John Sofis Scheft, Esq.

A cop's catalogue of Massachusetts crimes – including elements of offenses, rights of arrest, potential penalties, and related court decisions.

Coverage of new laws added by the legislature in 2024 include:

• Firearms regulation and unlawful possession charges under Chapters 140 and 269 (Criminal Law
  Chapter 17).
• “Revenge porn” under 265, § 43A(b) (Criminal Law Chapter 12).
• “Coercive control” in domestic violence relationships (Criminal Law Chapter 13).

Content Placement Changes to LED’s 2025 Criminal Law and Juvenile Law Manuals Include:

• Mandated reporting now appears only in Juvenile Chapter 3 (removed from Criminal Law Chapter 14).
• Mandated DNA samples from felons and related procedures now appear in Juvenile Chapter 5 (moved
  from Criminal Law Chapter 35)
• Parental kidnapping now appears only in Juvenile Chapter 8 (removed from Criminal Law Chapter 7).
• Aggravated and caretaker assault on children, disabled, and elders now appears only in Juvenile
  Chapter 9 (moved from Criminal Law Chapter 14)
• Child pornography creation, dissemination, and possession; obscenity dissemination harmful to
  minor; and enticement of “child” under 16 now appear only in Juvenile Chapter 10 (moved from
  Criminal Law Chapters 7 and 12).
• Human trafficking (sexual servitude, forced services, and forced organ donation) now appears only
  in Criminal Law Chapter 11 (moved from Juvenile Chapter 10).
• Harassment prevention orders now appear only in Criminal Law Chapter 14 (removed from Juvenile
  Chapter 20).
• Stalking and criminal harassment now appear only in Criminal Law Chapter 15 (removed from
  Juvenile Chapter 21).
• Identity fraud now appears only in Criminal Law Chapter 27 (removed from Juvenile Chapter 21).
• Tobacco and vaping now appear only in Juvenile Chapter 13 (removed from Criminal Law Chapter 21).

As always, key topics include:
• Accomplices
• Assaults with and without weapons
• Sexual assaults and exposure offenses
• Secret sexual photos and "revenge porn"
• Human trafficking/prostitution
• Homicide
• Forcible kidnapping
• Kidnapping
• Animal cruelty
• Domestic violence
• Harassment and civil rights
• Thefts and property damage
• Narcotics and alcohol
• Firearms and explosives
• Disorderly and public order
• B&E and arson
• Obstruction of justice