Massachusetts Supreme Court Refuses To Loosen Bail Rules In Rape Cases

The Massachusetts Supreme Court ruled on October 8 that rape qualifies as a "predicate offense" under state law, allowing suspects to be denied bail and held in pretrial detention. The ruling arises from the case of Alvin Campbell, who faces multiple charges for allegedly luring intoxicated women into his vehicle and raping them. Campbell has been held without bail since his arrest in January 2020, and his attorneys argued that the statute was being misinterpreted. The high court took a categorical approach, affirming that rape is inherently violent and involves the use or threatened use of physical force. The decision has significant implications for future cases, underscoring the court's commitment to a broad interpretation of physical force under the force clause of Section 58A.