District Court is the gateway to the justice system. It is where the vast majority of criminal cases in Massachusetts are handled. The district courts have jurisdiction over all misdemeanors, including drug offenses, weapons offenses and motor vehicle offenses. 

Community Prosecution is a pro-active, solutions-based approach to justice where prosecutors are both a representative of and a leader in a community. Community prosecutors reach out to community groups, schools, faith-based groups and other community organizations to identify concerns and prioritize strategies for addressing them, working with local and state police and other government agencies to share intelligence, strategize, and support.