Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 94C, § 32J (2026)

Controlled substances violations in, on or near school property or public parks or playgrounds

✓ current as of July 2026

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[Text of section applicable as provided by 2018, 69, Sec. 237.]

Section 32J. Any person who violates the provisions of section 32, 32A, 32B, 32C, 32D, 32E, 32F or 32I while in, on or within 300 feet of the real property comprising a public or private accredited preschool, accredited headstart facility, elementary, vocational or secondary school if the violation occurs between 5:00a.m. and midnight, whether or not in session, or within 100 feet of a public park or playground and who during the commission of the offense: (i) used violence or threats of violence or possessed a firearm, rifle, shotgun, machine gun or a weapon described in paragraph (b) of section 10 of chapter 269, or induced another participant to do so during the commission of the offense; or (ii) engaged in a course of conduct whereby the person directed the activities of another person who committed any felony in violation of this chapter; or (iii) committed or attempted to commit a violation of section 32F or section 32K shall be punished by a term of imprisonment in the state prison for not less than 21/2 nor more than 15 years or by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not less than 2 nor more than 21/2 years. No sentence imposed pursuant to this section shall be for less than a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of 2 years. A fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $10,000 may be imposed but not in lieu of the mandatory minimum 2 year term of imprisonment as established herein. In accordance with section 8A of chapter 279 such sentence shall begin from and after the expiration of the sentence for violation of section 32, 32A, 32B, 32C, 32D, 32E, 32F or 32I.

Lack of knowledge of school boundaries shall not be a defense to any person who violates this section.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 225 cases (10 in the last 5 years), 1992–2025 · leading case: Commonwealth v. Peterson, 65 N.E.3d 1166 (Mass. 2017).

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Commonwealth v. Peterson, 65 N.E.3d 1166 (Mass. 2017). · cites it 9× “We conclude that application of G. L. c. 94C, § 32J, to the defendant, in the particular facts and circumstances of this case, would be overreaching.”

Commonwealth v. Lawrence, 870 N.E.2d 636 (Mass. App. Ct. 2007). · cites it 14× “94C, § 32C(a), commission of a drug offense within a school zone in violation of G. L. c. 94C, § 32J, and possession of a controlled substance in violation of G.”

Commonwealth v. Grady, 54 N.E.3d 22 (Mass. 2016). · cites it 2× “94C, § 32A (c); and possession with intent to distribute a class B substance in a school zone, in violation of G. L. c. 94C, § 32J. The Appeals Court affirmed the convictions in an unpublished memorandum and order pursuant to its rule 1:28, see Commonwealth v.”

Commonwealth v. Roucoulet, 601 N.E.2d 470 (Mass. 1992). · cites it 5× “1 On the same day, the defendant was tried, jury-waived, before the same Superior *648 Court judge who had accepted this guilty plea on an additional indictment brought pursuant to G. L. c. 94C, § 32J, as inserted by St. 1989, c.”

Commonwealth v. Alvarez, 596 N.E.2d 325 (Mass. 1992). · cites it 5× “In this case, we consider challenges to the validity of G. L. c. 94C, § 32J, as inserted by St. 1989, c.”

Commonwealth v. Resende, 54 N.E.3d 521 (Mass. 2016). · cites it 3× “94C, § 32A (c) (five counts); violation of the controlled substances laws in proximity to a school or park, G. L. c. 94C, § 32J (three counts); and possession of a class B controlled substance (cocaine) with intent to distribute, G.”

Commonwealth v. Spano, 605 N.E.2d 1241 (Mass. 1993). · cites it 5× “), possession of cocaine with intent to distribute while within 1,000 feet of a school, G. L. c. 94C, § 32J (1990 ed.), and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, G.”

Commonwealth v. Bradley, 998 N.E.2d 774 (Mass. 2013). · cites it 6× “94C, § 32C (a), committing this violation within 1,000 feet of a preschool facility, in violation of G. L. c. 94C, § 32J, commonly known as a “school zone” violation.”

Commonwealth v. Cruz, 945 N.E.2d 899 (Mass. 2011). · cites it 2× “94C, § 34; and committing a controlled substances violation in a school zone, G. L. c. 94C, § 32J. The police seized "crack" cocaine from the defendant, a passenger in a stopped automobile, after a police officer, detecting the odor of burnt marijuana inside the vehicle, issued…”

Commonwealth v. Bell, 810 N.E.2d 796 (Mass. 2004). · cites it 4× “We must decide whether an alternative education program located in Boston, ABCD University High School, can *119 be a “secondary school” within the meaning of G. L. c. 94C, § 32J, the school zone statute.”

Commonwealth v. Fluellen, 924 N.E.2d 713 (Mass. 2010). · cites it 3× “94C, § 32A (c), and distributing cocaine within a school zone, G. L. c. 94C, § 32J. After the judge instructed the jury on the law of joint venture, they acquitted Green and convicted the defendant of both charges.”

Commonwealth v. Gonzalez, 892 N.E.2d 255 (Mass. 2008). · cites it 2× “94C, § 32 (a), and violating the controlled substance law within one hundred feet of a park or playground, in violation of G. L. c. 94C, § 32J. They were acquitted of trafficking in cocaine, in violation of G.”

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