Beginning in 2014, a new crime was created in Massachusetts, separating assault and battery committed against a family member from other types of assault and battery. As a result, the penalties for domestic assault and battery are generally more serious than those for regular assault and battery. This applies to…
None of us really wants to be on the other side of the justice system. But when we find ourselves in such a position, it is essential that we face the problem head on, and deal with it immediately. Unfortunately, warrants do not just disappear. Avoiding or postponing the inevitable…
Domestic abuse is a serious crime in MA, and nationwide. And for good reason. Nobody should suffer physical or emotional abuse at the hands of a loved one. When men and women are being harmed by a spouse or intimate partner, they should be able to end the abuse and…
Beginning in 1996, federal law made it illegal for any person convicted of domestic abuse to purchase a firearm. But in the more than 20 years since that law passed, countless mass shootings have been perpetrated by individuals with a history of spousal abuse. Recently, a man convicted by the…
Unfortunately, domestic violence is not uncommon in this country. Although the term domestic violence usually brings to mind the image of an abusive husband or boyfriend, this offense actually covers a broad range of criminal behavior. When a person subjects a parent or grandparent, child, cohabitant, or current or ex-partner…
People make mistakes, and couples fight. When that fighting becomes physical, criminal charges may follow. But what if you were both drinking and things just got a little out of control; she pushed you and you pushed her back. Nobody got hurt, but in her intoxicated state, she called the…
Domestic abuse is a serious matter, and a false accusation can be severely damaging to your reputation and to the criminal justice system as a whole. False accusations create an environment in which the integrity of victims of actual domestic abuse is called into question. False accusations of domestic abuse…
As of 2014, residents of Massachusetts are prohibited from owning firearms if they’ve been convicted of any type of domestic violence crime. That being said, no law is currently in place requiring courts to notify those affected by this legislation. If you have been found with a firearm following a…
If you were falsely accused of domestic assault and battery, it’s important to seek the counsel of an experienced defense attorney, and fast. The charges – also known as domestic violence or domestic abuse – have serious implications in MA. In addition to a criminal record and fines, you may…
Also known as domestic abuse, domestic violence charges are aggressively prosecuted in Massachusetts. To understand how to handle these charges, it’s important to first understand what constitutes domestic violence. In MA, domestic violence includes almost any crime of abuse that is committed by one household member against another. Types of…