Franklin County Criminal History Records

Franklin County criminal history records are tracked through the Massachusetts CORI system, which is administered statewide by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services. The county covers 725 square miles of largely rural terrain in northwestern Massachusetts, with courts based in Greenfield and Orange that handle criminal cases for all 26 municipalities. This guide covers how to find and request criminal records for Franklin County through official court and state agency channels.

Criminal Records in Franklin County

Every criminal charge filed at a Franklin County court becomes part of the Massachusetts CORI system. The Department of Criminal Justice Information Services collects case data from both local courts, the courts in Greenfield and Orange, and stores it in the statewide criminal record database. That database is what gets searched when someone requests a CORI.

The legal structure behind CORI starts with M.G.L. c. 6 §167. This statute defines criminal offender record information and sets up the framework that DCJIS operates under. It matters here because it means that a charge filed in a small Franklin County town like Shelburne Falls or Montague feeds into the same state system as charges filed anywhere else in Massachusetts.

Franklin County is one of the smaller counties in the state by population but one of the larger ones by area. Its 26 municipalities include Greenfield, Deerfield, Northfield, Montague, and Orange, among others. Most towns in the county are served by Greenfield District Court. The eastern towns near Athol and Orange are served by Orange District Court.

Sealed records do not appear in standard CORI checks. If you were charged in Franklin County and your case was later sealed, the rules governing that process come from M.G.L. c. 276 §100A. This statute sets the waiting periods and conditions under which a person can petition to seal a conviction or a case that did not result in conviction.

Franklin County Courts

Franklin County's main courthouse is at 101 Munson Street in Greenfield. Three courts operate from this location: Franklin Superior Court, Greenfield District Court, and Franklin Probate and Family Court. All three share the phone number (413) 774-8900. The clerk's offices at 101 Munson Street handle record requests for each court's respective cases.

Franklin Superior Court is the venue for felony criminal trials in the county. If you are looking for records of a serious criminal case in Franklin County, this is where those case files are maintained. Superior Court cases from throughout the county, from Shelburne in the west to Wendell in the east, are heard here.

Greenfield District Court handles misdemeanors and lower-level criminal matters for most of the county. It is at the same 101 Munson Street address and shares the (413) 774-8900 number. If you are looking up a Franklin County criminal case that is not a felony, this is likely the right court to contact.

Orange District Court covers the eastern part of the county. It is located at 1 East Main Street, Orange MA 01364, and can be reached at (978) 544-6163. Towns like Orange, Athol, Warwick, and Wendell fall under this court's jurisdiction. Charges arising from these communities go to Orange District Court rather than Greenfield.

The statewide court portal at masscourts.org lets you search public case records from any Massachusetts court. That includes both Franklin County courts. You can search by name or case number and pull up criminal case information without calling or visiting in person. Some records are not publicly available online, but the portal covers most standard criminal filings.

The official pages for each court are available on mass.gov. The Franklin County Superior Court page has current hours and contact details, as does the Franklin Probate and Family Court page and the Greenfield District Court page.

Below is the Franklin County Superior Court listing on mass.gov, which shows the address and contact information for the clerk's office in Greenfield.

This page is the authoritative source for Superior Court hours and contact information.

The Franklin Probate and Family Court holds records that can be relevant to criminal matters that have a family law component, such as domestic cases or restraining orders connected to criminal charges.

Both the Superior and Probate courts are at 101 Munson Street in Greenfield.

The Greenfield District Court handles the bulk of misdemeanor and lower-level criminal cases in Franklin County.

Check this page for current hours before visiting the clerk's office in person.

Franklin County Sheriff's Office

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is located at 160 Elm Street, Greenfield MA 01301. The phone number is (413) 774-4011. Sheriff Christopher Donelan leads the department. The sheriff's office operates the county jail and handles the transport of inmates between courts and other facilities across the county.

The sheriff's office does not hold CORI records. That function belongs to DCJIS at the state level. But the sheriff's office does keep records of individuals who were booked at the Franklin County jail. If you need details about a stay at the county jail, contact the sheriff's office directly to find out what is available and how to request it.

Northwestern District Attorney

Franklin County is served by the Northwestern District Attorney's Office, which also covers Hampshire County. The office is at One Gleason Plaza, Northampton MA 01060. The phone number is (413) 586-9225. District Attorney Judith C. Cutler leads the office.

The DA's office handles criminal prosecutions for all cases in Franklin County. It does not issue CORI records to the public. If you have questions about a specific case, or if you are a victim who needs help navigating the court system, the DA's office can provide guidance. The office has staff who work with victims and witnesses throughout the criminal process.

How to Request Franklin County Records

The iCORI online portal is the easiest way to get a criminal record tied to Franklin County. Visit icori.chs.state.ma.us, set up an account, and submit a request for your own CORI. The cost is $25. You will typically get results within 24 to 48 hours. The portal returns the statewide CORI record, which includes any Franklin County charges or convictions on file with DCJIS.

If you prefer to submit by mail, send a completed form, a copy of your photo ID, and a $25 payment to DCJIS at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea MA 02150. Mail requests take around 10 business days. Full instructions are at mass.gov.

In-person requests can be made at the clerk's offices in Greenfield or Orange. The Greenfield location handles records for Franklin Superior Court and Greenfield District Court. The Orange District Court clerk handles cases from the eastern part of the county. Call ahead at (413) 774-8900 for Greenfield or (978) 544-6163 for Orange to confirm what you need and what it costs to get copies.

Open access CORI, which gives a broader view of someone's record, costs $50 and is governed by M.G.L. c. 6 §172. This level of access is restricted to authorized organizations, not individual members of the public. The DCJIS website at mass.gov/orgs/department-of-criminal-justice-information-services has more detail on who qualifies.

For a plain-language overview of CORI rights and rules, check the state's CORI law overview page. It covers what is in a CORI, how long records stay on file, and what to do if you believe your record has an error.

Cities in Franklin County

Franklin County has 26 municipalities, none of which meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Key towns include Greenfield, Orange, Deerfield, Montague, Northfield, Shelburne, and Whately. Residents in the western and central parts of the county file criminal cases at Greenfield District Court or Franklin Superior Court. Those in the eastern towns near Orange file at Orange District Court. The courts in Greenfield are at 101 Munson Street; Orange District Court is at 1 East Main Street in Orange.

Nearby Counties

Franklin County is bordered by four other Massachusetts counties.