Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 218 § 27 : COURTS, JUDICIAL OFFICERS AND PROCEEDINGS IN CIVIL CASES — COURTS AND JUDICIAL OFFICERS — DISTRICT COURTS — Imposition of penalties; juveniles

The district court may impose the same penalties as the superior court for all crimes of which they have jurisdiction, except that they may not impose a sentence to the state prison; provided, however, that the divisions of the juvenile court department shall have the authority to hear cases and impose penalties in accordance with the provisions of sections fifty-two through eighty-four of chapter one hundred and nineteen, and section one through nineteen of chapter one hundred and twenty.