Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 276, § 20B (2026)

Arrest without warrant; taking accused before court or justice; complaint

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 20B. The arrest of a person may be lawfully made also by any officer authorized to serve warrants in criminal cases, without a warrant, upon reasonable information that the accused stands charged in another state with a crime punishable by death or by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year, but when so arrested the accused shall be taken with all practicable speed before a court or justice authorized to issue warrants in criminal cases and complaint shall be made against him under oath setting forth the ground for the arrest as in the preceding section; and thereafter his answer shall be heard as if he had been arrested on a warrant. This section shall not apply to cases arising under section 13 for which the governor shall not surrender a person.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 6 cases, 1976–2003 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Wilkinson, 613 N.E.2d 914 (Mass. 1993).

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Commonwealth v. Wilkinson, 613 N.E.2d 914 (Mass. 1993). “4 When the Legislature enacted G. L. c. 276, § 20B, it chose to omit language present in § 14 of the Uniform Criminal Extradition Act, 11 *406 U.”

Commonwealth v. Derosia, 522 N.E.2d 408 (Mass. 1988). “The provision for a warrantless arrest in G. L. c. 276, § 20B (1986 ed.), 1 does not advance the Commonwealth’s position because the statute does not authorize an entry into a dwelling to effectuate a warrantless arrest.”

Brown, 346 N.E.2d 830 (Mass. 1976). “See G. L. c. 276, § 20B. The com *269 plaint was dismissed when the Governor’s warrant was executed.”

Whitehouse, 467 N.E.2d 228 (Mass. App. Ct. 1984). “G. L. c. 276, § 20B. See Colo. Rev. Stat.”

Hayes, 468 N.E.2d 1083 (Mass. App. Ct. 1984). “G. L. c. 276, § 20B. See Wis. Stat. Ann. §§ 943.”

Commonwealth v. Sepulveda, 16 Mass. L. Rptr. 231 (Mass. Super. Ct. 2003). · cites it 2× “34 ; G.L.c. 276, §20B. An accused arrested without a warrant must be brought “with all practicable speed” before a court authorized to issue warrants and a proper complaint on oath must be made.”

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