Qualifying Crimes for Habitual Offender Prosecutions

A person convicted as a Habitual Criminal or under the Massachusetts "3 Strikes Law" must be sentenced to the maximum penalty for the crime for which he was then convicted.

Although any crime for which a person was sentenced to prison for a term of 3 years or more may qualify as a 'strike' for Habitual Offender prosecutions under section 25(a), effective August 2012, there are now approximately 41 crimes that qualify as predicate crimes or "strikes" that may be used as predicate offenses for purposes of a Habitual Criminal prosecution under section 25(b), including but not limited to:

• Murder
• Attempted Murder
• Manslaughter
• Mayhem
• Assault with Intent to Murder or Maim
• Aggravated Assault & Battery with a Dangerous Weapon
• Indecent Assault & Battery on a Child Under 14
• Armed Robbery
• Armed Assault with Intent to Rob or Murder
• Armed Home Invasion
• Rape
• Rape of a Child
• Assault with Intent to Commit Rape
• Kidnapping
• Enticement of Child Under 16
• Dissemination of Child Pornography
• Possession of Child Pornography

Boston Criminal Lawyer Lefteris K. Travayiakis has extensive experience with defending persons charged with Massachusetts Crimes, including those charged as a Habitual Offender, and is available 24/7 for consultation.

To schedule a Free Consultation, Click Here to Contact a Massachusetts Criminal Lawyer or call 617-325-9500.