Plymouth County Criminal History Search
Plymouth County criminal history records come from two main sources: the state CORI system managed by DCJIS and the court case records held at the Superior Courts in Brockton and Plymouth. The county covers 27 municipalities spread across 661 square miles, from Brockton in the north down to the Cape Cod Canal, and includes busy courts that handle a large volume of criminal cases each year. This page explains how to find criminal records tied to Plymouth County through official state tools and local court offices.
Plymouth County Overview
Criminal History Records in Plymouth County
Criminal history records in Plymouth County are split between two systems. The first is the state CORI database, which stands for Criminal Offender Record Information. DCJIS, the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services, runs this system at the state level. It holds records of arraignments, charges, court findings, and sentences for cases filed anywhere in Massachusetts, including all Plymouth County courts. The second system is the state court database, which holds docket-level detail on individual cases.
CORI records cover cases from district courts, the superior court, and other trial court divisions. Under M.G.L. c. 6, § 167, CORI includes records of criminal complaints, indictments, and dispositions. Not every arrest leads to a CORI record. A record is created when a person is arraigned in court. Cases that end in dismissal before arraignment may not appear. Records that are sealed or expunged under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A may not show up in a standard CORI request either.
Plymouth County has one of the larger court systems in eastern Massachusetts. Cases here range from minor misdemeanors handled in district court to serious felonies tried in Superior Court. The DA's office, the sheriff's office, and four district courts all feed records into the statewide systems. Anyone who wants to look up a criminal record tied to Plymouth County should start with iCORI or MassCourts, both described below.
Plymouth County Superior Courts
Plymouth County has two Superior Court locations. This is unusual for Massachusetts. Most counties have one. Both handle serious felony cases, major civil matters, and jury trials. Criminal records from Superior Court include indictments, plea entries, trial verdicts, and sentencing orders. These records are public and can be searched through MassCourts or requested in person at the clerk's office.
The Plymouth location sits at 52 Obery Street and serves cases from the southern part of the county. The Brockton location at 215 Main Street serves the northern section. If you are looking for a specific case, you may need to check both locations unless you know where the case was tried. Court staff can help identify the right location.
The official state page for the Plymouth Superior Court lists contact details, hours, and services. Visit the Plymouth County Superior Court page on mass.gov to confirm current hours and find directions.
The mass.gov page above shows both Superior Court locations in Plymouth County along with clerk contact details for each site.
| Brockton Location | 215 Main Street, Brockton MA 02303 |
|---|---|
| Brockton Phone | (508) 897-5400 |
| Plymouth Location | 52 Obery Street, Plymouth MA 02360 |
| Plymouth Phone | (508) 747-6204 |
| Case Search | masscourts.org |
District Courts in Plymouth County
Plymouth County has four district courts. District courts handle misdemeanors, low-level felonies, arraignments, bail hearings, and many other criminal proceedings. A large share of criminal cases in the county start and end in district court. Records from these courts are part of the state court system and can be searched online.
The four district courts in Plymouth County are:
- Brockton District Court - 215 Main Street, Brockton MA 02303. This is one of the busiest district courts in the state. It covers Brockton and several nearby towns.
- Hingham District Court - Serves the northern coastal communities including Hingham, Cohasset, and surrounding towns.
- Plymouth District Court - 52 Obery Street, Plymouth MA 02360. Covers Plymouth and the towns in the central and southern part of the county.
- Wareham District Court - Serves Wareham, Marion, Mattapoisett, and other towns near the county's western edge.
All four courts feed case data into MassCourts. You can search by name or docket number at masscourts.org to find cases from any of these courts. The search is free. Results show docket entries, hearing dates, charges, and case outcomes. Some older records may not appear online. For those, you need to visit the clerk's office at the right court.
Copy fees at Plymouth County district courts follow the statewide schedule. Certified copies cost $2.50 per page. Non-certified copies cost $0.05 per page. You pay these fees at the clerk's window when you request records in person.
Plymouth Probate and Family Court
The Plymouth Probate and Family Court is located at 52 Obery Street in Plymouth, with a second location at 215 Main Street in Brockton. While this court mainly handles estates, guardianships, and family matters, it also maintains records that can be relevant to someone researching a person's legal history in the county. Restraining orders and harassment prevention orders, for example, are part of the Probate and Family Court record system.
The state page for this court provides details on services, hours, and how to request records. See the Plymouth Probate and Family Court page on mass.gov for current contact information.
The probate registry handles case filings and can provide copies of court orders. The registry website at plymouthcountyprobate.com has online access to some court information.
The Plymouth County Probate Registry provides online access to probate records and allows users to search cases by name, estate number, or date range.
Sheriff and District Attorney
Two offices play a key role in the Plymouth County criminal justice system outside the courts: the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office and the Plymouth County District Attorney's Office.
The Plymouth County Sheriff runs the county jail and house of correction. The Sheriff's Office is located at 26 Long Pond Road in Plymouth, MA 02360. You can reach them by phone at (508) 830-6200. Sheriff Joseph D. McDonald Jr. currently heads this office. The sheriff's department maintains inmate records for people held in Plymouth County custody. For general information on the Sheriff's Office, visit plymouthcountysheriff.com.
The Plymouth County District Attorney's Office prosecutes criminal cases in all Plymouth County courts. DA Timothy J. Cruz leads this office. The DA is located at 32 Belmont Street in Brockton, MA 02303. You can reach the office by phone at (508) 584-8120. The DA's office does not maintain a public records search portal, but you can contact them for questions about cases that have been prosecuted in Plymouth County courts.
Records of convictions, sentences, and probation terms flow from the courts to state systems. The DA's office keeps its own case files, but those are not part of public CORI access. For criminal history on a specific person, use the iCORI system or MassCourts rather than contacting the DA directly.
How to Access Plymouth County Criminal Records
There are three main ways to get criminal history information tied to Plymouth County: through iCORI, through MassCourts, or by going in person to a court clerk's office.
iCORI Online Portal: iCORI is the state's official system for requesting CORI records. You can find it at icori.chs.state.ma.us. To get your own CORI, you create an account, verify your identity, and submit a request. Personal CORI requests cost $25. Turnaround is typically 24 to 48 hours online. If you prefer mail, you can request a CORI by post through DCJIS at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea MA 02150. Mail requests take about 10 business days. The full request guide is at mass.gov.
MassCourts Case Lookup: For court docket records, go to masscourts.org. This free tool lets you search by name or docket number. You can see charges filed, court dates, and how cases ended. It covers all Plymouth County courts. Not all old cases are in the system, but most cases from the last two decades are there. The search is free and does not require an account.
In-Person Court Requests: You can walk into any Plymouth County court clerk's office and ask for records. You need to know the person's name or the case number. Certified copies cost $2.50 per page. Non-certified copies cost $0.05 per page. Staff at the clerk's office can help you search. Bring a photo ID. Hours are generally Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, though it is smart to call ahead.
Under M.G.L. c. 6, § 172, CORI records have access rules that limit who can see certain types of records and under what conditions. Public access is available for cases with guilty findings and for open, pending cases. Sealed or dismissed records have more limited access. If a record has been sealed under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A, it will not appear in most requests.
Cities in Plymouth County
Plymouth County includes 27 cities and towns. The two largest communities with individual pages on this site are Brockton and Plymouth.
Other communities in Plymouth County include Abington, Bridgewater, Carver, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Kingston, Lakeville, Marion, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Middleborough, Norwell, Pemberton, Plympton, Rockland, Scituate, Wareham, West Bridgewater, Whitman, and others. Cases from these towns are handled at the nearest Plymouth County district court.
Nearby Counties
Plymouth County borders three other Massachusetts counties. If you are unsure which county handles a case, check the town where the case originated.