3.14.21 LPDAM Specialty Court & Resources 4 MIN

: Specialty Court & resources JOE: Sean, it seems the Courts offer several specialized options to address common issues we all see in our society. Can you tell us something about how all that works? SEAN: Joe, the Massachusetts Courts are broken down to into separate divisions or departments. Each Court has a role and only handles specific issues. The Supreme Judicial Court is the highest Court in the Commonwealth and for the most part, only hears cases on Appeal, which means the case has already been heard by at least one other court. The Appeals Court is similar the SJC and draws its cases from all the other courts. The District and Superior Courts are similar in many respects because they usually hear a criminal case based on the seriousness of the allegation or civil case based on a financial threshold. Land Court only hears disputes involving land issues while housing Court involves landlord tenant disagreements. Probate and Family Court handle issues involving divorces and child custody issues. Juvenile Courts, by design were created to address specific issues revolving around juveniles and dcf involvement including State custody issues. Finally, the Drug Court was designed to work with individuals with drug additions and the mental health courts were designed to assist individuals with a major mental health diagnosis. JOE: Thanks for breaking that down Sean. It is a lot to digest. Why are their specialty courts? SEAN: Joe, Specialty Courts are a newer concept. What I mean by that is; when I worked at Lowell District Court in the late 1980’s early 90’s, everything was done in the District Courts. There was no juvenile Court; no Drug Court; no mental health Court. The court system has evolved and grown to the needs of the Bay State. At LPDAM.org; we understand the need and purpose for each individual Court. LPDAM members are experienced within the courts and how each one functions. What is acceptable evidence in one court may not be acceptable evidence in another court. For example, the standards involving evidence in Probate court is much lower than a district court criminal case. Knowing how to collect evidence based on the type of court, is important and often can affect the outcome. Its not by accident that LPDAM member customers report successful results. It is all in the preparation! Joe, I would like to add that much of the resources can be accessed at the social law libraries sprinkled throughout the state. They are the best resource for understanding a case; its history; and likely outcomes. These facilities provide all the case law and are free to access. I used the social law library for much of my research when I wrote the Massachusetts Private Investigator’s Legal Manual. Joe, when you’ve been wronged; accused of something; or just want to be treated fairly, an LPDAM member can help you get the most positive results. LPDAM members are experienced private investigators and all vetted by the Massachusetts State Police. More importantly, we love what we do! Remember, you’re in good hands with LPDAM.