Peabody Criminal History Records
Peabody criminal history records are maintained across courts and agencies in Essex County, covering arrests, court case filings, and state CORI reports for this city of about 55,000 people. Peabody has its own district court, which sets it apart from many communities its size. More serious charges move up to Essex County Superior Court in Salem. This page explains where each type of record is kept, how to request it, and what tools are available online.
Peabody Overview
Courts That Handle Peabody Criminal Cases
Peabody District Court handles most criminal matters for the city. It is one of the fewer district courts that actually carries the city's name. Misdemeanors, minor felonies, and arraignments all start at Peabody District Court. For felony indictments and more serious cases, matters move up to Essex County Superior Court at 56 Federal Street, Salem, MA 01970.
Peabody District Court covers Peabody and some surrounding communities. Having a local district court means residents do not have to travel far for most proceedings. You can check case status for free at masscourts.org. No login is needed. Search by name or case number and the portal returns results from Peabody District Court and Essex County Superior Court in the same query.
Essex County Superior Court in Salem handles felony trials, grand jury proceedings, and more complex criminal matters. The clerk's office there manages records requests for superior court cases. Certified copies of court documents cost $2.50 per page. Non-certified copies run $0.05 per page. You can contact the clerk by phone or mail if you cannot visit in person.
Essex County also has probate and family courts in Salem. Those courts handle estates, guardianships, and family law matters rather than criminal cases, but they come up sometimes in broader legal history searches.
Peabody Police Department Records
The Peabody Police Department is at 6 Allens Lane, Peabody, MA 01960. The main line is (978) 531-5555. The Records Division handles public records requests at (978) 538-6306. That number is the direct line for arrest logs, incident reports, and other law enforcement records.
Arrest records from the Peabody Police show the arrest date, charges at booking, and officer information. These records cover what happened at the point of arrest. They do not reflect what the court later decided. Court records handle the post-arraignment history. Both types together give a more complete picture.
Massachusetts public records law makes arrest logs generally available. Incident reports are public once an investigation is closed. Some details may be redacted if they involve an ongoing investigation or a minor. You submit a written request, and the department must respond within ten business days. In many cases, requests are filled sooner.
The Peabody Police website at peabody-ma.gov/police-department has contact information for the Records Division and guidance on how to submit a request. You can deliver your request in person or send it by mail.
The image below shows the Essex Probate and Family Court, part of the Essex County court complex that handles county records for Peabody.
Essex Probate and Family Court on mass.gov
The Records Division at Peabody Police operates during regular business hours. Calling ahead before you visit is a good idea to confirm current hours.
Peabody City Clerk Records
The Peabody City Clerk is at 24 Lowell Street, Peabody, MA 01960. You can reach the office at (978) 538-5700. The clerk handles vital records, city ordinances, meeting minutes, and other official documents. Criminal records are not kept here, but vital records like birth and death certificates sometimes matter in legal proceedings.
If you need a vital record for a court case or any other legal purpose, the city clerk is the right contact. Requests can be made in person or by mail. The Peabody city website at peabody-ma.gov/city-clerk has information on request procedures and fees.
State public records law governs all city clerk records. The clerk must respond within ten business days. Most routine requests move quickly. Staff can point you toward the right court or agency if the clerk's office cannot help directly.
Searching Peabody Court Records Online
The free Massachusetts court case portal at masscourts.org covers courts statewide. You do not need an account. Search by name, partial name, or case number. Results show court location, case type, charge descriptions, and upcoming hearing dates.
For Peabody cases, the portal covers both Peabody District Court and Essex County Superior Court in one search. This is convenient when you do not know which court level handled a particular case. Once you find the case, note the case number and contact the clerk at the court listed to get official copies of the documents.
The portal does not always show final dispositions immediately after they happen, and some older cases may not appear. For a complete and certified record, contacting the clerk's office directly is the more reliable path. 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 location and clerk contact in the state. It is a useful reference before reaching out to a specific court.
CORI Access for Peabody Residents
CORI is the official Massachusetts criminal history database. It stands for Criminal Offender Record Information. The Department of Criminal Justice Information Services manages it from 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150. Call DCJIS at (617) 660-4600 for questions about the system.
To get your own CORI, use the iCORI portal at icori.chs.state.ma.us. You set up an account, verify your identity online, and submit a request. The fee for a personal CORI is $25. Processing takes 24 to 48 hours through the portal. If you prefer not to use the online system, DCJIS also accepts mail-in requests.
A CORI report shows convictions, pending charges, and in some cases charges that were not prosecuted. The level of detail varies by request type and who is requesting. People pulling their own record get the fullest version. M.G.L. c. 6 §167 defines CORI in state law and sets out who can access what and under what circumstances.
A step-by-step guide to requesting your own CORI is at mass.gov/how-to/request-cori-as-an-individual. The DCJIS page at mass.gov/orgs/dcjis covers fees, authorization levels, and how to reach staff with questions.
Sealing Criminal Records in Peabody
Massachusetts allows sealing of criminal records under M.G.L. c. 276 §100A. A sealed record does not appear in public searches, though law enforcement can still see it. Waiting periods depend on the type of offense. Misdemeanors have a shorter wait. Felonies take longer. Some offenses are not eligible to be sealed.
To seal a Peabody case, you file a petition at the court that handled it. That is Peabody District Court for most matters, or Essex County Superior Court in Salem for felony cases. The clerk's office at either court has the right forms. Legal aid groups in Essex County can help you work through whether your record qualifies. More information on Massachusetts criminal record law is at mass.gov.
Nearby Cities
Other Essex County and nearby cities with criminal history record pages.
Essex County Criminal History Records
All Peabody criminal cases are filed under Essex County jurisdiction. Peabody District Court and Essex County Superior Court in Salem are both part of that system. County-level searches and certified record requests go through those courts or through the state CORI system at DCJIS.