MPG: Gateway

Welcome to MASSACHUSETTS CRIMINAL LAW: A PROSECUTOR'S GUIDE Online.

On this site, you will find the full text of the 40th edition of the Prosecutor's Guide. The Guide presents a timely and comprehensive analysis of Massachusetts criminal law and its practice in the courts of the Commonwealth. It is fully updated each fall and during the year as new developments in the law warrant. Please consult our What's New page for the most recent changes. In addition, this online text is linked to a database of Massachusetts court decisions maintained by the Trial Court Law Libraries at masscases.com.

The text also cites and discusses significant criminal law cases decided by the Supreme Court, the federal Courts of Appeals, and state appellate courts from around the country. The principal focus, however, is on Massachusetts criminal law and its practice in the courts of the Commonwealth.

Access to the Guide is by annual subscription. If you are not yet a subscriber, please take the tour of a sample chapter from the Guide.

Please Note: If you are an employee of the Massachusetts Trial Court or an Assistant District Attorney, you have unlimited access to the Prosecutor's Guide web site thanks to licenses purchased on your behalf by the Massachusetts Trial Court Law Library and the Massachusetts District Attorneys Association, respectively. Please contact your office IT Department for access instructions.

Also law students at the following institutions have access through your school Law Library: Harvard, Suffolk, Boston College, Northeastern, Western New England School of Law, New England Law | Boston, Boston University, and the University of Massachusetts.

Please note:
3/19/21: The chapters on court procedure and practice have been revised to highlight new cases discussing the duty to disclose exculpatory evidence, impeachment, and the sentencing of juveniles, among other topics. 3/10/21: "Public Order Offenses" has been revised to comment on Justice Kafker's recent decisions in Manolo M. and Nick N. clarifying the procedures to be followed in applying the "second chance" opportunity given juveniles who commit minor offenses. New cases discussing First Amendment speech restrictions, the elements of open and gross lewdness, and deriving support from prostitution are also noted. 2/24/21: Judge Stearns has updated "Identification Evidence", "Battery", and "Drug Crimes" to note new cases discussing authentication, third-party culprit hearsay, self-defense, constructive possession, and the medical use of marijuana, among other topics. Please see What's New for further details.

Please note:

3/19/21: The chapters on court procedure and practice have been revised to highlight new cases discussing the duty to disclose exculpatory evidence, impeachment, and the sentencing of juveniles, among other topics.

3/10/21: "Public Order Offenses" has been revised to comment on Justice Kafker's recent decisions in Manolo M. and Nick N. clarifying the procedures to be followed in applying the "second chance" opportunity given juveniles who commit minor offenses. New cases discussing First Amendment speech restrictions, the elements of open and gross lewdness, and deriving support from prostitution are also noted.

2/24/21: Judge Stearns has updated "Identification Evidence", "Battery", and "Drug Crimes" to note new cases discussing authentication, third-party culprit hearsay, self-defense, constructive possession, and the medical use of marijuana, among other topics.

Please see What's New for further details.