Cambridge

Our criminal lawyers serve the Cambridge community and all of Middlesex County. Cambridge is a city in Massachusetts, north of Boston, that is known as the home of both Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The two schools are also two of the city’s top employers. Cambridge has about 39% more residents than the neighboring city of Somerville. Cambridge has been called the “City of Squares” because many of its commercial districts are located at street intersections that form a square. Among these are Harvard Square, Porter Square, and Kendall Square.

There is a higher risk of crime in Somerville, but because there is a larger population in Cambridge, there are more crimes reported there. In a 2012 report, the Cambridge Police Department tallied 1 murder, 23 rapes, 128 robberies, 262 aggravated assaults, 499 burglaries, 2,448 larcenies, and 158 auto thefts. Our criminal lawyers in Cambridge have represented the accused in both felony and misdemeanor cases. As in other neighboring cities, larceny is the most common crime in Cambridge. But according to the police department’s report, crime overall has generally been falling in Cambridge since around 1989-1990.

The possible legal and social penalties for a criminal conviction in Cambridge and elsewhere can be harsh. If you are charged with a crime, you should contact an experienced Cambridge criminal defense attorney to determine the best strategy and fight the allegations.

In everyday speech, burglary, robbery, and larceny may be used as if they are synonymous for theft crimes. In Massachusetts, burglary is defined differently than either robbery or larceny. Burglary is defined as breaking and entering into another person’s building with the intent of committing a felony. Most often the felony is larceny or theft, but it can also be assault, murder, or any other serious crime.

The punishment for a burglary conviction varies depending upon the facts, but can lead to up to 20 years in prison. This sentence is made harsher if you have committed burglary in an occupied house or assaulted someone inside the house or carried in a weapon. The mandatory minimum sentence for a first offense in which the defendant is convicted of assaulting someone inside the burglarized building is 10 years. The mandatory minimum sentence for a first offense with a weapon is 15 years.

Law enforcement and district attorneys prosecute violent crime more vigorously than other types of crime. Violent crimes are those criminal acts that include force, threats of violence, or weapons. A number of crimes are considered violent in Massachusetts, including domestic violence, armed robbery, assault and battery, rape, home invasion, and destruction of property.

The Massachusetts police department reported that from 1970-1990, there were 100 commercial robberies annually. Commercial robberies are those in which something of value is taken either by force or threat of force from a commercial establishment (as opposed to street robberies in which someone is “mugged” or “carjacked”). An example of a commercial robbery is a bank hold-up.

The nature of the robbery or assault impacts the charges you face and the penalties to which you may be exposed. A simple assault with the intent to rob or steal, for example, can subject a defendant to a maximum of 10 years in prison. If the victim is over 60, however, the defendant can face a life sentence. Moreover, if it is a second offense against an elderly person, a defendant faces at least 2 years in prison. Somebody who holds up a bank or other commercial establishment with a gun may be subject to a life sentence. The mandatory minimum sentence in a second such offense is 15 years in prison.

The stakes involved in a criminal charge or trial are very high, particularly if the crime was violent. Prosecutors and judges seek harsh punishments for violent crimes, and if you are accused of one, you will need the help of an experienced Cambridge criminal defense lawyer with a strong reputation and an understanding of all possible defenses. Contact the Law Offices of Stephen Neyman today at 617-263-6800 or via our online form.