Felony Guide

Massachusetts Felony

Felonies are often defined as crimes that are the most serious and are more grave than misdemeanors. Felony charges usually offer a prison sentence of at least one year. This amount of time depends on severity of the crime.

Felonies in Massachusetts include rape, fraud, racketeering, burglary, assault and battery, grand theft, aggravated assault, illegal drug use and possession, embezzlement, kidnapping, murder, robbery, and arson.

Felony Punishments
Felony punishments vary and depend on the jurisdiction and the crimes' severities. Having a prior conviction of any kind on a record can escalate a sentence. Punishments are not limited to but can include large fines, probation, incarceration, loss of voting rights, exclusion from certain lines of work, and loss of certain rights such as the right to possess a firearm. Individuals may be charged and give more than one punishment. For instance a sentencing of the loss of the right to possess a firearm may follow the sentencing of five years in prison.

First Degree Murder
Murder in the first degree is at the top of the felony classifications and will carry the highest possible sentence as punishment. As the Commonwealth of Massachusetts does not have the death penalty, the maximum punishment that can be received is life in prison without parole. With this bail is normally denied at an arraignment in the case of first degree murder. Homicide situations are not limited to cases of first degree murder. Homicide charges also include involuntary manslaughter, self defense, murder in the second degree, and voluntary manslaughter.

Sexual Crimes and Assault and Battery Charges
Sexually based crimes are also most often punishable by incarceration or a fine of thousands of dollars and can include indecent exposure, child pornography, indecent assault and battery, lewd conduct, statutory rape, and dissemination of child pornography. Whether a sex crime is charged as a misdemeanor or a felony depends on the crime's severity.

This is the same for charges of assault and battery. The severity of the crime depicts whether there is a charge of misdemeanor or felony. There are different forms of assault and battery and can include assault and battery upon a child, aggravated assault and battery, with a deadly weapon, with intent to commit a felony, with intent to rob or murder, and indecent assault and battery.

Massachusetts Expungement
Expungement in Massachusetts is also called record sealing. Individuals may request that a criminal record be sealed under certain conditions. Delinquency files or records can also be requested for sealing. This can mean a limited disclosure of the file contents to only law enforcement authorities and no longer the general public.

Expungement of criminal history records is also possible where the files are actually removed from a past record. Certain felony records are able to be expunged along with misdemeanor charges. Consulting a criminal defense attorney is often advised as he or she will be able to determine if a past conviction is able to be sealed or expunged and can assist in properly carrying out the expungement process.

See also:
Massachusetts Misdemeanors External link (opens in new window)
Massachusetts Expungement External link (opens in new window)
Massachusetts Gun Laws External link (opens in new window)
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is a category D felony probational?

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bobbie
Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Hello everyone. If you or someone you know has a felony out of tennessee and you want relief cause you can not find a good job or someone you love. we need to stand together we are still citizens. email secondchance@yahoo.com

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second chance
Thursday, January 19, 2012


Yes we are u.s citizens but when someone gets a felony the u.s shuns them an=
d are considered an outcast. I got my first and only federal felony here in A=
rkansas and as u know a federal felony cannot be hidden or removed. I sold 7=
0 copied software CDs on blank CDs and did 4 months in federal and no priors=
not even a speeding ticket. Can't carry a concealed weapon can't do the job=
career I want, I might as well be living over in Russia.=20

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Robb
Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Your email adress is no good doesn't work

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Robb
Tuesday, January 24, 2012

how do i get red of my fire arm if i have a felony without going to jail

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Friday, January 13, 2012

I spanked a cild and they charged me with child abuse but didn't do barely three months in jail it is a class d felony in tn can it be expunged and how hard will it be to get done

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adam
Thursday, January 12, 2012

how can you check to see if you are qualified to buy a pistol

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ronnie Smith
Sunday, January 8, 2012

I think its bad that a person can't find a good job because they have a. Felony charge on their record.how sre you suppose to survive and make a decent living?

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melissa curtsinger
Friday, January 6, 2012

It is hard out there put we can let it stop us,we have to keep trying and good will come.

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Ernie
Thursday, February 2, 2012

I tink its even worse when i have a felony and some of the law enforcement personel tell i got set up for it by my lawyer

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adam
Thursday, January 12, 2012

My brother at 17 stole a car with other 3 kids age 16, he was the only one charged as an adult bc he was few weeks of been 18, he is now 25 and as a family has hurt us, he has since then been turn down in every possible job and falls contantly in depression and in denial and wont or stand to go and look for proffesional help because he doesnt want to caused anymore financial burn for us, school gets denied, health care aka medicaid wont be given bc he has no job but cant get a job and we faced a constant battle emotionally and financially. Only God gives us peace, he is a great kid but for a stupid imature decicion he has turn in to a nobody for society.

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lanenayz
Friday, January 6, 2012

The system is not fare.if your rich,you get away with murder.poor,plea bargain is your best opption.p,d tell you.take the deal or your.!.!..@%$#!!after you pay sociaty for your mistakes.you still get remined of you past.its 99% imposible to erase the past.the law is quike to punish you.convict you.and forget about you.there is no programs.some paper work you can file.but the odds are not in your favor.if GOD con forgive sin.why cant mankind do the same?are we above he's law?we need a way to fix are past.nobody is perfect in this world.but we learn from are mistakes.by then its to late,and we stand alone.with no forgivinss.

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frank
Thursday, February 2, 2012

Many restaurants will hire him to work in the kitchen. Also warehouse work. If he has construction skills, he can get a job doing that or start as a helper and learn on the job. Believe it or not, hospitals will sometimes hire felons, usually for kitchen or custodian work. Sounds like he would really benefit from being treated for depression. Good luck to him and to your famiily.

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TallerThinner
Monday, January 23, 2012

Use this # 1.800.273.8255

If you or someone you know is in distress....my bro had a similar problem and is working...try UPS..landscapers post Spring job ads to start...just be honest and state it was a stupid mistake as a teen.

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RKW
Tuesday, January 17, 2012

I completely understand your situation with your brother. I am engaged to a 24 yr old with a felony charge which is very similar to what you wrote about what happened with ur brother. My fiance' was also young and made a stupid, immature mistake (NON drug

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Angie
Monday, January 16, 2012

Some one please help me. Can Con- Armed robbery be expunged after probation in MD

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Shelly
Thursday, January 5, 2012

Yes but its very hard and you have to wait 7 year to try.

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Ernie
Thursday, February 2, 2012

If a gun owner gets convicted of a felony or class A misdemeanor what does the law require be done with the guns that person legally owned prior to the conviction?

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Dale E
Thursday, January 5, 2012

tell his probation officer

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mph
Wednesday, January 18, 2012

I feel I have lawsuit's on my hands........
I'm half Comanche /Nookesack
and all the woman and brother in-law in my life are giving me hard time trying to claim stuff that I paid for all my life....

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Shannoon Hunter
Tuesday, January 3, 2012

I feel I have lawsuit's on my hands......
I'm half Comanche/Nookesack and all the woman and brother in-law in my life are giving me hard timetrying to claim stuff that I paid for all my life.....

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Shannon Hunter
Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Get a lawyer

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dale
Thursday, January 5, 2012



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Saturday, December 24, 2011

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