Massachusetts General Laws Part III. Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases (Ch. 211-262) Ch. 211E, § 4

(1) the sentence was imposed in violation of law; or

(2) the sentence was imposed as a result of an incorrect application of the sentencing guidelines; or

(3) the departure upward from the applicable guideline range was an abuse of discretion; or

(4) the sentence was imposed for an offense for which there is no sentencing guideline and is plainly unreasonable.

(1) the sentence was imposed in violation of law;

(2) the sentence was imposed as a result of an incorrect application of the sentencing guidelines;

(3) the departure downward from the applicable guideline range was an abuse of discretion; or

(4) the sentence was imposed for an offense for which there is no sentencing guideline and is plainly unreasonable.

(1) a defendant may not appeal a sentence unless the sentence imposed is greater than the sentence prescribed by the sentencing guidelines; and

(2) the commonwealth may not appeal a sentence unless the sentence imposed is less than the sentence prescribed by the sentencing guidelines.

(3) a sentence imposed by the court in accordance with the recommendation of either the defendant or the commonwealth may not be appealed by the party which made the recommendation; and a sentence imposed in accordance with a jointly-agreed recommendation may not be appealed by either the defendant or the commonwealth.