Three of the most common and most damaging criminal charges in Massachusetts — handled aggressively by Attorney Mark J. Clifford. One call covers all of it.
DUI/OUI, drug charges, and assault and battery are the three most frequently charged criminal offenses in Massachusetts — and also three of the most life-altering. A conviction on any of these charges can cost you your job, your driver's license, your housing, your immigration status, and your freedom. Attorney Mark J. Clifford at Clifford Defense handles all three aggressively, throughout all 14 Massachusetts counties.
Massachusetts calls drunk driving "OUI" — Operating Under the Influence — and prosecutes it under Chapter 90, Section 24 of the Massachusetts General Laws. Even a first-offense OUI carries a 45 to 90-day license loss, up to $5,000 in fines, mandatory alcohol education classes, and possible jail time. A second offense triggers mandatory minimum jail time and a two-year license suspension.
Attorney Mark J. Clifford challenges OUI cases at multiple levels: the legality of the traffic stop, the administration of field sobriety tests, breathalyzer calibration records, and the officer's observations. Many OUI cases have vulnerabilities that a skilled attorney can exploit to get charges reduced or dismissed entirely.
Key defenses: Invalid stop, improper sobriety test administration, breathalyzer malfunction, no probable cause, rising blood alcohol defense, medical conditions mimicking intoxication.
Massachusetts drug charges — from simple marijuana possession to heroin trafficking — carry serious consequences even in the post-decriminalization era. Drug trafficking charges carry mandatory minimum prison sentences that judges cannot waive. Attorney Mark J. Clifford's first priority in every drug case is challenging how the evidence was obtained.
The Fourth Amendment prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures. If police searched your car without consent or a valid warrant, or stopped you without reasonable suspicion, the drugs they found may be inadmissible. A successful motion to suppress can end a drug case entirely — before it ever reaches a jury.
Key defenses: Illegal search and seizure, lack of possession, chain of custody issues, entrapment, incorrect substance identification, constitutional violations.
→ Full Drug Charges Defense Page
Assault and battery charges in Massachusetts cover a broad spectrum — from a push during an argument to serious charges involving weapons or injury. The penalties depend on the specifics: a simple assault and battery conviction carries up to 2.5 years in a house of correction, while assault and battery with a dangerous weapon can mean up to 5 years in state prison.
Attorney Mark J. Clifford knows that assault charges are frequently filed based on one-sided accounts of what happened. He investigates every case for false accusations, provocation, self-defense justification, and inconsistencies in witness statements. The prosecution must prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt — and that is a high bar that skilled defense can challenge at every point.
Key defenses: Self-defense, defense of others, lack of intent, false accusation, insufficient evidence, witness credibility, consent.
→ Full Assault & Battery Defense Page
The sooner you hire an attorney, the more options you have. Evidence fades, witnesses move on, and early intervention can change the entire trajectory of your case. Attorney Mark J. Clifford is available 24/7.
(617) 501-0411 — Free ConsultationAttorney Mark J. Clifford is available 24/7 across all 14 Massachusetts counties. Call now for a free, completely confidential consultation — no obligation, no judgment.
