Legal Question in Criminal Law in Massachusetts

Some kind of secret list

A while ago I was charged with aggravated assault and battery (domestic). Then arrested 2x more for charges of restraining order violations. I went to court, proved all charges were lies, the charges were dropped, the restraining order was lifted, it was proven she had lied to police.

I was recently informed by a lawyer that even though I had proof all charges against me were false, my name is still on some ''secret list'' kept by law enforcement because the charges against me were domestic. What is this ''list'' all about? If I'm cleared of all charges (and in fact I even had charges against my accuser dropped for lying to the police), then why am I still being treated like a criminal. How do I challenge this ''secret list'' of law enforcement?

(NOTE: I'm an American soldier, and it burns me that the U.S. seems to be becoming a police state while soldiers are fighting and dying in the field to supposedly protect our rights while law enforcement is stabbing us in the back. What's up with ''secret lists''?)


Asked on 9/17/07, 7:41 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys

Re: Some kind of secret list

The secret list is called the crimial offender registry (CORI) and it contains all of the offenses you have ever been charged with, and the disposition (guilty, not guilty, or 'dismissed' which could be for any reason). likewise, the Restraining Order was granted (temporarily) so that stays in the criminal system even though it is a Civil Order.

It is completely unfair and unjustifiable, but it was passed into law. Justice is a matter of right and wrong; Laws are just a matter of who has control. The only way to beat this is to elect people who put justice ahead of control.

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Answered on 9/17/07, 8:41 pm


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