This year the Supreme Court made a ruling in a 5-4 decision that officials can strip search people arrested for any offense no matter how minor the charge is before admitting them to jail even if there is no evidence or suspicion to suspect the person of contraband.    The court had determined where […]

In December of 2001 in Commonwealth v. Hoyt, the Massachusetts SJC determined that once you are asked for Miranda Rights it can be considered unequivocal and much of what took place was the Defendant had after being read his Miranda Rights saying that he wanted an attorney, but then said he could not afford one.  […]

  In choosing a lawyer is not as simple as choosing a landscaper or a carpenter. There are a lot of different variables about what or who is the best lawyer for you.  There are a lot of considerations that you have to look at. Some of that might be more obvious, such as the […]

DCF is formally known as “DSS”; and is required under the law to provide an appropriate service to help strengthen families who are identified because a report was supported. This is accurate whether your children remain in your home or placed in temporary foster care. There are a lot of different services that can be put into […]

DCF is not allowed to tell you the name of the person who reported you. Sometimes they call anonymously and sometimes they are mandated reporters, but regardless the names are redacted or blacked out.  You are able to get a copy of the report, but you need to be able to make the request in […]

Generally, a social worker will come to your home is the first step, if it is a non-emergency situation.  You are entitled to have an attorney present or someone else with you.  It is recommended that you consider having an attorney present. The social worker will discuss the allegations that had been reported and may discuss […]

       DCF is formally known as “DSS”; and it is required under the law to provide an appropriate service to help strengthen families who are identified because a report was supported. This is accurate whether your children remain in your home or placed in temporary foster care. There are a lot of different services […]

As many people may know, Middleboro, Massachusetts voted overwhelmingly in favor to change a bi-law that makes public profanity a civil infraction.  It does not mean that people go to court for a crime, but to pay a small monetary fine.  The question is in terms of the constitutionality of it regarding First Amendment Rights […]

A CHINS or a Child in Need of Service is a court case where Juvenile Court accepted a petition from a parent, guardian, or school to deal with alleged troubled youth.  The petitioner or the person filing the CHINS must show a judge one of four types of CHINS.   One is if the child […]

In Massachusetts there is a General Law, Chapter 90, Section 10 saying that you need to have a license in Massachusetts and that is where you look up the standard, but what the court has to be able to prove, is that the person actually operated a motor vehicle, did so in a way and […]