Find Criminal History Records in Essex County

Essex County covers 498 square miles and includes 34 cities and towns north of Boston. Criminal history records for cases tried in this county pass through two Superior Court locations, five District Courts, and the Massachusetts CORI system. This page covers the courts that handle criminal matters in Essex County, where to find public case records, and how to request your own criminal history through the state DCJIS system.

Criminal History Records and CORI in Essex County

When a person is charged with a crime in Essex County, that event is recorded in the Massachusetts CORI system. CORI, or Criminal Offender Record Information, is the statewide database of criminal charges and dispositions. It is maintained by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS). Cases from the Lynn District Court, the Lawrence Superior Court, the Salem District Court, all of them feed into the same system. The full record spans arraignment through final disposition.

The CORI system is governed by M.G.L. c. 6, §§ 167-178B. Those sections define what goes into a CORI report, who can access it, and under what conditions. Anyone can request their own criminal history record. The cost for a personal request is $25. You can file that request online at the iCORI portal or by mail to DCJIS, 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150. The CORI unit is reachable by phone at (617) 660-4640. Mail requests take up to ten business days.

If your CORI shows an Essex County case you think qualifies for sealing, you file a petition at the court where that case was heard. Sealing is governed by M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A. Sealed records do not appear on most background check results, but the record still exists within the court system. The Mass.gov CORI law overview explains the full process in plain language.

Essex County Superior Courts

Essex County is served by two Superior Court locations. The Salem courthouse handles cases from the southern part of the county. The Lawrence courthouse serves the northern communities, including Lawrence, Haverhill, and the Merrimack Valley area. Having two locations keeps cases closer to the communities where they originate, though both courts follow the same procedures and fees.

The Salem Superior Court is at 56 Federal Street, Salem, MA 01970. The phone number is (978) 744-1026. This courthouse also serves as the county seat for Essex County. The Lawrence Superior Court is at 43 Appleton Way, Lawrence, MA 01840, reachable at (978) 689-4900. Both courts handle felony criminal trials, grand jury proceedings, and post-conviction matters. Case records from both locations are searchable at masscourts.org.

Certified document copies from either Superior Court cost $2.50 per page. Non-certified copies run $0.05 per page. Certificates of judgment cost $20.00. Call ahead before visiting to confirm current hours and to check whether the document you need is held at that location. The Essex County Superior Court listing on Mass.gov has current contact details for both courthouses.

The Essex County Superior Court page lists both courthouse locations, clerk contact numbers, and directions for in-person visits.

The screenshot shows the Superior Court's official listing, which is kept current and includes any changes to hours or contact information.

District Courts in Essex County

Five District Courts handle the bulk of criminal cases in Essex County. Most charges in the county, from misdemeanors to lower-level felonies, start at one of these courts and may never move up to Superior Court. District courts handle arraignments, bail hearings, pretrial conferences, and many final dispositions. That makes them a key source for Essex County criminal history records.

The five District Courts serving Essex County are: Lawrence District Court, Lynn District Court, Newburyport District Court, Peabody District Court, and Salem District Court. Each court serves specific communities within the county. Lawrence and Lynn are the busiest by volume, given the population of those cities. Newburyport serves the north shore communities near the New Hampshire border.

All five courts are part of the Massachusetts court system, and their case records are publicly searchable through masscourts.org. Basic docket searches are free and give access to case numbers, charges, and outcome dates. To get physical copies of court documents, contact the clerk at the relevant courthouse. Use the court finder on Mass.gov to identify which district court handles a specific Essex County city or town.

Essex County Probate and Family Court

The Essex Probate and Family Court is at 36 Federal Street, Salem, MA 01970. The phone number is (978) 744-8655. While this court does not handle criminal matters directly, it maintains records on guardianship proceedings, civil commitment cases, and restraining orders issued in Essex County. These records can be relevant when researching someone's full legal history in the county.

The Essex Probate and Family Court page on Mass.gov provides clerk contact details, filing forms, and directions to the Salem courthouse.

The Probate Court listing includes hours and how to reach the clerk for questions about specific filings held at the Salem location.

Essex County Sheriff's Office

The Essex County Sheriff's Office is led by Sheriff Kevin F. Coppinger. The office is at 20 Manning Avenue, Middleton, MA 01949. The main phone number is (978) 750-1900. The Sheriff's Office runs the county jail and house of correction in Middleton, where people held on Essex County criminal charges are typically detained while awaiting trial or serving sentences under two and a half years.

Inmate information, visiting hours, and civil process service for Essex County are handled through the Essex County Sheriff's Office website. If you are trying to confirm whether someone is currently held at the Essex County jail, the Sheriff's Office is the right contact. Criminal records resulting from a jail stay or sentence in Essex County will also appear in the state CORI system once the case moves through the courts. Booking information held by the Sheriff is separate from the court record but both sources cover the same events.

The Essex County Sheriff's Office website provides inmate information, civil process details, and a full listing of services for the public.

The Sheriff's Office site lets you search current inmate status and find contact information for the civil process and corrections divisions.

District Attorney and How to Access Essex County Records

The Essex County District Attorney is Jonathan W. Blodgett. The DA's office is at 10 Federal Street, Salem, MA 01970, phone (978) 745-6610. The DA handles all criminal prosecutions in the county, from initial charging through trial and post-conviction proceedings. DA case files are not public records, but every case outcome is reflected in the public court docket.

To look up a specific Essex County criminal case, start at masscourts.org. The free docket search covers all Essex County courts and gives you access to charge information, case numbers, and dispositions. If you need paper copies of case documents, contact the clerk's office at the court where the case was heard and ask about the copy process. Fees run $2.50 per page for certified copies.

For a full criminal history report covering all Massachusetts courts, the CORI route is the most complete. Submit a personal request through iCORI for $25, or mail your request to DCJIS. The Mass.gov guide to requesting CORI as an individual walks through every step. The rights granted under M.G.L. c. 6, § 172 let you review your record and dispute any inaccuracies through DCJIS directly. Essex County cases follow the same process as any other county in Massachusetts.

Cities in Essex County

These Essex County cities have dedicated criminal history pages with local court details and resources.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Essex County. If you need records from a neighboring area, use the links below.