Massachusetts General Laws
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 127, § 144 (2026)
Discharge of prisoner committed for non-payment of fine
✓ text as last checked Sept. 2026 (this copy records no edition or section history)
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Section 144. A prisoner confined in a prison or place of confinement for non-payment of a fine or a fine and expenses shall be given a credit of $90 on such fine or fine and expenses for each day during which he shall be so confined, and shall be discharged at such time as the said credits, or such credits as have been given and money paid in addition thereto, shall equal the amount of the fine or the fine and expenses; and in such case no further action shall be taken to enforce payment of said fine or fine and expenses.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 2
cases, 1930–1990 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Gomes, 552 N.E.2d 101 (Mass. 1990).
Commonwealth v. Gomes, 552 N.E.2d 101 (Mass. 1990). “The defendant claims error in (1) the assessment of costs on the default; (2) his summary confinement pursuant to the default without a hearing or representation by counsel; and (3) the Commonwealth’s refusal to permit the default costs to be “worked off” pursuant to G. L. c.…”
Commonwealth v. Novak, 172 N.E. 84 (Mass. 1930). “The manner of dealing with a defendant who does not pay the fine imposed is dealt with in G. L. c. 127, § 144. This section applies to forfeitures under the statute in question equally *116 with fines; a forfeiture is a penalty or fine imposed for the offence.”
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