Find Criminal History Records in Brookline
Brookline criminal history records are kept by the Brookline Police Department, the Brookline District Court, and the Norfolk County Superior Court in Dedham. Although Brookline sits directly adjacent to Boston, it is a separate town in Norfolk County, so its criminal cases run through the Norfolk County court system rather than Suffolk County. This page explains where to find court records for Brookline cases, how to request a CORI report, and what sealing options are available under Massachusetts law.
Brookline Overview
Where Brookline Criminal Cases Are Filed
Brookline criminal cases begin at the Brookline District Court. Despite Brookline's location inside the Route 128 belt and its proximity to Boston, it is a town in Norfolk County, not a city in Suffolk County. That distinction matters for court routing. All criminal matters arising in Brookline go through the Norfolk County court system, not the Boston Municipal Court or Suffolk Superior Court.
The Brookline District Court handles arraignments, bail hearings, and trials for misdemeanors and lower-level felony charges. For more serious felony cases, or when the prosecution seeks a grand jury indictment, the case moves to Norfolk County Superior Court. That court is at 650 High Street, Dedham, MA 02026. The Superior Court handles the most serious criminal matters from all towns and cities within Norfolk County. Its clerk's office maintains public records for all criminal filings, and non-sealed records are open to inspection.
You can search both the Brookline District Court and Norfolk County Superior Court dockets at no cost through masscourts.org. Search by full name or case number to find arraignment records, charge descriptions, docket entries, and case status. The Massachusetts court system page has addresses and contact information for all courts in the state, including those in Norfolk County.
Brookline Police Department Records
The Brookline Police Department keeps arrest records, incident reports, and booking records for events within Brookline's boundaries. The Records Division handles public requests for these documents. Because Brookline is a town rather than a city, its police department operates under the town government, but the records request process works the same way as in other communities.
The Brookline Police Department is at 350 Washington Street, Brookline, MA 02445. The main phone number is (617) 730-2222. For records requests, call the Records Division at (617) 730-2200. Requests can be submitted in person during business hours or by mail. Include the date of the incident, the location, any known report number, and a valid photo ID. Copy fees vary by the length and type of the report.
Arrest records from Brookline PD show the date and location of an arrest, the charge or charges at the time of booking, and the arresting officer. They do not reflect what happened in court afterward. A person who was arrested but had their charge dismissed or was found not guilty still has an arrest record at the police department. For the final outcome of a case, check the court docket at masscourts.org or call the district court clerk directly.
The department's website at brooklinema.gov/departments/police has contact details and information on how to submit a records request. Walk-in visits to the Records Division are the fastest way to get a report. Mailing a written request is an option for those who cannot come in person. Third parties may face more limited access depending on the nature of the record.
If a Brookline incident involved the Massachusetts State Police or another agency, you may need to request records from each agency separately. The Records Division can tell you which reports are held by Brookline PD and whether another agency responded to the same incident.
Brookline Town Clerk and Public Records
Brookline operates as a town, so the office is the Town Clerk rather than a city clerk. The Town Clerk handles public records requests for documents held by the town government. Criminal case files are not held here; those are with the courts and the police department.
The Town Clerk is at 333 Washington Street, Brookline, MA 02445. The phone number is (617) 730-2010. The office manages vital records including birth, death, and marriage certificates, and it can direct you to the right town department for other types of documents. The clerk's page is at brooklinema.gov/departments/town-clerk. Massachusetts public records law requires agencies to respond to requests within ten business days. If you need criminal history records, the Town Clerk staff will point you to the police department or the relevant court.
For town-held documents that are not part of a court file, a written public records request through the Town Clerk is the correct approach. Submit it in writing, keep a copy, and note when it was received. If the town denies a request, you have the right to appeal under state law. The Town Clerk can walk you through that process.
Court Records Online Search
The free Massachusetts court portal at masscourts.org covers most state trial courts, including the Brookline District Court and Norfolk County Superior Court. Search by name or case number. Results include party names, case numbers, charge descriptions, docket entries, and current status. The portal is open to the public without a login for most searches.
Records that are sealed by court order will not appear in a portal search. Older cases filed before the court began uploading records electronically may also not be available online. If a case does not come up, call the clerk's office at the relevant court to ask whether the file exists in paper form and whether it is sealed. Clerks can usually confirm one way or the other without giving you the contents of a sealed record.
Certified copies of court documents cost $2.50 per page at most Massachusetts trial courts. Plain copies cost less. Certified copies carry the court seal and clerk's signature and are required for many legal purposes. You can request copies at the clerk's office in person, by mail, or through eFileMA.com for electronically filed cases. Include the case number to speed up the request. For large sets of documents, calling ahead to ask about the process saves time.
The Norfolk County Sheriff's Office serves the county where Brookline's criminal cases are handled. The image below shows the sheriff's office website, which is a public resource for Norfolk County residents.
The Norfolk County Sheriff's Office at norfolksheriff.com oversees corrections and community programs throughout Norfolk County.
Brookline criminal cases are part of the Norfolk County system, which includes the sheriff's office, district courts, and the Superior Court in Dedham.
CORI: Criminal Offender Record Information
CORI is Massachusetts' official criminal history record. The Department of Criminal Justice Information Services, or DCJIS, compiles and maintains CORI records for the state. A CORI report includes arraignments, charges, dispositions, and sentences from Massachusetts courts. It does not cover federal criminal records or records from other states.
Brookline residents can request their own CORI online through iCORI at icori.chs.state.ma.us. Create an account, verify your identity, and submit the request. The fee for a personal CORI is $25. Online processing takes 24 to 48 hours. Mail requests take about ten business days. The full step-by-step guide is at mass.gov/how-to/request-cori-as-an-individual.
DCJIS is at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150. Call (617) 660-4600 for assistance. The agency's website is at mass.gov/orgs/department-of-criminal-justice-information-services. The legal framework for CORI is in M.G.L. c. 6 § 167 and M.G.L. c. 6 § 172. These statutes define what information DCJIS collects and who can request a copy.
If your CORI contains an error, DCJIS has a formal dispute process. Submit a written challenge and the agency will check the record against court and law enforcement data. If an error is confirmed, they correct it. The overview of CORI rights and procedures is at mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-law-about-criminal-records-cori. Open-access CORI for public categories costs $50. Most people requesting their own record only need the $25 personal request through iCORI.
Sealing Criminal Records in Brookline
Massachusetts law allows certain criminal records to be sealed under M.G.L. c. 276 § 100A. A sealed record is hidden from most public searches, including masscourts.org and standard CORI reports. The file still exists in the system and can be seen by courts and law enforcement in future proceedings, but it is not visible to the general public.
Misdemeanor records may be sealed after three years from the end of the case. Felony records generally require a seven-year waiting period. Certain offense types cannot be sealed at all regardless of how much time has passed. A Brookline resident seeking to seal a record must file a petition at the court that handled the original case. For Brookline District Court cases, file at that court's clerk's office. For Norfolk Superior Court cases, file at the clerk's office in Dedham.
Expungement is available in Massachusetts for a narrower set of cases, including certain offenses committed by young adults and cases involving an identity error or misidentification. Expungement fully deletes the record from state systems rather than just hiding it. The petition is filed at the court where the original case was heard. Both sealing and expungement involve waiting periods and paperwork, but they are real legal options for Brookline residents who qualify. The Massachusetts court system's website has current information on eligibility and procedures for both.
Nearby Cities
Other cities near Brookline with criminal history pages include Boston, Newton, Quincy, and Weymouth.
Norfolk County Criminal History Records
Brookline's criminal cases are handled within the Norfolk County court system, with the Superior Court located in Dedham. The county page covers all the courts, clerks, and agencies that maintain criminal history records across Norfolk County, including the district courts in Brookline and Dedham and the Superior Court.