Berkshire County Criminal History Lookup

Berkshire County criminal history records are part of the Massachusetts CORI system managed by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services. As the westernmost county in the state, Berkshire covers 946 square miles and borders New York, Vermont, and Connecticut. Courts in Pittsfield, North Adams, and Great Barrington handle criminal cases across the county's 32 municipalities. This page explains how to find and request criminal records tied to Berkshire County through official state and local channels.

Criminal Records in Berkshire County

Criminal charges filed in Berkshire County become part of the Massachusetts CORI system at the state level. DCJIS collects case data from all local courts in the county, including Berkshire Superior Court and the three district courts in Pittsfield, North Adams, and Great Barrington. Each court sends records of arrests, charges, dispositions, and sentences to the state database.

The legal foundation of the CORI system is in M.G.L. c. 6 §167. This statute defines what counts as a criminal record and who has authority over CORI data. In practice, it means that a charge filed in Great Barrington or North Adams is part of the same statewide record as a charge filed anywhere else in Massachusetts.

Berkshire County is the largest county by area in Massachusetts. The county spans from the Vermont border in the north down to Connecticut in the south. This geography means criminal cases can arise across a wide range of towns, and the court that handles each case depends on where in the county the offense took place.

Sealed records exist in the system but do not appear in standard CORI results. The process for sealing a record is governed by M.G.L. c. 276 §100A. That statute sets waiting periods and eligibility rules. If a Berkshire County conviction is sealed under this law, it will not show up in a routine personal CORI check.

Berkshire County Courts

Berkshire Superior Court sits at 76 East Street, 7th Floor, Pittsfield MA 01201. The phone number is (413) 442-6941. This is where felony criminal trials are held and where major criminal cases are filed. The clerk's office at this location keeps records of all Superior Court cases in Berkshire County. You can visit in person or call to ask about a specific case.

Berkshire Probate and Family Court is at the same address, 76 East Street in Pittsfield. Both courts share the building. If a criminal matter has a related family court component, such as a restraining order or custody issue tied to a criminal case, the probate court at this address is the place to look.

The statewide court portal at masscourts.org allows anyone to search public case records online. You can look up cases from Berkshire Superior Court and all three district courts by name or case number. Not every record is public, but most standard criminal filings show up in the system.

Pittsfield District Court is on the 7th Floor at 76 East Street, Pittsfield MA 01201. The number is (413) 442-6941. This court handles misdemeanors and lower-level criminal matters for the central part of the county, including Pittsfield and nearby towns.

Northern Berkshire District Court handles cases in the northern part of the county. It is located at 111 Holden Street, North Adams MA 01247, and can be reached at (413) 663-5322. Towns like North Adams, Adams, and Williamstown fall under this court's reach.

Southern Berkshire District Court covers the southern end of the county. The address is 9 Gilmore Avenue, Great Barrington MA 01230, and the phone is (413) 528-5160. This court handles cases from towns like Great Barrington, Lee, and Lenox.

The official page for the Berkshire County Superior Court on mass.gov has current hours and contact details. The page for the Pittsfield District Court provides the same information for that court.

Here is a screenshot of the Pittsfield District Court listing on mass.gov, showing the court's address, phone, and hours.

Use this page to confirm that the court is open before making a trip to Pittsfield.

Berkshire County Sheriff's Office

The Berkshire County Sheriff's Office is at 467 Cheshire Road, Pittsfield MA 01201. The main number is (413) 447-7111. Sheriff Thomas Bowler runs the department. The sheriff's office manages the county jail and handles inmate transport to and from courts across the county.

The sheriff's office does not maintain CORI records. State law puts that responsibility with DCJIS. However, the sheriff's office does keep records of bookings and inmate stays at the county jail. If you need to know whether someone was held at the Berkshire County jail, contact the sheriff's office directly to ask what information is available.

Berkshire District Attorney

The Berkshire District Attorney's Office is located at 76 East Street, 7th Floor, Pittsfield MA 01201. The phone number is (413) 442-3281. District Attorney Andrea Harrington leads the office. Unlike most other Massachusetts counties, Berkshire County has its own separate DA's office rather than sharing with another county.

The DA's office handles all criminal prosecutions in Berkshire County. It does not provide CORI records to the public, but it can help with questions about active or past cases. If you are involved in a Berkshire County case as a victim or witness, the DA's victim advocates can help you understand how the records process works and what you can access.

How to Access Criminal Records

The fastest way to get a Berkshire County criminal history record is through the iCORI portal. Go to icori.chs.state.ma.us, create an account, and submit a request. The cost is $25 for a personal CORI. Results come back in 24 to 48 hours. The portal pulls data from the statewide CORI system, so it includes all Berkshire County cases on file at DCJIS.

Mail requests are also an option. Send a completed request form, a copy of your ID, and a $25 payment to DCJIS at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea MA 02150. Mail requests take about 10 business days. You can find the request form and full instructions at mass.gov.

For court-specific records in Berkshire County, you can visit the clerk's office at any of the three district courts or at the Superior Court in Pittsfield. Each clerk's office keeps records for its own court. You can ask to view files or get certified copies. Call ahead to confirm what you need and what fees apply. The CORI portal pulls the statewide record, but court clerk offices can provide certified copies of specific case documents.

If you are looking for open access CORI, which provides a broader view of someone's record, the cost is $50. That level of access is governed by M.G.L. c. 6 §172 and is subject to strict rules about how the information can be used. Individuals cannot request open access CORI on other people through the personal portal.

For more background on how the CORI system works and what rights you have, the state's CORI law overview page is a good reference. The DCJIS website also has contact information and forms for different types of requests.

Cities in Berkshire County

Berkshire County has 32 municipalities, including Pittsfield, North Adams, Great Barrington, Lenox, Lee, Adams, and Williamstown. None of these communities meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Residents across the county file criminal cases at the court that covers their area: Pittsfield District Court for central Berkshire, Northern Berkshire District Court for the north, and Southern Berkshire District Court for the south. All three share records with the state CORI system through DCJIS.

Nearby Counties

Berkshire County borders three other Massachusetts counties to the east and northeast.