But Individual Local Zoning Restrictions Could Limit “Pot Shops”

April 2, 2013

In November 2012, Massachusetts voters made the state the seventeenth to legalize medical marijuana for patients with cancer, Parkinson’s Disease, AIDS, and other conditions determined by a doctor.   However, many communities are concerned about medical dispensaries, or, “pot shops,” conducting business within their city limits, and are working to change local zoning regulations banning or restricting marijuana dispensaries within their towns.   The law does not legalize “pot” smoking, but eliminates civil and criminal penalties for the use of marijuana by patients when the drug has been prescribed by a doctor.…

A 40-page report commissioned by MassInc, a nonpartisan research group, stated that the percentage of prison inmates in Massachusetts has tripled since the early 1980s, even as crime rates have gone down.

“It’s an odd set of numbers: crime going down while prison populations are still going up,” said Greg Torres, president of MassINC, the nonpartisan research group that commissioned the study.…

Broctkon Defense Attorneys for Probation Violators

If someone has violated their probation they will likely have to undergo the probation surrender process. A probation surrender is a formal administrative hearing that occurs when a defendant placed on either supervised or unsupervised probation is accused by the probation department or probation officer of violating the terms and conditions of his or her probation.…

Boston Prescription Drug Fraud Defense Attorneys

Over the years state and local police in Massachusetts have made a point to enforce prescription drug laws. The penalties for illegally possessing or distributing Oxycontin, Percocet, Vicodin, and other prescription drugs have increased dramatically over the years.…

Pre-Trial Criminal Defense Attorneys

A prosecutor in Massachusetts can seek to have a criminal defendant locked up in county jail for up to 90 days before a criminal trial has even started. At the arraignment, the prosecutor will notify the court, the accused and defense counsel that the district attorney’s office will be moving for a dangerousness hearing in an attempt to have the defendant detained in jail prior to the trial.…

Grand Larceny, Petit Larceny Criminal Defense Attorneys

Massachusetts has two categories of larceny. The two categories are based on the value of the goods, property, or money reported stolen. Larceny under $250 is a misdemeanor crime dealing with items that are less than $250 in value.…

Brockton Theft Crimes And Shoplifting Defense Lawyers

Generally speaking, there are two forms of shoplifting:

• Shoplifting merchandise with a value under $100; and

• Shoplifting merchandise with a value over $100.

Criminal Penalties for Shoplifting

The penalties for shoplifting depend on the value of the merchandise stolen:

• If the total value of the merchandise is less than $100, a first-time offender is subject to a $250 fine, a second-time offender a $500 fine and a third-time offender faces a fine and or imprisonment in a jail for not more than two years.
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Boston Criminal Theft and Shoplifting Defense Attorneys

Shoplifting is one of the most commonly committed, and commonly prosecuted, crimes in the state of Massachusetts.  A conviction for shoplifting usually entails minimal jail time and financial penalties, but it can leave a permanent mark on your record that may make it difficult, even years later, to find a job, obtain a loan, or rent housing—which is why it is important to have an experienced lawyer at your side who will work hard to defend your rights.…

Boston Area Theft Crimes and Shoplifting Defense Attorneys

Shoplifting is one of the most commonly committed, and most commonly prosecuted, crimes in the state of Massachusetts.  A conviction for shoplifting usually entails minimal jail time and financial penalties, but it can leave a permanent mark on your record that may make it difficult, even years later, to find a job, obtain a loan, or rent housing—which is why it is important to have an experienced lawyer at your side who will work hard to defend your rights.…

Criminal Defense Lawyer

Anyone who intentionally conceals merchandise either in a bag or on their person, with the intention of taking that merchandise without paying will be guilty of shoplifting by concealing merchandise.

In order to for a jury to find the defendant guilty of shoplifting by concealing merchandise, the prosecution must prove three things:

• The defendant concealed merchandise on his person or somewhere else under his control;

• The defendant did not own the merchandise;

• The defendant concealed the merchandise before paying for it and did so with the intention of stealing the merchandise.
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