Appeals and Training Bureau
James Sahakian, ADA and Chief
Casey Silvia, ADA and Deputy Chief
(781) 897-6825
Following a criminal conviction, defendants have a right to appeal to the Massachusetts appellate courts for review of the rulings of the trial court. Some cases, including first degree murder convictions, are appealed directly to the Supreme Judicial Court. These appeals are not new trials. Our Appeals Bureau is responsible for handling all appellate matters before the Appeals Court and the Supreme Judicial Court. There is also a victim witness advocate assigned to the Appeals and Training Bureau who will assist victims of crime through the appellate process. The Assistant District Attorneys assigned to the Bureau also handle a wide variety of other post-conviction motions in the trial and appellate courts, provide legal assistance to all of the trial teams, assist police officers in obtaining search warrants, coordinate various internal and external legal training programs, and review legislative matters that impact the people of Middlesex County.
Bad Check Restitution Program
Millions of dollars are lost every year by merchants that fall victim to receiving bad checks. This problem affects everyone in terms of higher consumer costs that must be passed on to offset losses, and increased taxes to cover the additional costs
for law enforcement and prosecution.
In an effort to protect local businesses in Middlesex County from the negative impact of bad checks losses, Middlesex District Attorney Gerry Leone established the Bad Check Restitution Program.
The primary goal of this program is to obtain full restitution for the victim without adding to the financial burden of the criminal justice system.
For more information on the program, or if you are a victim of bad check losses, please visit the Bad Check Restitution Program website.
Law Enforcement Training
The Assistant District Attorneys in the Appeals & Training Bureau host several training programs each year for law enforcement at the main office in Woburn. The programs are specifically geared towards the respective challenges facing patrol officers and detectives, as well as particular types of investigations, such as drugs, sexual assault, and domestic violence investigations. In addition, each year, the Bureau offers at least one training specifically geared towards patrol officers and one training directed towards detectives who are applying for and executing search warrants. These sessions feature instruction on recent updates to search and seizure law, identification, and interrogation, and have included presentations from the Cyber Enforcement Unit on incorporating cutting-edge technology into police investigations. For more information on upcoming programs, please contact ADA Melissa Johnsen at melissa.johnsen@state.ma.us .
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