custody on probation for a period so fixed, upon his or her entering into a recognizance, with or without surety, in such sum as the court may order and approve. The condition of the recognizance shall be such that if the defendant shall make his personal appearance in court whenever ordered to do so, and shall further comply with the terms of any currently enforceable judgment or order for support entered pursuant to any civil action, including an action for annulment, divorce, separate support, or paternity and support, under chapters two hundred and seven, two hundred and eight, two hundred and nine or two hundred and nine C, then such recognizance shall be void, otherwise of full force and effect. An order or judgment for support entered against the defendant in any such civil proceeding shall be deemed to be currently enforceable if the defendant is currently able to comply with said order or judgment and it is or would be enforceable pursuant to an action for contempt or otherwise as provided under said chapter in case of forfeiture of recognizance, and enforcement therefor by execution, the sum recovered may, in the discretion of the court, be paid in whole or in part, to the spouse or parent of the child or to the person entitled to receive support.
MA Gen L ch 273 § 7 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 273 - Desertion, Non-Support and Illegitimacy|Section 7 - Evidence of Marriage and Parentage; Husband and Wife as Witnesses; Self Incrimination; Evidence of Wilfulness; Confidential Communications

Section 7. No other or greater evidence shall be required to prove the marriage of the husband and wife, or that the alleged father is the parent of the child, than may be required to prove the same facts in a civil action. In any prosecution begun under section one, both husband and wife shall be competent witnesses to testify against each other to any relevant matters, including the fact of their marriage and the parentage of the child; provided, that neither shall be compelled to give evidence incriminating himself. Proof of the desertion of the spouse or child, or of the neglect or refusal to make reasonable provision for their support and maintenance, shall be prima facie evidence that such desertion, neglect or refusal is wilful and without just cause. In no prosecution under sections one to ten, inclusive, shall any existing statute or rule of law prohibiting the disclosure of confidential communications between husband and wife apply.
MA Gen L ch 273 § 8 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 273 - Desertion, Non-Support and Illegitimacy|Section 8 - Lack of Custody as Defence; Duty to Support Child

Section 8. In proceedings under sections one or fifteen against a parent, relative to any minor child, it shall not of itself be a defence that the defendant has ceased to have custody or the right to custody of such child on his own acquiescence or by judicial action. The legal duty of the parent or parents to support a minor child shall continue notwithstanding the absence of a court decree ordering them or either of them to pay for the support of said child and notwithstanding any court decree granting custody of such child to another.
MA Gen L ch 273 § 10 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 273 - Desertion, Non-Support and Illegitimacy|Section 10 - Uniform Construction

Section 10. Sections one to eight, inclusive, shall be so interpreted and construed as to effectuate their general purpose to make uniform the law of those states enacting their provisions.
MA Gen L ch 273 § 15 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 273 - Desertion, Non-Support and Illegitimacy|Section 15 - Duty to Support Child Born Out of Wedlock; Conclusiveness of Adjudication or Acknowledgment of Paternity

Section 15. A parent of a minor child born out of wedlock whether or not the child was born in the commonwealth who wilfully neglects or refuses to contribute reasonably to the support of the child or who leaves the commonwealth and goes into another state without making reasonable provision for the support of the child, or who enters the commonwealth from another state without making reasonable provision for the support of the child domiciled in another state, or who, wilfully and while having the financial ability or earning capacity to have complied, fails to comply with an order or judgment for support which has been entered pursuant to chapter one hundred and nineteen, two hundred and seven, two hundred and nine C, or two hundred and seventy-three, or received, entered or registered pursuant to chapter two hundred and nine D, or entered pursuant to similar laws of other states, shall be guilty of a felony and shall be subject to the penalties provided under section fifteen A. No civil proceeding in any court shall be held to be a bar to the prosecution hereunder but the court shall not enter any order pursuant to section fifteen A which would directly or indirectly result in a decrease in the amount paid for current support pursuant to an order or judgment on behalf of the child to whom, or on whose behalf, support is owed.  If there has been a voluntary acknowledgment of parentage or an adjudication of paternity under chapter two hundred and nine C or under any provision of this chapter in effect immediately prior to the effective date of this section or other law in this or any other jurisdiction, such acknowledgment or adjudication shall be conclusive on all persons in proceedings under this section. If there has been no adjudication or acknowledgment of paternity, proceedings under this section shall be stayed pending the conclusion of an action to establish paternity under chapter two hundred and nine C, which shall be commenced forthwith.
MA Gen L ch 273 § 15a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 273 - Desertion, Non-Support and Illegitimacy|Section 15a - Abandonment and Willful Nonsupport; Penalties; Alternative Sentencing; Restitution

Section 15A. (1) The penalty for violation of sections one and fifteen of this chapter shall be by fine or by imprisonment or by both fine and imprisonment as specified below.  (2) A person who abandons his spouse or minor child without making reasonable provisions for the support of either or both of them or who is subject to an order or judgment for support pursuant to chapters one hundred and nineteen, two hundred and seven, two hundred and eight, two hundred and nine, two hundred and nine C, two hundred and seventy-three, or two hundred and nine D, or pursuant to similar laws of other states, who, wilfully and while having the financial ability or earning capacity to have complied, fails to comply with that order or judgment, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years or by imprisonment in jail or the house of correction for not more than two and one-half years, or by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment.  (3) A person who leaves the commonwealth and goes into another state without making reasonable provisions for the support of a spouse or child, or who enters the commonwealth from another state without making reasonable provision for the support of a spouse or child domiciled in another state, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than ten years or by imprisonment in jail or the house of correction for not more than two and one-half years, or by a fine of not more than ten thousand dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment.  (4) In a prosecution under this chapter, the court may, upon conviction of the defendant, provide for alternative sentencing including (a) the suspension of the sentence upon and during the compliance by the defendant with any order for the support as already made or as thereafter modified, or (b) notwithstanding the provision of section six of chapter two hundred and seventy-nine, the imprisonment of the defendant only on designated weekends, evenings or holidays, provided, that such defendant retains employment and complies with such support orders.  (5) In a prosecution under this chapter the defendant may be ordered to make restitution to the spouse or the custodial parent or to the person or agency, including the department of public welfare, who is supporting or has supported the spouse or child for all sums expended on behalf of such spouse or child, provided that if the defendant establishes a lesser ability to have provided support, the amount of any liability imposed by this section shall be consistent with the defendant's prior ability to have paid support.
MA Gen L ch 273 § 15b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 273 - Desertion, Non-Support and Illegitimacy|Section 15b - Receiving, Concealing or Transferring Assets for the Purpose of Avoiding Payment; Penalty

Section 15B. Whoever receives or conceals an asset of another knowing that said asset is being transferred for the purpose of concealing it to avoid payment of an order or judgment for support issued pursuant to the provisions of chapter 119, 207, 208, 209, 209A, 209C, 209D or 273, or pursuant to any similar laws of other states, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $5,000 or by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than two and one-half years, or by both such fine and imprisonment; and whoever transfers an asset for the purpose of concealing it to avoid payment of an order or judgment for support issued pursuant to said chapter 119, 207, 208, 209, 209A, 209C, 209D or 273, or pursuant to any similar laws of other states shall be punished by a fine of not more than $5,000 or by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than two and one-half years, or both such fine and imprisonment. The court may in the alternative to the foregoing punishment divert the defendant to a program as defined in section 1 of chapter 276A.
MA Gen L ch 273 § 16 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 273 - Desertion, Non-Support and Illegitimacy|Section 16 - Proceedings Under Secs. 1 and 15

Section 16. The provisions of sections two, six, seven and ten shall apply in proceedings under sections one and fifteen.
MA Gen L ch 273 § 17 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 273 - Desertion, Non-Support and Illegitimacy|Section 17 - Dismissal of Case

Section 17. If the court having jurisdiction of a case under sections fifteen to eighteen, inclusive, becomes satisfied that the alleged father and the mother have married each other and the child has become or will be the legitimate child of the alleged father or that it is for the best interest of the child, the case may be dismissed and if the court certifies that it is for the best interests of the child, no further prosecution shall be maintained under any of said sections.
MA Gen L ch 273 § 18 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 273 - Desertion, Non-Support and Illegitimacy|Section 18 - Money Forfeited or Recovered Upon Recognizance or Deposit Used for Support

Section 18. If money is forfeited or recovered upon a recognizance or deposit in lieu thereof given in proceedings under sections fifteen to eighteen, inclusive, or any of them, the court in which such proceedings are pending may order such money paid to the probation officer and expended by him, under the direction of the court, for the support of the child.
MA Gen L ch 273 § 20 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 273 - Desertion, Non-Support and Illegitimacy|Section 20 - Neglect or Refusal to Support Parent

Section 20. Any person, over eighteen, who, being possessed of sufficient means, unreasonably neglects or refuses to provide for the support and maintenance of his parent, whether father or mother, residing in the commonwealth, when such parent through misfortune and without fault of his own is destitute of means of sustenance and unable by reason of old age, infirmity or illness to support and maintain himself, shall be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. No such neglect or refusal shall be deemed unreasonable as to a child who shall not during his minority have been reasonably supported by such parent, if such parent was charged with the duty so to do, nor as to a child who, being one of two or more children, has made proper and reasonable contribution toward the support of such parent.
MA Gen L ch 273 § 21 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 273 - Desertion, Non-Support and Illegitimacy|Section 21 - Venue; Complainants

Section 21. Proceedings under the preceding section shall be begun, if in the superior court, in the county in which is situated the place where the defendant or the parent lives, and, if begun in a district court, in the court having such place within its judicial district. Complaints in district courts under the preceding section may be made by any such parent, by any child of such parent or by the department of public welfare.
MA Gen L ch 273 § 22 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 273 - Desertion, Non-Support and Illegitimacy|Section 22 - Orders; Applicability of Secs. 1 to 10 of This Chapter

Section 22. Before trial, with the consent of the defendant, or after entry of a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, or after conviction, the court may make for the benefit of such destitute parent orders similar to those provided by section five; and the practice established by the first ten sections of this chapter shall, so far as applicable, apply to proceedings under this and the two preceding sections.
MA Gen L ch 273 § 23 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 273 - Desertion, Non-Support and Illegitimacy|Section 23 - Needy Disabled Persons; Neglect or Refusal of Parents to Support; Penalty

Section 23. The father or mother of any needy disabled person who unreasonably neglects or refuses to provide for the support and maintenance of such person shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than two years, or both.
MA Gen L ch 274 § 1 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 274 - Felonies, Accessories and Attempts to Commit Crimes|Section 1 - Felonies and Misdemeanors

Section 1. A crime punishable by death or imprisonment in the state prison is a felony. All other crimes are misdemeanors.
MA Gen L ch 274 § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 274 - Felonies, Accessories and Attempts to Commit Crimes|Section 2 - Aiders; Accessories Before Fact; Punishment

Section 2. Whoever aids in the commission of a felony, or is accessory thereto before the fact by counselling, hiring or otherwise procuring such felony to be committed, shall be punished in the manner provided for the punishment of the principal felon.
MA Gen L ch 274 § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 274 - Felonies, Accessories and Attempts to Commit Crimes|Section 3 - Counselling or Procuring Felony; Prosecution as Accessory Before Fact or Principal; Punishment; Venue

Section 3. Whoever counsels, hires or otherwise procures a felony to be committed may be indicted and convicted as an accessory before the fact, either with the principal felon or after his conviction; or may be indicted and convicted of the substantive felony, whether the principal felon has or has not been convicted, or is or is not amenable to justice; and in the last mentioned case may be punished in the same manner as if convicted of being an accessory before the fact. An accessory to a felony before the fact may be indicted, tried and punished in the same county where the principal felon might be indicted and tried, although the counselling, hiring or procuring the commission of such felony was committed within or without the commonwealth or on the high seas.
MA Gen L ch 274 § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 274 - Felonies, Accessories and Attempts to Commit Crimes|Section 4 - Accessories After Fact; Punishment; Relationship as Defence; Cross-Examination; Impeachment

Section 4. Whoever, after the commission of a felony, harbors, conceals, maintains or assists the principal felon or accessory before the fact, or gives such offender any other aid, knowing that he has committed a felony or has been accessory thereto before the fact, with intent that he shall avoid or escape detention, arrest, trial or punishment, shall be an accessory after the fact, and, except as otherwise provided, be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than seven years or in jail for not more than two and one half years or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars. The fact that the defendant is the husband or wife, or by consanguinity, affinity or adoption, the parent or grandparent, child or grandchild, brother or sister of the offender, shall be a defence to a prosecution under this section. If such a defendant testifies solely as to the existence of such relationship, he shall not be subject to cross examination on any other subject matter, nor shall his criminal record, if any, except for perjury or subornation of perjury, be admissible to impeach his credibility.
MA Gen L ch 274 § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 274 - Felonies, Accessories and Attempts to Commit Crimes|Section 5 - Felon's Conviction or Amenability to Justice; Venue

Section 5. An accessory to a felony after the fact may be indicted, convicted and punished, whether the principal felon has or has not been previously convicted, or is or is not amenable to justice, either in the county where he became an accessory or in the county where the principal felony was committed.
MA Gen L ch 274 § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 274 - Felonies, Accessories and Attempts to Commit Crimes|Section 6 - Attempts to Commit Crimes; Punishment

Section 6. Whoever attempts to commit a crime by doing any act toward its commission, but fails in its perpetration, or is intercepted or prevented in its perpetration, shall, except as otherwise provided, be punished as follows:  First, by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than ten years, if he attempts to commit a crime punishable with death.  Second, by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years or in a jail or house of correction for not more than two and one half years, if he attempts to commit a crime, except any larceny under section thirty of chapter two hundred and sixty-six, punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for life or for five years or more.  Third, by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than one year or by a fine of not more than three hundred dollars, if he attempts to commit a crime, except any larceny under said section thirty, punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for less than five years or by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction or by a fine.  Fourth, by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than two and one half years or by a fine, or by both such fine and imprisonment, if he attempts to commit any larceny punishable under said section thirty.