Bail or commitment — Massachusetts Code § 42

Massachusetts Code § 42 — Bail or commitment. Reproduced from the official Massachusetts General Laws, with a citation summary, verification link, and related provisions.

§ 42. Bail or commitment

Section 42. If it appears that a crime has been committed and that there is probable cause to believe the prisoner guilty, the court or justice shall, if final jurisdiction is not exercised, admit the prisoner to bail, if the crime is bailable and sufficient bail is offered; otherwise, except as provided for in section sixteen of chapter one hundred and twenty-five, such prisoner shall be committed to jail for trial; provided, however, that if a person is arrested for a violation of an order issued pursuant to section 18 or 34B of chapter 208, section 32 of chapter 209, section 3, 4 or 5 of chapter 209A or section 15 or 20 of chapter 209C or any act that would constitute abuse, as defined in section 1 of chapter 209A, or a violation of sections 13M or 15D of chapter 265, any bail shall be assessed pursuant sections 42A, 57, 58 and 58A.

Source: official Massachusetts text · Last verified 2026-08-27

At a glance

  • Citation: Massachusetts General Laws § 42
  • Jurisdiction: Massachusetts
  • Code: Massachusetts General Laws
  • Subject: Bail or commitment
  • Text: transcribed from the official source (verify below)

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Statute text is transcribed from the official Massachusetts General Laws. Confirm it against the primary source before relying on it:

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Common questions

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What subject does Massachusetts General Laws § 42 address?

It addresses "Bail or commitment". Read the section together with the surrounding provisions listed under "Nearby provisions" for the full picture.

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