Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 218, § 27 (2026)

Imposition of penalties

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 27. The district court may impose the same penalties as the superior court for all crimes of which they have jurisdiction, except that they may not impose a sentence to the state prison; provided, however, that the divisions of the juvenile court department shall have the authority to hear cases and impose penalties in accordance with the provisions of sections fifty-two through eighty-four of chapter one hundred and nineteen, and section one through nineteen of chapter one hundred and twenty.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 20 cases, 1971–2018 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Graham, 445 N.E.2d 1043 (Mass. 1983).

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Commonwealth v. Graham, 445 N.E.2d 1043 (Mass. 1983). · cites it 12× “272, § 7, and G.L.c. 218, § 27. General Laws c. 218, *119 § 27, spells out the power of the District Courts to impose penalties, stating, "They may impose the same penalties as the superior court for all crimes of which they have jurisdiction, except that they may not impose a…”

United States v. Moore, 286 F.3d 47 (1st Cir. 2002). “1 See Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 218, § 27 (providing that a defendant convicted in a district court may not be sentenced to state prison); see also id.”

United States v. Weekes, 611 F.3d 68 (1st Cir. 2010). “Weekes acknowledges that his crimes were potentially punishable by ten years’ imprisonment, but calls this irrelevant because he was in each instance tried in the alternative prosecutorial venue of a state district court, see Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 218, § 26 , which was not…”

Commonwealth v. Martinez Commonwealth v. Green, 109 N.E.3d 459 (Mass. 2018). “See G. L. c. 218, § 27. Under G. L. c. 258B, § 8, where a defendant is convicted of a felony, a judge "shall impose an assessment of no less than $90"; where a defendant is convicted of a misdemeanor, a judge "shall impose an assessment of $50.”

United States v. Sousa, 468 F.3d 42 (1st Cir. 2006). “The Boston Municipal Court and the Massachusetts District Courts may not im *45 pose state prison sentences, see Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 218, § 27 ; Commonwealth v.”

Town of Burlington v. Dist. Attorney for the N. Dist., 412 N.E.2d 331 (Mass. 1980). “12, § 27 (set out in full in the margin). 7 There is a recent statute with a similar requirement for the appearance of district attorneys in jury-of-six cases in the District Courts.”

Gillespie v. City of Northampton, 460 Mass. 148 (Mass. 2011). “212, § 6; G. L. c. 218, § 27, and all civil matters where the amount in controversy exceeds $25,000, G.”

CHARLES C. v. Commonwealth, 612 N.E.2d 229 (Mass. 1993). “Simultaneously with the amendments to §§ 61 and 72, the Legislature amended G. L. c. 218, § 27 (1990 ed.), by St. 1991, c.”

Commonwealth v. Chase, 432 N.E.2d 510 (Mass. 1982). “278, § 18, and G. L. c. 218, § 27 (a). His pretrial motion to dismiss was allowed on August 25, 1980, and the Commonwealth appealed.”

Kinney, 363 N.E.2d 1337 (Mass. App. Ct. 1977). “*461 Finally, the District Court judge did not have the power to sentence the petitioner to a term in Walpole for the new offenses committed (G. L. c. 218, § 27), and he could not, by his decision, affect the earlier sentence to Walpole.”

Commonwealth v. LeRoy, 380 N.E.2d 128 (Mass. 1978). “See G. L. c. 218, § 27 A. We affirm the decision of the District Court judge.”

Commonwealth v. Smith, 829 N.E.2d 1090 (Mass. 2005). “G. L. c. 218, § 27. Moreover, the defendant was not indicted, and a person may not be sentenced to State prison unless “afforded the right to indictment or presentment by a grand jury.”

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