Three Strikes and Habitual Offender Laws in Massachusetts

Massachusetts has two habitual offender rules. A person convicted of a felony who has two prior convictions with state or federal prison sentences of at least 3 years each is a habitual criminal and must receive the maximum term provided by law for the new felony. A person with two prior convictions for listed violent or sexual crimes (specific sections of chapters 265, 266 and 272), each with a prison sentence of at least 3 years, who commits a third listed crime must receive the maximum term for that crime, with no reduction, suspension, probation, parole, work release, furlough or good-conduct credit. Juvenile adjudications do not count for the second rule, and a pardon on grounds of innocence removes a prior.