Find Criminal History Records in Somerville
Criminal history records for Somerville, Massachusetts are filed at Somerville District Court and, for serious cases, at Middlesex County Superior Court in Woburn. Somerville is in Middlesex County, so the county court system handles all criminal matters arising from the city. The state CORI database, run by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services, compiles all case data from these courts into a single statewide record. This page walks you through how to find court records, police records, and your own CORI report tied to Somerville.
Somerville Overview
Where Criminal Cases Are Filed in Somerville
Criminal cases from Somerville are filed at Somerville District Court. This court also covers Medford. The District Court handles arraignments, misdemeanor trials, and initial hearings for felony charges. For cases that go further, the matter gets sent up to Middlesex County Superior Court in Woburn. Superior Court handles jury trials for serious felonies and major criminal proceedings.
Somerville District Court is located in Somerville, and you can check its current address and hours through the Massachusetts courts website at mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-court-system. The Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn is about 12 miles north of Somerville. If you need a case that started in Somerville but ended up at Superior Court, that is where the full case file will be held.
All records from both courts go into the state CORI system. Whether the case ended in a conviction, a dismissal, or a not-guilty finding, it can still appear in the CORI database for a period of time. The Department of Criminal Justice Information Services, or DCJIS, manages this system from its office at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200 in Chelsea. Under M.G.L. c. 6, Section 167, DCJIS collects and stores criminal record data from courts across the state and controls who can access it.
The Middlesex County Sheriff also holds records for individuals who have been in county custody. These records are separate from court files. If you need information about someone's custody history in Middlesex County, contact the Sheriff's Office directly. For court case lookups, the free online portal at masscourts.org is the place to start.
Somerville Police Records
The Somerville Police Department maintains arrest records, incident reports, and other law enforcement documents tied to the city. Police records are not the same as court records. An arrest may or may not lead to a charge, and a charge may or may not lead to a conviction. If you are trying to build a complete picture of someone's history, you may need records from both the police and the courts.
To request records from the Somerville Police Department, contact the Records Division. The department is at 220 Washington Street, Somerville MA 02143. Call (617) 625-1212 and ask for the Records Division at extension 7224. Staff can tell you which forms to use and what you need to bring or send. Some reports are available by mail, while others require you to visit in person. Fees apply for copies of records.
The department's website at somervillema.gov/departments/police has current contact info and may list what types of records are available. Arrest logs are generally public and show recent arrests by name, date, and charge. They do not show whether the case was later dismissed or resulted in a conviction. For that information, you need the court records.
Somerville City Clerk Records
The Somerville City Clerk handles public records for the city government. While criminal court records are not held by the Clerk, the office can assist with certain public records requests and direct you to the right office when needed. Some records related to licensing, municipal court actions, or other city matters may be held here.
The City Clerk is located at 93 Highland Avenue, Somerville MA 02143. Call (617) 625-6600 and ask for extension 4100. The office follows Massachusetts Public Records Law and responds to written requests for documents within a set time frame. For anything specifically about criminal cases, the clerk can help you figure out whether the record you are looking for is held by the city or the courts. More at somervillema.gov/departments/city-clerk.
Court Records Search for Somerville Cases
The free public case portal at masscourts.org covers all Massachusetts courts, including Somerville District Court and Middlesex County Superior Court. No account is needed to search. You can look up cases by name or case number at no cost.
When you search on masscourts.org, the results show the parties involved, the charges, all scheduled and completed court dates, and the current status of the case. You can also see docket entries, which are the court's official notes on each action taken in the case. These entries show things like arraignment dates, plea hearings, motions filed, and the final disposition. For Somerville criminal cases, the District Court docket covers most misdemeanors and lower-level felonies. Superior Court dockets cover the more serious matters.
Some records will not show up in an online search. Juvenile records are not public. Cases that have been sealed will not appear. If a record is missing, calling the court clerk is the best next step. For Somerville District Court, the clerk can confirm whether a case exists and what you need to get a copy. For Superior Court cases, call the Middlesex Superior Court clerk in Woburn. Information on that court is at mass.gov/locations/middlesex-county-superior-court.
The screenshot below shows the Middlesex County Superior Court page on the official Massachusetts courts website, which covers Somerville and all other Middlesex County cities.
Middlesex County Superior Court in Woburn is where serious criminal cases from Somerville are heard and where those case files are stored.
CORI Access for Somerville Residents
Your CORI is your state criminal history record. It covers every Massachusetts court, including Somerville District Court and Middlesex Superior Court. You have the right to request your own CORI at any time. The fee is $25 for a personal request.
The fastest way to get your CORI is through iCORI at icori.chs.state.ma.us. Set up an account, verify who you are, and submit your request online. Most responses come back within 24 to 48 hours. If you prefer to request by mail, download the form at mass.gov and send it with your ID and the $25 check to DCJIS at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea MA 02150. Phone: (617) 660-4600.
There are two levels of CORI access. The $25 personal CORI shows your own full record. Agencies that run CORI checks on others pay $50 for what is called open access. As an individual, you pay $25 and only get your own record, not someone else's. If you find something wrong in your report, you can dispute it through DCJIS. The dispute process is outlined on the DCJIS site at mass.gov/orgs/department-of-criminal-justice-information-services.
Under M.G.L. c. 6, Section 172, different categories of users have different levels of access to CORI data. Some agencies can see sealed records that the general public cannot. Knowing this is useful if you are trying to understand what a third party might see when they run a CORI check on you. For more background on the law, see mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-law-about-criminal-records-cori.
Sealing and Expungement of Somerville Criminal Records
Massachusetts law gives people with old criminal records a way to limit public access to them. Sealing is the most common option. It removes a record from public view while keeping it in the court system. Expungement deletes the record entirely, but it applies to fewer situations.
Under M.G.L. c. 276, Section 100A, you can seal a misdemeanor conviction three years after you complete your sentence. Felony convictions have a seven-year wait. Cases that did not result in a conviction, including dismissals and not-guilty verdicts, may be eligible for sealing sooner. You file a petition at the court that handled the original case. For Somerville District Court cases, file there. For Middlesex Superior Court cases, file in Woburn.
Sealing is free. There is no filing fee. Once a record is sealed, it will not show up in a public CORI search. Some government agencies can still see sealed records, as allowed under M.G.L. c. 6, Section 172, but the average background check will not show them. Expungement is available in limited cases under more recent state law, including some juvenile records and cases involving misidentification. DCJIS can tell you whether your case qualifies. If you need help filing, legal aid groups in the Greater Boston and Somerville area offer free or low-cost guidance.
Nearby Cities
These nearby Massachusetts cities have criminal history record pages with local court and police contact information.
Middlesex County Criminal History Records
Somerville is in Middlesex County. All criminal cases from the city go through the Middlesex County court system. The county page covers Superior Court details, the Sheriff's Office, and county-wide resources for accessing criminal history records.