Massachusetts § 23 Rape and abuse of child

Massachusetts Statutes

§ 23 — Rape and abuse of child

Massachusetts § 23

Part IVCRIMES, PUNISHMENTS AND PROCEEDINGS IN CRIMINAL CASES

Title ICRIMES AND PUNISHMENTS

Ch. 265CRIMES AGAINST THE PERSON

This text of Massachusetts § 23 (Rape and abuse of child) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Massachusetts primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 265, § 23 (2026).

Text

Section 23. Whoever unlawfully has sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse, and abuses a child under 16 years of age, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life or for any term of years or, except as otherwise provided, for any term in a jail or house of correction. A prosecution commenced under this section shall neither be continued without a finding nor placed on file.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Section 23. Whoever unlawfully has sexual intercourse or unnatural sexual intercourse, and abuses a child under 16 years of age, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for life or for any term of years or, except as otherwise provided, for any term in a jail or house of correction. A prosecution commenced under this section shall neither be continued without a finding nor placed on file.

Nearby Sections

3

§ 23

Rape and abuse of child

§ 23A

Rape and abuse of child aggravated by age difference between defendant and victim or by when committed by mandated reporters; penalties

§ 23B

Rape and abuse of child by certain previously convicted offenders; penalties

View on official source ↗

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)

Massachusetts § 23, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/statute/ma/265/23.