Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 277, § 20 (2026)

Time and place of commission of crime

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 20. The time and place of the commission of the crime need not be alleged unless it is an essential element thereof. The allegation of time in the caption shall, unless otherwise stated, be considered as an allegation that the act was committed before the finding of the indictment, after it became a crime, and within the period of limitations. The name of the county and court in the caption shall, unless otherwise stated, be considered as an allegation that the act was committed within the territorial jurisdiction of the court. All allegations of the indictment shall, unless otherwise stated, be considered to refer to the same time and place.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 21 cases (2 in the last 5 years), 1924–2025 · leading case: Commonwealth v. King, 441 N.E.2d 248 (Mass. 1982).

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Commonwealth v. King, 441 N.E.2d 248 (Mass. 1982). · cites it 2× “The indictment clearly states an offense, the offense of statutory rape. The named victim is specifically alleged to be "a child under sixteen years of age.”

Commonwealth v. Knight, 773 N.E.2d 390 (Mass. 2002). · cites it 2× “Although a date of death was included in the original indictment, it is not an essential element of the crime of murder.”

Commonwealth v. Wright, 584 N.E.2d 621 (Mass. 1992). “more than limited discussion: (a) The allowance of the Commonwealth’s motion to amend the date of the murder alleged in the indictment from May 15, 1984, to May 14, 1984, properly was not objected to, did not prejudice the defense of the case (the substance of which Was…”

Commonwealth v. Geisler, 438 N.E.2d 375 (Mass. App. Ct. 1982). · cites it 2× “However, G. L. c. 277, § 20, provides that the “place of the commission of the crime need not be alleged unless it is an essential element thereof.”

Commonwealth v. Montanino, 567 N.E.2d 1212 (Mass. 1991). “See G. L. c. 277, § 20 (1988 ed.) (“The time and place of the commission of the crime need not be alleged unless it is an essential element thereof’).”

Commonwealth v. Muniz, 921 N.E.2d 981 (Mass. 2010). “12 of Massachusetts Declaration of Rights and G. L. c. 277, § 20). Conclusion. Concerning that portion of the case on which we granted further appellate review, the judgment of conviction on the indictment charging unlawful possession of ammunition is affirmed, and the judgments…”

Commonwealth v. Barbosa, 658 N.E.2d 966 (Mass. 1995). “We are required by G. L. c. 277, § 20, to presume “[a] 11 allegations of the indictment shall, unless otherwise stated, be considered to refer to the same time and place.”

Commonwealth v. Roby, 969 N.E.2d 142 (Mass. 2012). “” G. L. c. 277, § 20. See Commonwealth v. Megna, 59 Mass.”

Commonwealth v. Liebman, 400 N.E.2d 842 (Mass. 1980). “G. L. c. 277, §§ 20, 79. See Commonwealth v.”

Commonwealth v. Swain, 632 N.E.2d 848 (Mass. App. Ct. 1994). “King, supra at 467 ; G. L. c. 277, § 20, the judge did not err in permitting the amendment of five of the indictments.”

Commonwealth v. Campiti, 668 N.E.2d 1308 (Mass. App. Ct. 1996). “The time alleged for an offense is ordinarily treated as matter of detail rather than substance (see G. L. c. 277, § 20; Commonwealth v. Benjamin, 358 Mass.”

Commonwealth v. Jervis, 335 N.E.2d 356 (Mass. 1975). “See G. L. c. 277, § 20. The amendment offered was thus not one of substance.”

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