reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 262 § 59 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title VI - Costs and Fees|Chapter 262 - Fees of Certain Officers|Section 59 - Witness in Multiple Criminal Cases; Apportionment of Fees

Section 59. If witnesses are in attendance in two or more criminal cases pending at the same time before the same court, they shall not be allowed full travel and attendance in each case, but the justice or clerk of the court may reduce and apportion the same, allowing at least one travel and attendance.
MA Gen L ch 262 § 60 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title VI - Costs and Fees|Chapter 262 - Fees of Certain Officers|Section 60 - Witnesses' Fees; Refusal in Certain Cases

Section 60. If, on the trial of a criminal case, it appears that a witness has induced the defendant to commit the crime with which he is charged with intent to appear as a witness against him, the court or magistrate may in his discretion refuse to allow him his fees.
MA Gen L ch 262 § 61 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title VI - Costs and Fees|Chapter 262 - Fees of Certain Officers|Section 61 - Witness Certificates; Purchase of Orders, etc., by Officers Prohibited

Section 61. A sheriff, deputy sheriff or other officer who takes the certificates of witnesses in criminal cases shall not purchase or discount or have any interest in orders drawn or demands upon the treasury by such witnesses.
MA Gen L ch 262 § 62 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title VI - Costs and Fees|Chapter 262 - Fees of Certain Officers|Section 62 - False Certificates of Witnesses; Penalty

Section 62. Whoever, with intent to defraud, signs or procures to be signed a certificate of attendance or travel as a witness before a court, or reference founded upon a rule of court, in any case in which the witness did not so attend, or for a greater number of days than he actually attended, or for a greater number of miles than he actually traveled, upon which certificate the attendance or travel so claimed is allowed as a part of the expenses of prosecution, shall forfeit thirty dollars for each offence, to be recovered on complaint or indictment to the use of the commonwealth or by action of tort to the use of any person against whom such excessive costs were taxed, with four times the whole amount taxed for attendance or travel on such false certificate, and double costs in the action of tort. Such complaint, indictment or action shall be commenced within two years after the offence is committed.
MA Gen L ch 262 § 63 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title VI - Costs and Fees|Chapter 262 - Fees of Certain Officers|Section 63 - Delinquent Magistrate; Refusal of Fees

Section 63. If the administration of justice or the progress of business in criminal proceedings is delayed, obstructed or prevented by the negligence of a magistrate in certifying and returning recognizances, records or other official papers which it is his duty to transmit to a higher court, or in omitting the formalities required by law, the district attorney, with the approval of the court, may refuse to allow the fees, either in whole or in part, to which such magistrate would otherwise be entitled.
MA Gen L ch 262 § 64 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title VI - Costs and Fees|Chapter 262 - Fees of Certain Officers|Section 64 - Complainant; Refusal of Fees

Section 64. If the court finds that a complaint in a criminal case is unfounded, frivolous or malicious, it may refuse to allow any fees to the complainant.
MA Gen L ch 263 § 1 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 263 - Rights of Persons Accused of Crime|Section 1 - Nature of Crime; Right to Be Informed; Penalty

Section 1. Whoever is arrested by virtue of process, or whoever is taken into custody by an officer, has a right to know from the officer who arrests or claims to detain him the true ground on which the arrest is made; and an officer who refuses to answer a question relative to the reason for such arrest, or answers such question untruly, or assigns to the person arrested an untrue reason for the arrest, or neglects upon request to exhibit to the person arrested, or to any other person acting in his behalf, the precept by virtue of which such arrest has been made, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year.
MA Gen L ch 263 § 1a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 263 - Rights of Persons Accused of Crime|Section 1a - Fingerprinting and Photographing; Contents of Record; Audits

Section 1A. Whoever is arrested by virtue of process or is taken into custody by an officer and is charged with the commission of a felony shall be fingerprinted according to the system of the department of state police and photographed. The fingerprints and photographs shall be immediately forwarded to the department of state police to allow a biometric positive identification. The fingerprint record shall be suitable for comparison and shall include an offense-based tracking number, completed description of the offenses charged and other descriptors as required. The executive office of public safety and security may audit police departments for compliance with this section.
MA Gen L ch 263 § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 263 - Rights of Persons Accused of Crime|Section 2 - Arrest on False Pretense; Penalty

Section 2. An officer who arrests or takes into or detains in custody a person, pretending to have a process if he has none, or pretending to have a different process from that which he has, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year.
MA Gen L ch 263 § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 263 - Rights of Persons Accused of Crime|Section 3 - False Imprisonment; Actions Against Officers

Section 3. No action, except for use of excessive force, shall lie against any officer other than the arresting officer, by reason of the fact that, in good faith and in the performance of his duties, he participates in the arrest or imprisonment of any person believed to be guilty of a crime unless it can be shown that such other officer in the performance of his duties took an active part in the arrest or imprisonment as aforesaid, either by ordering or directing that said arrest or imprisonment take place or be made, or by actually initiating the making and carrying out of said arrest and imprisonment. No action, except for use of excessive force, shall lie against any bystander assisting an officer in making an arrest, at the request of the officer.
MA Gen L ch 263 § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 263 - Rights of Persons Accused of Crime|Section 4 - Prosecution of Crimes; Manner

Section 4. No person shall be held to answer in any court for an alleged crime, except upon an indictment by a grand jury or upon a complaint before a district court, the housing court of the city of Boston, the western division of the housing court department, the northeastern division of the housing court department, the southeastern division of the housing court department, the housing court of the county of Worcester or in proceedings before a court-martial.  A defendant charged with an offense punishable by imprisonment in state prison shall have the right to be proceeded against by indictment except when the offense charged is within the concurrent jurisdiction of the district and superior courts and the district court retains jurisdiction.  No juvenile shall be sentenced to any punishment as is provided by law for the offense by a juvenile court or a juvenile session of a district court, as the case may be, unless he has been proceeded against by indictment or has waived indictment pursuant to section four A of chapter two hundred and sixty-three, except as otherwise provided in section seventy-two A of chapter one hundred and nineteen. The clerk of the superior court in which an indictment of such juvenile is returned shall promptly remit the indictment to the clerk of the juvenile court or the juvenile session of the district court, as the case may be, in which such indictment is to be tried.
MA Gen L ch 263 § 4a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 263 - Rights of Persons Accused of Crime|Section 4a - Waiver of Indictment; Procedure

Section 4A. A defendant charged in the district court with an offense as to which he has the right to be proceeded against by indictment shall have the right, except when the offense charged is a capital crime, to waive that right, whereupon the court shall have as full jurisdiction of the complaint as if an indictment had been found. If a defendant is so charged and requests a probable cause hearing in district court, that request shall constitute a waiver of the right to be proceeded against by indictment and the prosecution may proceed upon the complaint. If a defendant waives the right to be proceeded against by indictment, a probable cause hearing shall be held in the district court unless the defendant waives the probable cause hearing or unless the prosecutor elects to proceed by indictment pursuant to the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure.  If the district attorney desires to charge a defendant who waives indictment hereunder with an additional non-capital crime which is not charged in the complaint upon which the prosecution is proceeding and as to which there is the right to be proceeded against by indictment, the district attorney may prepare an additional complaint charging such additional crime and serve that complaint upon the defendant so as to give the defendant an opportunity to waive indictment upon such additional charge.
MA Gen L ch 263 § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 263 - Rights of Persons Accused of Crime|Section 5 - Counsel; Right of Accused

Section 5. A person accused of crime shall at his trial be allowed to be heard by counsel, to defend himself, to produce witnesses and proofs in his favor and to meet the witnesses produced against him face to face.
MA Gen L ch 263 § 5a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 263 - Rights of Persons Accused of Crime|Section 5a - Driving While Intoxicated; Right to Medical Examination; Notice

Section 5A. A person held in custody at a police station or other place of detention, charged with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, shall have the right, at his request and at his expense, to be examined immediately by a physician selected by him. The police official in charge of such station or place of detention, or his designee, shall inform him of such right immediately upon being booked, and shall afford him a reasonable opportunity to exercise it. Such person shall, immediately upon being booked, be given a copy of this section unless such a copy is posted in the police station or other place of detention in a conspicuous place to which such person has access.
MA Gen L ch 263 § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 263 - Rights of Persons Accused of Crime|Section 6 - Conviction; Manner; Waiver of Jury Trial

Section 6. A person indicted for a crime shall not be convicted thereof except by confessing his guilt in open court, by admitting the truth of the charge against him by his plea or demurrer or by the verdict of a jury accepted and recorded by the court or, in any criminal case other than a capital case, by the judgment of the court. Any defendant in a criminal case other than a capital case, whether begun by indictment or upon complaint, may, if he shall so elect, when called upon to plead, or later and before a jury has been impanelled to try him upon such indictment or complaint, waive his right to trial by jury by signing a written waiver thereof and filing the same with the clerk of the court. If the court consents to the waiver, he shall be tried by the court instead of by a jury, but not, however, unless all the defendants, if there are two or more charged with related offenses, whether prosecuted under the same or different indictments or complaints shall have exercised such election before a jury has been impanelled to try any of the defendants; and in every such case the court shall have jurisdiction to hear and try such cause and render judgment and sentence thereon. Except where there is more than one defendant involved as aforesaid, consent to said waiver shall not be denied in the district court or the Boston municipal court if the waiver is filed before the case is transferred for jury trial to the appropriate jury session, as provided in section twenty-seven A of chapter two hundred and eighteen.
MA Gen L ch 263 § 7 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 263 - Rights of Persons Accused of Crime|Section 7 - Acquittal; Effect on Subsequent Charges

Section 7. A person shall not be held to answer on a second indictment or complaint for a crime of which he has been acquitted upon the facts and merits; but he may plead such acquittal in bar of any subsequent prosecution for the same crime, notwithstanding any defect in the form or substance of the indictment or complaint on which he was acquitted.
MA Gen L ch 263 § 8 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 263 - Rights of Persons Accused of Crime|Section 8 - Acquittal on Defective Pleadings; Subsequent Indictment

Section 8. If a person has been acquitted by reason of a variance between the indictment or complaint and the proof, or by reason of a defect of form or substance in the indictment or complaint, he may be again arraigned, tried and convicted for the same crime on a new indictment or complaint, notwithstanding such former acquittal.
MA Gen L ch 263 § 8a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 263 - Rights of Persons Accused of Crime|Section 8a - Acquittal on Merits in District Court or Housing Courts of City of Boston and County of Worcester; Effect

Section 8A. A person shall not be held to answer in a district court or the housing court of the city of Boston, the western division of the housing court department, the northeastern division of the housing court department, the southeastern division of the housing court department, or the housing court of the county of Worcester to a second complaint for an offense for which he has already been tried upon the merits in a district court or in the housing court of the city of Boston, the housing court of the county of Hampden, the northeastern division of the housing court department, the southeastern division of the housing court department, or the housing court of the county of Worcester.
MA Gen L ch 263 § 9 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 263 - Rights of Persons Accused of Crime|Section 9 - Punishment; Conditions Precedent

Section 9. A person shall not be punished for a crime unless he has been legally convicted thereof by a court having competent jurisdiction of the cause and of the person.
MA Gen L ch 263a § 1 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 263a - Witness Protection in Criminal Matters|Section 1 - Definitions

Section 1. For the purposes of this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings:—  ''Board'', the witness protection board established in section 2.  ''Prosecuting officer'', the attorney general or a district attorney from each county.  ''Critical witness'', any person who is participating, has participated, or is reasonably expected to participate in a criminal investigation, motion hearing, trial, show cause hearing, or other criminal proceeding, or a proceeding involving an alleged violation of conditions of probation or parole, or the commitment of a sexually dangerous person pursuant to chapter 123A; or who has received a subpoena requiring such participation; who is, or was, in the judgment of the prosecuting officer, a necessary witness at one or more of the aforementioned types of proceedings, and who is or may be endangered by such person's participation in the aforementioned proceeding; or such person's relatives, guardians, friends or associates, who are or may be endangered by such person's participation in the aforementioned proceeding.
MA Gen L ch 263a § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 263a - Witness Protection in Criminal Matters|Section 2 - Witness Protection Board; Composition; Powers and Duties

Section 2. There is hereby established a witness protection board within the executive office of public safety consisting of the secretary of public safety, the attorney general, the auditor, a chief of police appointed by the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, and a district attorney appointed by the Massachusetts District Attorney's Association, or any member's respective designees. The board shall oversee the commonwealth's witness protection program and coordinate the efforts of state, county and law enforcement agencies to protect the health, safety and welfare of witnesses including, but not limited to, the administration and approval of funding for witness protection services. The board shall promulgate rules and regulations for the administration of the commonwealth's witness protection program and establish procedures to maximize federal funds for witness protection services.
MA Gen L ch 263a § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 263a - Witness Protection in Criminal Matters|Section 3 - Petition Requesting Witness Protection Services

Section 3. In any criminal investigation or proceeding, the prosecuting officer with jurisdiction over the investigation or proceeding may file a petition with the board requesting witness protection services for a critical witness if the prosecuting officer certifies that such witness's participation in the investigation or proceeding places the witness at risk of harm including, but not limited to, intimidation or retaliatory violence. The petition shall include a proposed plan for protective services which shall include, but not be limited to, projected costs, method of protection and likely duration of services. The board shall review the petition as soon as possible and if, by a vote of 3 or more board members, finds that the petition and plan comply with the rules and regulations established by the board, the board shall assist the prosecuting officer to coordinate the efforts of state, county and local agencies to secure witness protection services. The board shall, subject to appropriation, reimburse the prosecuting officer for any witness protection related costs that comply with the regulations and guidelines established by the board.
MA Gen L ch 263a § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 263a - Witness Protection in Criminal Matters|Section 4 - Temporary Action Based on Exigent Circumstances Without Prior Approval by Board

Section 4. If a prosecuting officer determines that exigent circumstances exist regarding an imminent threat to the safety of a critical witness, he may take any appropriate temporary action he determines is necessary to protect the safety of the witness without prior approval of the board. The prosecuting officer shall inform the board of the action taken and the related costs within 48 hours. Any such costs, which would otherwise be in compliance with the rules and regulations established by the board pursuant to section 2, may be reimbursed to the prosecuting officer.
MA Gen L ch 263a § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 263a - Witness Protection in Criminal Matters|Section 5 - Protective Services Provided to Critical Witnesses; Notice to Defense Counsel

Section 5. Protective services provided to a critical witness may include, but not be limited to:—  (a) any necessary armed protection or escort, marked or unmarked surveillance or periodic visits or contact by law enforcement officials prior, during or subsequent to a criminal proceeding;  (b) physical relocation to an alternate shelter, housing or residence;  (c) reasonable housing expenses;  (d) transportation or storage of personal possessions;  (e) basic living expenses; and  (f) petition for a protective order on any individual identified as a threat to a critical witness.  Any protective services provided to a critical witness shall be made known to defense counsel pursuant to Rule 14 of the Massachusetts Rules of Criminal Procedure.
MA Gen L ch 263a § 7 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 263a - Witness Protection in Criminal Matters|Section 7 - Refusal of Protective Services; Revocation of Services Upon Violation of Memorandum of Understanding

Section 7. If a witness, after being offered protective services under this chapter, at any time declines to receive such services, the prosecuting officer shall request that the witness make such refusal in writing, or, if the witness refuses to document such refusal of services in writing, the prosecuting officer shall document the refusal and inform the witness protection board forthwith that the witness has declined protective services. If a witness violates the terms of the memorandum of understanding set forth in section 6 or any other condition of receiving witness protection services under this chapter, the prosecuting officer may revoke and terminate all protective services, and shall so advise the witness in writing. The prosecuting officer shall notify the board forthwith of such revocation and grounds therefore.
MA Gen L ch 263a § 8 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases|Title I - Crimes and Punishments|Chapter 263a - Witness Protection in Criminal Matters|Section 8 - Relocation of Critical Witness Within Public Housing System

Section 8. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, or any regulation, rule or ordinance, if a petition and plan for witness protection, approved by the board, requires relocation of a critical witness within the public housing system, such relocation shall be effectuated without regard to any impediment including, but not limited to, any existing waiting list.