Boston Criminal Lawyer Blog

This has been a sad week for Massachusetts babies.

We began the week with the story about a 13-month old boy being found dead in the back of a van. Now, as the week comes to a close, news of a 3-year-old boy from Weymouth being found dead crosses our bow. This occurred yesterday after what is being called an accident occurring while he was napping according to the Commonwealth.

According to the local district attorney’s office, the death does not appear to be suspicious, although it is still under investigation. What the mysterious accident was has not yet been announced. All we are told is that there was an adult in the home and the child was taking a nap.

It is said that medical results in the case are expected to come in today. Apparently, said result will either close the investigation…or start it anew.

The question, of course, is what do these tragic stories have to do with you?

Attorney Sam’s Take On Massachusetts Criminal Investigations Into Tragic Accidents

A Child Is Found Dead. The very thought of it upsets all of us. It upsetsMassachusetts law enforcement too. After all, they see their job as protecting the innocent. What can be more innocent than a baby? So, I suppose it is not surprising that one of the first responses to such a tragedy is “who is to blame?”
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Your Cambridge work day is over and you return home. You are minding your own buisenss as you pick up the mail and bring it into your home.

You have received something from the Clerk’s Office in Suffolk County where you used to live. You open the envelope and find that you are being commanded to appear in court for something called an Arraignment.

You read further to find that Lisa Liar, your old flame, has claimed that you assaulted her last month. Further she says it was a Boston domestic violence incident.

Now what? Is it time to stand yourself against the wall and assume the position?

Not quite yet.

Attorney Sam’s Take On Massachusetts Criminal Summonses

No, your life is not over.

The summons that you have received indicates that a criminal complaint for Massachusetts assault has been issued against you. Yes, you need to show up for the arraignment. Yes, you have a criminal case pending against you But, no, all is not lost.
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Today is Labor Day. I am a Boston Criminal Lawyer. It is what I do in my days of labor. And so it seems appropriate to post this blog today, rather than this past Friday. Call it rationalization if you wish, but today we tackle the question to which I referred on Thursday. What if you are dissatisfied with your criminal defense attorney? Are you stuck?

Unlike most of the questions we pose in this daily blog, there is a simple one-word answer to this question. The answer is “no“.

There are, however, some things you should keep in mind.

Attorney Sam’s Take On What You Want In An Experienced Criminal Defense Attorney

There are a number if things to keep in mind if you are looking to switch counsel in an ongoing criminal case. One is the timing of the switch.

“I know… because if you change too deeply in, you will anger the prosecutor or the judge, right?”

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This has been a pretty bad week for you as far as the Boston Criminal Lawyer Blog is concerned. Earlier in the week, you were facing two trials. Yesterday, you were arrested.

The news is good and bad today. The good news is that you have not been arrested after all. The bad news is that you have learned that there is a Massachusetts warrant out for your arrest.

Similar to the issues discussed yesterday, there are general factors when it comes to arrest warrants which are the same whether the underlying accusations are for a Tewksbury home invasion, a Mattapan gun possession or a Swampscott drug case.

However, with such a warrant, law enforcement can pick you up any place and any time and place you in custody. There will not be any issue of bail until you find yourself in front of a judge, who must then vacate the warrant. Then, there will likely be a Massachusetts bail hearing to decide where you will be staying for the next several months (at least).

There is a simple two-word answer to the question of what to do when you find out about the warrant. Namely, “Get Counsel“!

On the other hand, if you are a daily reader of this blog, you know that every few situations in criminal justice can be summed up in two words.

Attorney Sam’s Take On MA Arrest Warrants

Massachusetts arrest warrants are usually issued when one of two things have happened. One is that, whether you knew it or not, there was a criminal investigation taking place in your name. The Commonwealth has decided to charge you with one or more crimes. The purpose of the warrant is to have you picked up and brought in before the court. In custody. Once there, the lawyers can argue under what conditions you might be released.
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The Boston Criminal Lawyer Blog has been warning you it could happen.

It has suddenly happened…and it was the last thing you expected. You (or a loved one) have been arrested.

You came home tonight after work and, just as you were sitting down to eat, you received company at your door. The company was dressed in blue. They had a colorful car with a pretty red light on top of it.

They told you that they were there to arrest you.

You first thought it was a joke. But then you noticed that they did not seem like the humorous type.

And then they produced the Commonwealth Bracelets of Shame.

And off you went downtown, trying to remember what you had heard about the realities of Massachusetts bail hearings.

Attorney Sam’s Take On Getting Arrested In Massachusetts

Whether you like it or not, it is not terribly difficult to get arrested these days in Massachusetts.

Yes, of course, you could take the easy road and actually commit a crime. However, you could also have angered the wrong person. You could have made a momentary error of judgment. There could be, simply put, simply a mistake being made.

The point is…what do you do when it happens?
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