reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 29c - Knowing Purchase or Possession of Visual Material of Child Depicted in Sexual Conduct; Punishment

Section 29C. Whoever knowingly purchases or possesses a negative, slide, book, magazine, film, videotape, photograph or other similar visual reproduction, or depiction by computer, of any child whom the person knows or reasonably should know to be under the age of 18 years of age and such child is:
(i) actually or by simulation engaged in any act of sexual intercourse with any person or animal;
(ii) actually or by simulation engaged in any act of sexual contact involving the sex organs of the child and the mouth, anus or sex organs of the child and the sex organs of another person or animal;
(iii) actually or by simulation engaged in any act of masturbation;
(iv) actually or by simulation portrayed as being the object of, or otherwise engaged in, any act of lewd fondling, touching, or caressing involving another person or animal;
(v) actually or by simulation engaged in any act of excretion or urination within a sexual context;
(vi) actually or by simulation portrayed or depicted as bound, fettered, or subject to sadistic, masochistic, or sadomasochistic abuse in any sexual context; or
(vii) depicted or portrayed in any pose, posture or setting involving a lewd exhibition of the unclothed genitals, pubic area, buttocks or, if such person is female, a fully or partially developed breast of the child; with knowledge of the nature or content thereof shall be punished 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 or by a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment for the first offense, not less than five years in a state prison or by a fine of not less than $5,000 nor more than $20,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment for the second offense, not less than 10 years in a state prison or by a fine of not less than $10,000 nor more than $30,000, or by both such fine and imprisonment for the third and subsequent offenses.
A prosecution commenced under this section shall not be continued without a finding nor placed on file.
The provisions of this section shall not apply to a law enforcement officer, licensed physician, licensed psychologist, attorney or officer of the court who is in possession of such materials in the lawful performance of his official duty. Nor shall the provisions of this section apply to an employee of a bona fide enterprise, the purpose of which enterprise is to filter or otherwise restrict access to such materials, who possesses examples of computer depictions of such material for the purposes of furthering the legitimate goals of such enterprise.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 30 - Injunctive Relief Against Dissemination of Obscene Matter; Jurisdiction; Procedures; Appeal

Section 30. The superior court shall have jurisdiction to enjoin the dissemination of any matter which is obscene. The attorney general or a district attorney within his district may request an injunction against any person, firm, or corporation which disseminates or is about to disseminate any matter which is obscene.
The person, firm, or corporation sought to be enjoined shall be entitled to a trial on the merits within one day after filing of responsive pleadings and a decision shall be rendered by the court within two days of the conclusion of the trial.
A justice of the superior court may issue a preliminary injunction pending the trial on the merits against such person, firm, or corporation which disseminates or is about to disseminate any matter which is obscene.
No preliminary injunction shall be issued without notice to the adverse party.
In any action brought as herein provided the attorney general or a district attorney shall not be required to furnish security before the issuance of any injunction provided for in this section and neither the commonwealth nor any county, shall be liable for costs or for damages sustained by reason of the injunction in cases where judgment is rendered in favor of the person, firm, or corporation sought to be enjoined.
If the court finds that the person, firm, or corporation is disseminating or is about to disseminate any obscene matter, it shall issue a permanent injunction prohibiting the dissemination of that matter. The court's order shall direct the person, firm or corporation to surrender to a sheriff or a police officer the matter found obscene and a sheriff or police officer shall be directed to seize and destroy the same.
Appeals shall be as otherwise provided by law in civil proceedings, but any party or intervenor shall have the right to an expedited appeal to the appeals court.
The procedures set forth in this section are in addition to criminal proceedings initiated under any provisions of the General Laws, and not a condition precedent thereto.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 30d - Dissemination of Visual Material of Child in State of Nudity or Sexual Conduct; Injunction; Jurisdiction

Section 30D. The superior court shall also have jurisdiction to enjoin the dissemination of any visual material that contains a representation or reproduction of any posture or exhibition in a state of nudity or of any act that depicts, describes, or represents sexual conduct participated or engaged in by a child who is under eighteen years of age. The procedures for issuance of such injunction shall be the same as those provided in section thirty, and are in addition to other criminal proceedings initiated under any provisions of the General Laws, and not a condition precedent thereto.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 32 - Motion Picture Theater Managers or Operators; Applicability of Secs. 28, 29 and 29a

Section 32. The provisions of sections twenty-eight, twenty-nine and twenty-nine A shall not apply to a manager or a motion picture operator or assistant operator licensed under sections seventy-five and seventy-six, respectively, of chapter one hundred and forty-three, who is employed in a motion picture theatre licensed under section one hundred and eighty-one of chapter one hundred and forty and the provisions of the state building code, in connection with a motion picture show exhibited in said theatre; provided that such manager, operator or assistant operator has no financial interest in the motion picture theatre wherein he is so employed; and provided, further, that such manager has no authority in determining which motion picture films are to be presented in said theatre.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 33 - Exhibition of Deformities

Section 33. Whoever exhibits for hire an albino person, a minor or mentally ill person who is deformed or a person who has an appearance of deformity produced by artificial means shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 34 - Crime Against Nature

Section 34. Whoever commits the abominable and detestable crime against nature, either with mankind or with a beast, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than twenty years.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 35 - Unnatural and Lascivious Acts

Section 35. Whoever commits any unnatural and lascivious act with another person shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years or in jail or the house of correction for not more than two and one half years.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 35a - Unnatural and Lascivious Acts With Child Under 16

Section 35A. Whoever commits any unnatural and lascivious act with a child under the age of sixteen shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years or in jail or the house of correction for not more than two and one half years, and whoever over the age of eighteen commits a second or subsequent such offence shall be sentenced to imprisonment in the state prison for a term of not less than five years.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 36 - Blasphemy

Section 36. Whoever wilfully blasphemes the holy name of God by denying, cursing or contumeliously reproaching God, his creation, government or final judging of the world, or by cursing or contumeliously reproaching Jesus Christ or the Holy Ghost, or by cursing or contumeliously reproaching or exposing to contempt and ridicule, the holy word of God contained in the holy scriptures shall be punished by imprisonment in jail for not more than one year or by a fine of not more than three hundred dollars, and may also be bound to good behavior.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 36a - Sporting Events; Penalty for Abuse of Participants and Officials

Section 36A. Whoever, having arrived at the age of sixteen years, directs any profane, obscene or impure language or slanderous statement at a participant or an official in a sporting event, shall be punished by a fine of not more than fifty dollars.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 38 - Disturbance of Assembly for Worship

Section 38. Whoever wilfully interrupts or disturbs an assembly of people met for worship of God shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one year or by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 39 - Selling Goods and Provisions, Caring for Horses, Illegal Gaming, Horse Racing or Exhibits Near Camp Meetings

Section 39. Whoever, during the time of holding a camp or field meeting for religious purposes, and within one mile of the place thereof, hawks or peddles goods, wares or merchandise, or establishes or maintains a tent, booth or building for vending provisions or refreshments, or furnishes shelter and food for or has the care of horses for pay, without permission from the authorities or officers having the charge or direction of such meeting, or engages in illegal gaming or horse racing, or exhibits or offers to exhibit any show or play, shall forfeit not more than twenty dollars; provided, that the time of holding such meeting shall not exceed thirty consecutive days in any one year; and that a person having a regular, usual and established place of business within such limits need not suspend his business.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 40 - Disturbance of Assemblies; Conduct of Students on School Grounds or in the Course of School-Related Events

Section 40. Whoever willfully interrupts or disturbs an assembly of people meeting for a lawful purpose shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than 1 month or by a fine of not more than $50; provided, however, that an elementary or secondary student shall not be adjudged a delinquent child for an alleged violation of this section for such conduct within school buildings or on school grounds or in the course of school-related events.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 40a - Alcoholic Beverages; Gift, Sale, Delivery or Possession on Public School Premises

Section 40A. Whoever gives, sells, delivers or has in his possession any alcoholic beverage, except for medicinal purposes, in any public school building, or on any premises used for public school purposes and under the charge of a school committee or other public board or officer, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than thirty days or by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars, or both; provided, however, that a school committee of a city, town or district may authorize a public or nonprofit organization using a public school building with its permission during non school hours to possess and sell alcoholic beverages therein provided such nonprofit organization is properly licensed under the provisions of section fourteen of chapter one hundred and thirty-eight.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 41 - Disturbance of Libraries

Section 41. Whoever wilfully disturbs persons assembled in a public library, or a reading room connected therewith, by making a noise or in any other manner during the time when such library or reading room is open to the public shall be punished as provided in the preceding section.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 42 - Disturbance of Funerals

Section 42. Whoever wilfully interrupts or by fast driving or otherwise in any way disturbs a funeral assembly or procession shall be punished as provided in section forty.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 42a - Disturbance of Funeral Services

Section 42A. Whoever pickets, loiters or otherwise creates a disturbance within five hundred feet of a funeral home, church or temple or other building where funeral services are being held, shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year in a house of correction, or both.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 42b - Disturbance of Military Funeral Service; Penalty

Section 42B. Whoever willfully pickets, loiters or otherwise creates a disturbance within 500 feet of a funeral home, church, temple, burial or other building where military funeral services are being held, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $2,000 or by imprisonment for not more than 2 years in a house of correction, or both.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 43 - Disorderliness in Public Conveyances; Disturbance of Travelers

Section 43. Whoever, in or upon a railroad carriage, steamboat or other public conveyance, is disorderly, or disturbs or annoys travelers in or upon the same by profane, obscene or indecent language, or by indecent behavior, shall be punished as provided in section forty.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 43a - Smoking or Carrying Open Flame or Lighted Match, Pipe or Tobacco Product in Public Conveyances and Transportation Terminals

Section 43A. Whoever, in or upon a railroad carriage, steamboat, or other public conveyance, or in a terminal or other facility of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority, smokes or carries an open flame or lighted match, pipe or tobacco product as defined in section 6 of chapter 270 shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than ten days or by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars, or both such fine and imprisonment.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 53 - Penalty for Certain Offenses

Section 53. (a) Common night walkers, common street walkers, both male and female, persons who with offensive and disorderly acts or language accost or annoy another person, lewd, wanton and lascivious persons in speech or behavior, keepers of noisy and disorderly houses, and persons guilty of indecent exposure shall be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 6 months, or by a fine of not more than $200, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
(b) Disorderly persons and disturbers of the peace shall, for a first offense, be punished by a fine of not more than $150. For a second or subsequent offense, disorderly persons and disturbers of the peace shall be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 6 months or by a fine of not more than $200 or by both such fine and imprisonment; provided, however, that an elementary or secondary school student shall not be adjudged a delinquent child for a violation of this subsection for such conduct within school buildings or on school grounds or in the course of school-related events.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 53a - Engaging in Sexual Conduct for a Fee; Engaging in Sexual Conduct With Child Under Age 18 for a Fee; Penalties

Section 53A. (a) Whoever engages, agrees to engage or offers to engage in sexual conduct with another person in return for a fee, shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 1 year or by a fine of not more than $500, or by both such imprisonment and fine, whether such sexual conduct occurs or not.
(b) Whoever pays, agrees to pay or offers to pay another person to engage in sexual conduct, or to agree to engage in sexual conduct with another person, shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than 2 and one-half years or by a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $5,000, or by both such imprisonment and fine, whether such sexual conduct occurs or not.
(c) Whoever pays, agrees to pay or offers to pay any person with the intent to engage in sexual conduct with a child under the age of 18, or whoever is paid, agrees to pay or agrees that a third person be paid in return for aiding a person who intends to engage in sexual conduct with a child under the age of 18, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 10 years, or in the house of correction for not more than 2 and one-half years and by a fine of not less than $3,000 and not more than $10,000, or by both such imprisonment and fine, whether such sexual conduct occurs or not; provided, however, that a prosecution commenced under this section shall not be continued without a finding or placed on file.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 54 - Apprehension for Certain Offences, Without Warrant; Custody

Section 54. Whoever is found in a public way or other public place, committing any offence or disorder set forth in sections fifty-three and fifty-three A, may be apprehended by a sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable or police officer or by any other person by the order of a magistrate or any of said officers, without a warrant and be kept in custody for not more than twenty-four hours, Sundays and legal holidays excepted, until he can be taken before a court or trial justice having jurisdiction of such offence.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 56 - Subsequent Offenses; Breach of Recognizance on Appeal

Section 56. If a person convicted under section fifty-three appeals from the sentence, the commission of any like offence by him before judgment on the appeal shall be a breach of the condition of the recognizance, if any was taken upon allowing the appeal.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 57 - Discharge Upon Recognizance; Payment of Expenses of Prosecution

Section 57. When a person is brought before a magistrate upon a charge of any offence mentioned in sections fifty-three, sixty-six and sixty-eight, such magistrate, or the court before which the case may be carried on appeal, may at any stage of the proceedings direct the defendant or appellant to be discharged, upon his entering into a recognizance, with sufficient sureties, in such sum as the magistrate or court orders, for his good behavior for not less than six months nor more than two years, and paying the expenses of prosecution or such part thereof as the magistrate or court orders.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 58 - Employing or Permitting Employment of Minor Under 15 to Beg

Section 58. A parent or other person who employs a minor under fifteen in begging or who, having the care or custody of such minor, permits him to engage in such employment shall be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 59 - Ordinances or Regulations Relating to Streets, Reservations, or Parkways; Alcoholic Beverages; Profanity; Arrest Without Warrant

Section 59. Whoever remains in a street or elsewhere in a town in wilful violation of an ordinance or by-law of such town or of any rule or regulation for the government or use of any public reservation, parkway or boulevard made under authority of law by any department, officer or board in charge thereof, whoever is in a street or elsewhere in a town in wilful violation of an ordinance or by-law of such town or of any rule or regulation for the government or use of any public reservation, parkway or boulevard made under authority of law by any department, officer or board in charge thereof, the substance of which is the drinking or possession of alcoholic beverage, and whoever in a street or other public place accosts or addresses another person with profane or obscene language, in wilful violation of an ordinance or by-law of such town, may be arrested without a warrant by an officer authorized to serve criminal process in the place where the offence is committed and kept in custody until he can be taken before a court having jurisdiction of the offence.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 60 - Disposal of Rubbish, etc.; Refusal to Remove; Arrest Without Warrant

Section 60. Whoever commits a misdemeanor, as defined by a by-law, regulation or ordinance of a town or authority therein, in the presence of a police officer or an officer authorized to serve criminal process, the substance of which misdemeanor is the placing on or in or throwing into a public way, the sidewalk of a public way or a public alley, filth, rubbish or other substance, and, being requested by such officer forthwith to remove it, refuses or neglects so to do, and if the identity of such person is unknown to the officer, may be arrested by such officer and detained in a safe place without a warrant until his identity is ascertained. Reasonable diligence shall be exercised by the arresting officer in ascertaining the identity of the offender and when identified he shall be released from arrest unless a warrant has issued against him.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 61 - Conviction After Discharge From Sentence Under Sec. 53

Section 61. Whoever, having been discharged under section one hundred and forty of chapter one hundred and twenty-seven, is afterward convicted of any offence mentioned in section fifty-three committed after the former conviction, either in the same or a different county, may be sentenced to hard labor in the house of correction for not more than one year.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 62 - Third Conviction of Being a Common Nightwalker

Section 62. If a complaint charges a person with being a common nightwalker, and it is proved at the trial that such person has been twice before convicted of the same offence, such person may be sentenced to the house of correction for not more than two and one half years or if a male, to the Massachusetts reformatory, or if a female, to the reformatory for women.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 63 - Tramps; Begging or Riding Freight Trains as Prima Facie Evidence

Section 63. Whoever, not being under seventeen, or a person asking charity within his own town, roves about from place to place begging, or living without labor or visible means of support, shall be deemed a tramp. An act of begging or soliciting alms, whether of money, food, lodging or clothing, by a person having no residence in the town within which the act is committed, or the riding upon a freight train of a railroad, whether within or without any car or part thereof, without a permit from the proper officers or employees of such railroad or train, shall be prima facie evidence that such person is a tramp.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 64 - Tramps; Punishment; Entering Buildings; Injuries to or Threats Against Persons or Property; Carrying Weapons

Section 64. A tramp shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not more than thirty days; and if he enters a dwelling house or other building without the consent of the owner or occupant thereof, or wilfully or maliciously injures or threatens to injure any person therein, or threatens to do any injury to any person, or to the property of another, or is found carrying a firearm or other dangerous weapon, he shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not less than one nor more than two and one half years, but notwithstanding the foregoing a tramp found carrying a firearm or other dangerous weapon in violation of section ten of chapter two hundred and sixty-nine may be prosecuted and punished thereunder.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 65 - Arrest of Tramps Without Warrant; Making Complaint

Section 65. A sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable or police officer, upon view or information of an offence described in the two preceding sections, may, without a warrant, arrest the offender, and make complaint against him therefor; and the state police shall make such arrests and complaints. Mayors and selectmen shall appoint special police officers, who shall also make such arrests and complaints in their respective towns.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 66 - Vagrants

Section 66. Persons wandering abroad and begging, or who go about from door to door or in public or private ways, areas to which the general public is invited, or in other public places for the purpose of begging or to receive alms, and who are not licensed or who do not come within the description of tramps as contained in section sixty-three, shall be deemed vagrants and may be punished by imprisonment for not more than six months in the house of correction.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 67 - Vagrants; Arrest Without Warrant; Taking Before Court; Complaint

Section 67. Sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, constables and police officers, acting on the request of any person or upon their own information or belief, shall without a warrant arrest and carry any vagrant before a district court for the purpose of an examination, and shall make complaint against him.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 68 - Vagabonds

Section 68. A person known to be a pickpocket, thief or burglar, if acting in a suspicious manner around any steamboat landing, railroad depot, or any electric railway station, or place where electric railway cars stop to allow passengers to enter or leave the cars, banking institution, broker's office, place of public amusement, auction room, store, shop, crowded thoroughfare, car or omnibus, the dwelling place of another, or at any public gathering or assembly, shall be deemed a vagabond, and shall be punished by imprisonment in the house of correction for not less than four nor more than twelve months.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 69 - Vagabonds; Arrest Without Warrant; Taking Before Court; Complaint

Section 69. Sheriffs, deputy sheriffs, constables and police officers shall take any such vagabond into custody without a warrant and shall, within twenty-four hours after such arrest, Sundays and legal holidays excepted, take him before a district court, and shall make complaint against him.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 70 - Taking Dead Body on Process or Execution

Section 70. A sheriff, deputy sheriff or constable who takes the body of a deceased person on mesne process or execution shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 71 - Disinterring Bodies

Section 71. Whoever, not being lawfully authorized by the proper authorities, wilfully digs up, disinters, removes or conveys away a human body, or the remains thereof, or knowingly aids in such disinterment, removal or conveying away, and whoever is accessory thereto either before or after the fact, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than three years or in jail for not more than two and one-half years or by a fine of not more than four thousand dollars.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 72 - Buying, Selling or Possessing Dead Bodies

Section 72. Whoever buys or sells, or has in his possession for the purpose of buying, selling or trafficking in, the dead body of a human being shall be punished by a fine of not less than fifty nor more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not less than three months nor more than two and one half years.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 73 - Tombs, Graves, Memorials, Trees, Plants; Injuring, Removing

Section 73. Whoever wilfully destroys, mutilates, defaces, injures or removes a tomb, monument, gravestone, American flag, veteran's grave marker, metal plaque, veteran's commemorative flag holder, commemorative flag holder representing service in a police or fire department, veteran's flag holder that commemorates a particular war, conflict or period of service or flag, or other structure or thing which is placed or designed for a memorial of the dead, or a fence railing, curb or other thing which is intended for the protection or ornament of a structure or thing before mentioned or of an enclosure for the burial of the dead, or wilfully removes, destroys, mutilates, cuts, breaks or injures a tree, shrub or plant placed or being within such enclosure, or wantonly or maliciously disturbs the contents of a tomb or a grave, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than five years or by imprisonment in the jail or house of correction for not more than two and one-half years and by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars. In addition, the court shall order any person convicted of an offense pursuant to this section to pay restitution to the owner of the property that was damaged, destroyed, mutilated, defaced, injured or removed.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 73a - Removal of Gravestones and Other Memorials for Repair or Reproduction

Section 73A. In any city or town which accepts this section, the provisions of section seventy-three shall not prohibit the removal, in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the state secretary, of a gravestone or other structure or thing which is placed or designed as a memorial for the dead, for the purpose of repair or reproduction thereof by community sponsored, educationally oriented, and professionally directed repair teams.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 73b - Sale of or Attempt to Sell Stolen Commemorative Grave Marker; Receipt, Retention or Disposal of Stolen Commemorative Grave Marker

Section 73B. (a) For purposes of this section, ''commemorative grave marker'' shall mean a grave marker, headstone, monument, structure, medallion or other object designed to commemorate the grave of a veteran, police officer or firefighter.
(b) Whoever sells or attempts to sell a commemorative grave marker that has been stolen and the person knows or should know the commemorative grave marker to be stolen, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $5,000 for a first offense and for a second or subsequent offense by imprisonment in a state prison for not more than 5 years or by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 21/2 years and by a fine of not more than $5,000.
(c) Whoever receives, retains or disposes of a commemorative grave marker that the person knows or should know to be stolen, shall be punished by a fine of not more than $5,000; provided, however, that no such penalty shall be imposed upon: (i) a person who receives or retains the commemorative grave marker with the intent to return it to a cemetery, a member of law enforcement, a member of a fire department, a member of the department of veterans' services, a non-profit veterans' services group or a veterans' agent of a city or town; or (ii) a person who in fact disposes of the commemorative grave marker by returning it to a cemetery, a member of law enforcement, a member of a fire department, a member of the department of veterans' services, a non-profit veterans' services group or a veterans' agent of a city or town.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 74 - Desecrating Place of Burial; Use and Occupation as Evidence of Title

Section 74. Whoever wrongfully, and by any act not included in the preceding section, destroys, injures or removes a building, fence, railing or other thing lawfully erected in or around a place of burial or cemetery, or a tree, shrub or plant within its limits, or wrongfully injures a walk or path, or places rubbish or offensive matter or commits a nuisance therein, or in any way desecrates or disfigures the same, shall forfeit not less than five nor more than one hundred dollars. Upon the trial of a complaint hereunder, use and occupation for the purposes of burial shall be sufficient evidence of title.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 75 - Removal of Flowers, Flags or Memorial Tokens From Burial Lot

Section 75. Whoever, without authority, removes flowers, flags or memorial tokens from any grave, tomb, monument or burial lot in any cemetery or other place of burial shall be punished by a fine of not more than one thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 76 - Ways, Railroads, Canals or Public Easements Through Burial Grounds

Section 76. Whoever lays out, opens, or makes a highway or town way, or constructs a railroad or canal, or any other thing in the nature of a public easement, over, through, in or upon any part of an enclosure, which is the property of a city, town, parish, religious society or of private proprietors and is used or appropriated for the burial of the dead, unless authority for that purpose is specially granted by law, or unless the consent of such city, town, parish, religious society or proprietors, respectively, is first obtained, shall be punished by a fine of not more than two thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 77a - Willfully Injuring Police Dogs and Horses

Section 77A. Whoever willfully tortures, torments, beats, kicks, strikes, mutilates, injures, disables or otherwise mistreats, a dog or horse owned by a police department or police agency of the commonwealth or any of its political subdivisions or whoever, willfully by any action whatsoever, interferes with the lawful performance of such dog or horse shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars and not more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than two and one-half years or both. Persons violating this section may be arrested without a warrant by any officer qualified to serve criminal process provided said offense is committed in his presence.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 77b - Exhibition of Wild Animals

Section 77B. No person shall exhibit or sponsor an exhibition of any wild animal for the purpose of attracting trade at or for any place of amusement, recreation or entertainment. This section shall not be deemed to prevent the exhibition of any wild animal in a zoological garden or in connection with any theatrical exhibition or circus or by any educational institution or wild animal farm, whether on or off the premises of such educational institution or wild animal farm. Whoever violates the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than thirty days.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 78 - Selling, Leading, or Using Horses Not Fit for Work; Forfeiture of Auctioneer's License

Section 78. No person holding an auctioneer's license shall receive or offer for sale or sell at public auction, nor shall any person sell at private sale, or lead, ride or drive on any public way, for any purpose except that of conveying the horse to a proper place for its humane keeping or killing, or for medical or surgical treatment, any horse which, by reason of debility, disease or lameness, or for other cause, could not be worked in the commonwealth without violating the laws against cruelty to animals. This section shall not prohibit the purchase of horses by humane societies incorporated under the laws of the commonwealth for the purpose of humanely killing the same. Violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than five nor more than one hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months. If a licensed auctioneer violates this section, he shall also forfeit his license.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 78a - Sale of Foals Under Five Months; Penalty

Section 78A. No person shall sell, offer for sale or otherwise dispose of any foal under five months of age other than for the purpose of immediate slaughter or humane killing unless such foal is accompanied by its dam. Violation of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than six months.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 79 - Violations by Business Entities of Statutes Relating to the Treatment, Care and Protection of Animals

Section 79. A for-profit corporation, nonprofit corporation, business, professional corporation, partnership, limited liability company, limited partnership, limited liability partnership or any other business entity violating section 112 of chapter 266 or section 77, 77A, 77B, 78, 78A, 79A, 801/2, 80A, 80B, 80C, 80D, 80E, 80E1/2, 80F, 80G, 80H, 80I, 81, 85A, 85B, 87, 94 or 95 of this chapter shall be punished by a fine as therein provided, and shall be responsible for the knowledge and acts of its agents and servants relative to animals transported, owned or used by it or in its custody.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part IV - Crimes, Punishments and Proceedings in Criminal Cases › Title I - Crimes and Punishments › Chapter 272 - Crimes Against Chastity, Morality, Decency and Good Order › Section 79a - Cutting Bones or Muscles to Dock or Set Tail of Horse; Wound as Evidence

Section 79A. Whoever cuts the bone of the tail of a horse for the purpose of docking the tail, or whoever causes or knowingly permits the same to be done upon premises of which he is the owner, lessee, proprietor or user, or whoever assists in or is present at such cutting, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than one year or by a fine of not less than one hundred nor more than three hundred dollars; and whoever cuts the muscles or tendons of the tail of a horse for the purpose of setting up the tail, or whoever causes or knowingly permits the same to be done upon premises of which he is the owner, lessee, proprietor or user, or whoever assists in or is present at such cutting, shall be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred and fifty dollars. If a horse is found with the bone of its tail cut as aforesaid or with the muscles or tendons of its tail cut as aforesaid, and with the wound resulting from such cutting unhealed, upon the premises or in the charge and custody of any person, such fact shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section by the owner or user of such premises or the person having such charge or custody, respectively.