Hampshire County Criminal History Records

Hampshire County criminal history records are part of Massachusetts's statewide CORI system, which is run by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services. The county covers 529 square miles in the Pioneer Valley, with courts based in Northampton and Belchertown that handle all local criminal cases. Whether you need to search for court cases, look up arrest records, or get a certified copy of a criminal record, this guide walks you through the process step by step.

Criminal Records in Hampshire County

Every criminal charge filed in Hampshire County flows into the Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information system, known as CORI. The state Department of Criminal Justice Information Services manages this system at the statewide level. Local courts in Northampton and Belchertown send case data up to DCJIS, where it becomes part of a person's official criminal record. That record includes arrests, charges, court outcomes, and sentences.

The law that governs who can see CORI records and under what terms is found in M.G.L. c. 6 §167. This statute sets out the definitions that run the whole CORI system. A related provision, M.G.L. c. 6 §172, spells out the rules for how organizations can use CORI data. Both statutes are part of the same chapter that created DCJIS and defined its role.

Hampshire County is part of the Northwestern District Attorney's jurisdiction. That office covers both Hampshire and Franklin counties. All felony cases from the county go to Hampshire Superior Court. Misdemeanors and lower-level charges are handled at the district courts in Northampton and Belchertown.

If a charge is later sealed, it still exists in the underlying system but may not show up in standard CORI requests. The rules for sealing are set by M.G.L. c. 276 §100A, which allows individuals to petition to seal records after a waiting period. Not all offenses are eligible for sealing.

Hampshire County Courts

The main courthouse for Hampshire County sits at 15 Gothic Street in Northampton. Three courts share this address: Hampshire Superior Court, Hampshire District Court, and Hampshire Probate and Family Court. You can reach all three at (413) 584-5810. The building houses most of the county's judicial activity in one location, which makes in-person record searches more straightforward.

Hampshire Superior Court handles felony criminal cases, major civil matters, and jury trials. If you need to look up a serious criminal case in Hampshire County, this is where those records are kept. The clerk's office at the courthouse can tell you what is on file and how to get copies.

The Massachusetts court case portal at masscourts.org lets you search court records online. You can look up cases by name, case number, or date. Not all records are visible to the public online, but the portal shows a wide range of case types including criminal matters filed at Hampshire Superior Court and Hampshire District Court.

The Belchertown District Court handles cases from the eastern part of the county. It is located at 6 Main Street, Belchertown MA 01007, and can be reached at (413) 323-4022. Towns like Belchertown, Ware, and Palmer fall under this court's jurisdiction. If you are looking for a criminal record tied to one of those towns, this is the court to contact.

The Hampshire County Superior Court location page on the state website has current hours, directions, and contact details. You can also find similar details for the Hampshire Probate and Family Court. Both links go to the official Massachusetts government site.

Below is a look at the Hampshire County Superior Court's official listing on mass.gov.

The court page includes the address, phone number, and hours for the clerk's office at 15 Gothic Street in Northampton.

The Probate and Family Court at the same Northampton address also holds records that may be relevant to certain criminal matters, particularly cases involving restraining orders or family-related charges.

You can use this page to confirm hours and get directions before visiting in person.

Hampshire County Sheriff's Office

The Hampshire County Sheriff's Office is located at 137 Memorial Drive, Northampton MA 01060. You can reach the office at (413) 584-5911. Sheriff Patrick J. Cahillane leads the department. The sheriff's office runs the county jail and handles transport of inmates between courts and correctional facilities.

The sheriff's office does not maintain CORI records. Those are handled by DCJIS at the state level. But the sheriff's office does keep its own records of arrests and bookings at the county jail. If you need information about someone who was held at the Hampshire County jail, you can contact the office directly.

Booking records and jail rosters are sometimes available to the public, though the process varies. The sheriff's office can tell you what is on file and what you need to do to request a copy.

Northwestern District Attorney

The Northwestern District Attorney's Office covers both Hampshire and Franklin counties. 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 prosecution of criminal cases in Hampshire County. It does not provide CORI records to the public. But if you have a question about a specific case or need to find out the status of a prosecution, the DA's office may be able to help point you in the right direction.

Victim advocates at the DA's office can help people who were affected by a crime navigate the court system. That includes helping victims understand how to access case records and what options they have.

How to Get Hampshire County Criminal Records

There are three main ways to get criminal history records tied to Hampshire County: through the iCORI online portal, by mail to DCJIS, or in person at the courthouse.

The iCORI portal at icori.chs.state.ma.us is the fastest option. You can make an account and submit a request for your own record. The cost is $25 for a personal CORI request. Results typically come back within 24 to 48 hours. The portal is run by DCJIS and returns the official state-level record, which includes any Hampshire County cases on file.

Mail requests go to DCJIS at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea MA 02150. The same $25 fee applies. Mail requests take around 10 business days. You need to send a completed request form, a copy of your ID, and a check or money order. The DCJIS website has a full guide at mass.gov.

In-person requests can be made at the Hampshire Superior Court clerk's office at 15 Gothic Street in Northampton. You can ask to view case files or get certified copies of court records. Fees for copies vary by document type. Call ahead at (413) 584-5810 to confirm what you need to bring and whether the records you want are available at the clerk's office.

For open access CORI requests, which give a broader view of someone's record, the cost is $50. Organizations that are authorized under state law to request CORI on others must register with DCJIS and comply with the rules in M.G.L. c. 6 §172. Individuals can only request their own CORI through the standard personal request process.

The Massachusetts CORI law overview page on mass.gov is a good place to start if you want to understand the full scope of what CORI includes and who can access it.

Cities in Hampshire County

Hampshire County includes 19 municipalities, with Northampton as the county seat. Other notable towns include Amherst, Easthampton, Hadley, and South Hadley. None of these communities meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Residents across Hampshire County file criminal cases at the courts in Northampton or Belchertown depending on which part of the county they are in. The courthouse at 15 Gothic Street in Northampton serves most of the county.

Nearby Counties

Hampshire County shares borders with several other Massachusetts counties, each with their own courts and criminal record resources.