Search Medford Criminal History
Medford criminal history records cover arrests, court case filings, and state CORI reports for residents of this Middlesex County city of about 57,000 people. Cases run through Somerville District Court for most matters and Middlesex County Superior Court in Woburn for more serious charges. Medford also plays a notable role in county-level law enforcement since the Middlesex Sheriff's Office operates its main facility right in the city. This page covers where to find records, who to call, and how to use online tools.
Medford Overview
Courts Handling Medford Criminal Cases
Somerville District Court serves Medford for most criminal matters. Arraignments, misdemeanors, and lower-level felonies all start there. The court is at 175 Fellsway, Somerville, MA 02145. If charges are elevated or a grand jury returns an indictment, the case moves to Middlesex County Superior Court in Woburn at 200 Trade Center, Woburn, MA 01801.
Somerville District Court handles cases from several communities in addition to Medford. The clerk's office keeps docket records, case filings, and hearing schedules. You can search case status for free at masscourts.org without logging in. The search works by name or case number and pulls results from both district and superior courts statewide.
Middlesex County Superior Court takes on felony trials, lengthy sentences, and more complex criminal proceedings. The clerk's office in Woburn handles records requests for those cases. Certified copies are $2.50 per page. If you are not sure which court level handled a specific case, start with the online portal, then call the clerk that shows up in the search results.
Worth noting: the Middlesex Sheriff's Office is based at 400 Mystic Avenue in Medford. The sheriff's office runs the county jail system and handles transport, civil process, and corrections operations across Middlesex County. Its presence in Medford connects the city directly to the broader county law enforcement structure. The sheriff's office does not handle public criminal records requests, but it is part of the network of agencies that feed into the official record.
Medford Police Department Records
The Medford Police Department is at 100 Main Street, Medford, MA 02155. The main number is (781) 391-6400. For records requests, call the Records Division directly at (781) 391-6407. That line handles arrest logs, incident reports, and booking records.
Arrest records from the Medford Police show the date of arrest, charges at booking, and officer details. These are separate from court records. Police records document what happened at the point of arrest. Court records show what happened afterward in the judicial process. Both types together give a fuller picture of a person's criminal history.
Massachusetts public records law makes arrest logs public. Incident reports are also generally available once a case is closed. Certain details can be withheld if they relate to an ongoing investigation or involve a juvenile. You submit a written request and the department has ten business days to respond.
The Medford Police website at medfordma.org/police-department has contact information for the Records Division and general guidance on how to submit a request. You can mail your request or drop it off in person during business hours.
The image below shows the Middlesex Sheriff's Office, which is headquartered in Medford and serves the entire county.
Middlesex Sheriff's Office official website
The Middlesex Sheriff's Office at 400 Mystic Avenue in Medford manages county corrections and civil process for all of Middlesex County.
Medford City Clerk Records
The Medford City Clerk is at 85 George P. Hassett Drive, Medford, MA 02155. The number is (781) 393-2420. The clerk keeps vital records, city meeting minutes, ordinances, and other official city documents. Criminal records are not maintained here, but vital records like birth, death, and marriage certificates sometimes come up in legal matters.
If you need a birth or death certificate for court use, the city clerk is the right office to contact. Requests can be made in person or by mail. The Medford city website at medfordma.org/city-clerk has request forms and information on fees.
State public records law applies to all city clerk records. The clerk must respond to requests within ten business days. Routine requests are usually handled quickly. If you need help finding the right agency or court, the clerk's office can point you in the right direction.
Searching Medford Court Records Online
The Massachusetts public case portal at masscourts.org is the easiest way to start. It is free, open to anyone, and does not require an account. Search by full name, partial name, or case number. Results show court location, case type, charge descriptions, and hearing dates.
For Medford cases, the portal covers Somerville District Court and Middlesex County Superior Court in the same search. You do not have to visit each court separately to check case status. If you find a case in the system, note the case number, then contact the clerk at that court to get certified copies of the actual documents.
The online portal updates regularly but does not always reflect the final disposition right away. Some older records are not in the system. For a complete, up-to-date record, the clerk's office at the courthouse is more reliable. Certified copies cost $2.50 per page. Non-certified copies are $0.05 per page.
The Massachusetts court system overview at mass.gov lists every court in the state with addresses and clerk contact details. It is a good reference before you reach out to a specific court.
CORI Access for Medford Residents
CORI stands for Criminal Offender Record Information. It is the official Massachusetts criminal history database, run by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services. DCJIS is at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150. Call them at (617) 660-4600 with questions about the system.
To request your own CORI, go to the iCORI portal at icori.chs.state.ma.us. You create an account, verify your identity, and submit your request. The fee is $25 for a personal record. Processing takes 24 to 48 hours through the online portal. A mail-in option is available if you prefer not to use iCORI.
Your CORI report shows convictions, pending cases, and sometimes charges that were not prosecuted. The detail depends on what type of request you make and your authorization level. Individuals who request their own records see the most complete version. Under M.G.L. c. 6 §167, CORI is defined by state law with clear rules about who can access it and under what conditions.
Full guidance on requesting CORI as an individual is at mass.gov/how-to/request-cori-as-an-individual. The DCJIS agency page at mass.gov/orgs/dcjis has more on fees, request types, and what each report includes.
Sealing Criminal Records in Medford
Massachusetts allows sealing of criminal records under M.G.L. c. 276 §100A. Sealed records are hidden from public searches. Law enforcement can still access them. Waiting periods apply before you can file a petition. Misdemeanors have a shorter wait than felonies. Some offenses are not eligible for sealing.
If you want to seal a Medford case, you file the petition at the court that handled the original matter. For most cases, that is Somerville District Court. Felony cases go back to Middlesex County Superior Court. The clerk at either court has the forms. Legal aid groups serving Middlesex County can help if you are not sure whether your case qualifies. The Massachusetts CORI law overview at mass.gov explains eligibility rules in plain terms.
Nearby Cities
Other Middlesex County and nearby cities with criminal history record pages.
Middlesex County Criminal History Records
Medford criminal cases are filed under Middlesex County jurisdiction. Both Somerville District Court and Middlesex County Superior Court in Woburn are part of that court system. The Middlesex Sheriff's Office, headquartered in Medford, also plays a key role in county-level corrections and civil process.