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Legal Issues Updates

Updates for cases and legislation that affect policing in Massachusetts 2023 to present.
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2026

Open PDF file, 295.74 KB,  EOPSS additional guidance #5 - 2024 Firearms Act memorandum (English, PDF 295.74 KB)
Open PDF file, 222.77 KB,  Legal Update - Changes to Sexual Assault Laws (2026) (English, PDF 222.77 KB)
Open PDF file, 207.61 KB,  Legal Advisory - Kratom (2026) (English, PDF 207.61 KB)
Open PDF file, 305.94 KB,  Delay in Obtaining Search Warrant for Phones - Commonwealth v. Solis, Commonwealth v. Diaz (2026) (English, PDF 305.94 KB)
Open PDF file, 207.4 KB,  Body-Worn Cameras and the Wiretap Statute - Commonwealth v. Grimaldi (2026) (English, PDF 207.4 KB)
Open PDF file, 219.76 KB,  An Act Modernizing the Commonwealth Cannabis Laws (2026) (English, PDF 219.76 KB)
Open PDF file, 239.08 KB,  Delay in Traffic Stop - Commonwealth v. Arias (2026) (English, PDF 239.08 KB)
Open PDF file, 123.39 KB,  Patfrisks and Community Caretaking - Commonwealth v. Demos (2026) (English, PDF 123.39 KB)
Open PDF file, 149.3 KB,  Entering Home Under Emergency Aid Doctrine - Case v. Montana (2026) (English, PDF 149.3 KB)
Open PDF file, 476.83 KB,  Denial of LTC Application - Guinane v. Chief of Police of Manchester-By-The-Sea (Jan. 9, 2026) (English, PDF 476.83 KB)

2025

Open PDF file, 209.88 KB,  Legal Update - A&B on a Transit Worker (2025) (English, PDF 209.88 KB)
Open PDF file, 153.44 KB,  209A Stay Away Order - Commonwealth v. Carino (December 9, 2025) (English, PDF 153.44 KB)
Open PDF file, 538.28 KB,  Impersonating a Police Officer Statute Amended (November 25, 2025) (English, PDF 538.28 KB)
Open PDF file, 143.29 KB,  Selective enforcement - Commonwealth v. Rodriguez, 496 Mass. 627 (2025) (English, PDF 143.29 KB)
Open PDF file, 120.02 KB,  OUI 5A rights - Comm. v. Baez, Mass. App. Ct. (Oct. 24, 2025) (English, PDF 120.02 KB)
Open PDF file, 143.73 KB,  Incapacitation - Commonwealth v. Verrier, 106 Mass. App. Ct. 10 (2025) (English, PDF 143.73 KB)
Open PDF file, 1.14 MB,  Texas license plate changes guide (July 2025) (English, PDF 1.14 MB)
Open PDF file, 149.72 KB,  Resisting arrest - Commonwealth v. Manolo, M., Mass. (July 8, 2025) (English, PDF 149.72 KB)
Open PDF file, 120.61 KB,  Anticipatory warrants - Commonwealth v. Mercedes, 496 Mass. 164 (2025) (English, PDF 120.61 KB)
Open PDF file, 483.77 KB,  Serum conversion does not require consent - Commonwealth v. Gannett, Mass. (May 23, 2025) (English, PDF 483.77 KB)
Open PDF file, 486.03 KB,  Extraterritorial seizure - Commonwealth v. McCarthy, 495 Mass. 736 (2025) (English, PDF 486.03 KB)
Open PDF file, 128.67 KB,  Amendments to Discovery Rule 14 (effective 03/01/25) (English, PDF 128.67 KB)
Open PDF file, 466.34 KB,  An act regulating exotic animals in traveling exhibits and shows (effective 01/01/25) (English, PDF 466.34 KB)
Open PDF file, 475.42 KB,  Changes to MGL c 90 sec 7 (effective 01/01/25) (English, PDF 475.42 KB)

2024

Open PDF file, 123.06 KB,  Search warrant should specify drugs being sought - Comm. v. Padilla, 105 Mass. App. Ct. 138 (2024) (English, PDF 123.06 KB)
Open PDF file, 159.95 KB,  Threats to commit a crime - Comm. v. Cruz, Supreme Judicial Court decision (Dec. 13, 2024) (English, PDF 159.95 KB)
Open PDF file, 483.79 KB,  Audio/video recording of undercover drug buy violated wiretap statute - Comm. v. Du, SJC decision (Nov. 27, 2024) (English, PDF 483.79 KB)
Open PDF file, 74.3 KB,  EOPSS additional guidance #3 - 2024 Firearms Act memorandum (English, PDF 74.3 KB)
Open PDF file, 152.29 KB,  Requesting ID for seatbelt violation - Comm. v. Mitchell Appeals Court decision (October 28, 2024) (English, PDF 152.29 KB)
Open PDF file, 498.03 KB,  An act criminalizing sexual assault by fraud of a medical professional (effective 11/06/24) (English, PDF 498.03 KB)
Open PDF file, 156.01 KB,  Uttering false check - Comm. v. Oliver / Comm. v. Scordino, Supreme Judicial Court (September 24, 2024) (English, PDF 156.01 KB)
Open PDF file, 29.69 KB,  EOPSS additional guidance #2 - 2024 Firearms Act memorandum (English, PDF 29.69 KB)
Open PDF file, 210.72 KB,  EOPSS guidance - 2024 Firearms Act memorandum (English, PDF 210.72 KB)
Open PDF file, 531.09 KB,  An act modernizing firearms laws appendix (2024) (English, PDF 531.09 KB)
Open PDF file, 671.27 KB,  An Act Modernizing Firearms Laws (Effective 10/02/24 *unless otherwise stated within the law) (English, PDF 671.27 KB)
Open PDF file, 163.18 KB,  An act to prevent abuse and exploitation (effective 09/18/24) (English, PDF 163.18 KB)
Open PDF file, 143.77 KB,  Exculpatory evidence - Commonwealth v. Gaines, Supreme Judicial Court (August 29, 2024) (English, PDF 143.77 KB)
Open PDF file, 145.6 KB,  Switchblades - Commonwealth v. Canjura, Supreme Judicial Court (August 27, 2024) (English, PDF 145.6 KB)
Open PDF file, 153.91 KB,  Community caretaking and entry into the home - Commonwealth v. Regan, Appeals Court (August 23, 2024) (English, PDF 153.91 KB)
Open PDF file, 141.99 KB,  ADW is 58A eligible - Cruz v. Commonwealth, Mass.App.Ct. (August 12, 2024) (English, PDF 141.99 KB)
Open PDF file, 149.29 KB,  Strip search - Commonwealth v. Rivera, Appeals Court (August 5, 2024) (English, PDF 149.29 KB)
Open PDF file, 145.68 KB,  Animal cruelty - Commonwealth v. Russo, Supreme Judicial Court (July 15, 2024) (English, PDF 145.68 KB)
Open PDF file, 151.76 KB,  No reasonable expectation of privacy in call data logs - Commonwealth v. Lepage, 494 Mass. 67 (2024) (English, PDF 151.76 KB)
Open PDF file, 148.99 KB,  Human trafficking - Commonwealth v. Garafalo, 104 Mass.App.Ct. 161 (2024) (English, PDF 148.99 KB)
Open PDF file, 147.01 KB,  Child pornography - Commonwealth v. Dunn, 494 Mass. 42 (2024) (English, PDF 147.01 KB)
Open PDF file, 150.32 KB,  Parental kidnapping - Commonwealth v. Sabin, (Appeals Court, June 20, 2024) (English, PDF 150.32 KB)

2023

Open PDF file, 101.08 KB,  Wiretap statute violated by undercover purchase of drugs (2023) (English, PDF 101.08 KB)
Open PDF file, 117.23 KB,  College roommates may not be eligible for 209A protection (2023) (English, PDF 117.23 KB)
Open PDF file, 120.55 KB,  Miranda and community caretaking (2023) (English, PDF 120.55 KB)
Open PDF file, 285.95 KB,  Custody and Miranda (2023) (English, PDF 285.95 KB)
Open PDF file, 98.13 KB,  Patfrisk of car passenger (2023) (English, PDF 98.13 KB)
Open PDF file, 116.43 KB,  Guilty-filed shoplifting charge is a prior offense (2023) (English, PDF 116.43 KB)
Open PDF file, 116.8 KB,  Curtilage (2023) (English, PDF 116.8 KB)
Open PDF file, 136.92 KB,  Allegations of racially motivated pedestrian stops (2023) (English, PDF 136.92 KB)
Open PDF file, 121.37 KB,  Uttering false check (2023) (English, PDF 121.37 KB)
Open PDF file, 99.58 KB,  Admissibility of breath test results (2023) (English, PDF 99.58 KB)
Open PDF file, 103.73 KB,  LTC is an element of the offense (2023) (English, PDF 103.73 KB)
Open PDF file, 120.86 KB,  Board's public comment policy unconstitutional (2023) (English, PDF 120.86 KB)
Open PDF file, 97.78 KB,  Collective knowledge doctrine (2023) (English, PDF 97.78 KB)
Open PDF file, 95.92 KB,  Observation of crack pipe PC to search car (2023) (English, PDF 95.92 KB)
Open PDF file, 95.81 KB,  Operation of MV (2023) (English, PDF 95.81 KB)
Open PDF file, 115.91 KB,  Witness intimidation (2023) (English, PDF 115.91 KB)
Open PDF file, 264.89 KB,  New traffic and motor vehicle laws (2023) (English, PDF 264.89 KB)
Open PDF file, 185.07 KB,  New traffic laws - Appendix (English, PDF 185.07 KB)
Open PDF file, 197.93 KB,  SJC discourages the use of the word "blading" (2023) (English, PDF 197.93 KB)
Open PDF file, 240.53 KB,  Court Decision - Commonwealth vs. Karen K. (2023) (English, PDF 240.53 KB)

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Mobile: 857-262-3622

Online

Denise.S.Flagg@mass.gov

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