Suffolk County Criminal History Records

Suffolk County criminal history records come from multiple sources across Boston and the county's three other municipalities. Whether you need a personal CORI report or want to look up a court case, Massachusetts keeps these records through both a statewide system and local court databases. This guide covers the main offices and tools you can use to find criminal history in Suffolk County, including the courts that handle criminal cases, the Sheriff's office, and the state agency that manages CORI records statewide.

Criminal History in Suffolk County

Suffolk County is the most densely populated county in Massachusetts. It covers just 58 square miles but includes Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop. Criminal cases filed in Suffolk County flow through the Boston Municipal Court system, the Suffolk County Superior Court, and several district courts. All of that activity eventually feeds into the state's Criminal Offender Record Information system, known as CORI, which is maintained by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS).

CORI records cover arrests, charges, dispositions, and some incarceration data. Under M.G.L. c. 6, § 167, the CORI system is the official repository for criminal offender information in Massachusetts. What shows up on a CORI report depends on the offense level and how long ago the case concluded. Certain records are sealed or inaccessible to the general public, especially older cases. The law governing access and sealing is found at M.G.L. c. 6, § 172, and record sealing rules fall under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A.

Suffolk County generates more criminal case volume than any other county in the state. Boston alone accounts for a large share of all filings. If you are looking up a specific person's record or checking the status of a case, you have more than one tool available, and the right one depends on what you need.

Suffolk County Superior Court

The Suffolk County Superior Court handles serious felony cases, including murders, armed robberies, and major drug offenses. It sits at 3 Pemberton Square in Boston, which is the center of the county's court district. The phone number for the clerk's office is (617) 788-8300. This court also handles cases appealed up from the district courts when a jury trial is requested. Felony cases that begin at the district court level and are not resolved there can be indicted and transferred to Superior Court for trial.

Court records from the Superior Court are available through the Massachusetts Court System case portal. The portal lets you search by case number or party name and see docket entries, scheduled hearings, and case status. Copies of documents cost $2.50 per page for certified copies and $0.05 per page for non-certified copies. You can request copies in person at the clerk's office or by mail.

The Suffolk County Superior Court page on Mass.gov lists current contact details, hours, and directions. The court is open Monday through Friday during standard business hours. If you need a specific case file and cannot visit in person, written requests to the clerk's office are accepted by mail.

The Massachusetts court system official site shows the full location and contact details for the Superior Court.

The Superior Court handles the most serious criminal matters in Suffolk County and is the primary court of record for felony cases.

Boston Municipal Court and District Courts

Most criminal cases in Suffolk County start in the Boston Municipal Court (BMC) or one of the other district courts. The BMC is unique in Massachusetts. No other county has a municipal court system like it. It operates eight divisions across Boston's neighborhoods: Central, Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, Roxbury, South Boston, West Roxbury, and Brighton. Each division covers a geographic area and handles cases that arise there.

Chelsea and Revere each have their own district courts. The Chelsea District Court serves Chelsea, and the Revere District Court serves Revere. Winthrop cases are typically handled through the East Boston Division of the Boston Municipal Court. District courts handle misdemeanors, lower-level felonies, and arraignments for all criminal charges before they move to Superior Court if needed.

You can find case records from all BMC divisions and the district courts through the statewide court portal at masscourts.org. Not every case has full documents online, but docket entries and hearing dates are generally available. The Boston Municipal Court main page has contact info for all eight divisions. Each division has its own phone number and address if you need to contact a specific location.

The Boston Municipal Court system page on Mass.gov provides access to all eight divisions and their locations.

The BMC handles a high volume of criminal cases across Boston's neighborhoods, making it one of the busiest court systems in New England.

Suffolk County Sheriff's Office

The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office is located at 200 Nashua Street, Boston, MA 02114. The main phone number is (617) 635-1000. Sheriff Steven W. Tompkins leads the office. The Sheriff oversees the county's jail and house of correction, which means this office holds people who are awaiting trial or serving sentences of up to 2.5 years. Records of incarceration and court-ordered custody are managed through this office.

The Probate and Family Court for Suffolk County is also located in Boston, at 24 New Chardon Street. The phone number is (617) 788-8301. While the Probate Court does not handle criminal cases directly, it does manage certain records that can appear in a broader criminal background search, such as guardianship and commitment matters.

The official page for the Suffolk Probate and Family Court is available through Mass.gov for address, hours, and contact information.

The Probate and Family Court page on Mass.gov shows the court's full contact information and services.

The Probate Court at 24 New Chardon Street handles matters separate from criminal cases but is part of the county's broader court network.

District Attorney for Suffolk County

The Suffolk County District Attorney's office is at 1 Bulfinch Place, Boston, MA 02114. The phone number is (617) 619-4000. DA Kevin R. Hayden leads the office. The DA prosecutes criminal cases in both the Boston Municipal Court and Suffolk County Superior Court. This office does not provide public criminal record lookups, but it is the agency that brings charges and handles case outcomes that end up in CORI records.

If you have a question about a specific case or need to speak with a victim advocate, the DA's office has staff to help. Victims of crime can also request certain case-related records through the office's victim services division. For general public record requests, though, CORI requests and court record copies are handled through the state DCJIS system and the court clerk's offices.

How to Access Criminal History Records

There are two main ways to get criminal history information in Suffolk County. The first is through the state CORI system. The second is through the court case portal. Each gives you different information, and you may need both depending on what you are looking for.

For a CORI report, you can request your own record online through the iCORI portal. This is the official self-request system run by DCJIS. The fee is $25 for a personal CORI. If you want an open-access CORI that shows a broader record, the fee is $50. The DCJIS office is at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150, and the phone number is (617) 660-4600. You can also find a step-by-step guide on the state's how to request CORI as an individual page. Full background on the law is at the Massachusetts law about criminal records (CORI) page.

For court case records, use the masscourts.org portal. You can search by name or case number. Results show docket entries, scheduled dates, and basic case details. Copies of specific documents can be ordered from the clerk's office in the court where the case was filed. Certified copies cost $2.50 per page. Non-certified copies are $0.05 per page. In-person requests are fastest, but mail requests are accepted at all courts.

Some older records, especially from cases decades ago, may not appear in the online portal. For those, you would need to contact the specific court clerk's office directly. Suffolk County Superior Court, the BMC divisions, and the district courts each hold their own case files.

Cities in Suffolk County

Suffolk County includes four municipalities. Boston and Revere have dedicated pages with more detail on local criminal history resources.

Nearby Counties

Suffolk County borders several other Massachusetts counties. Each has its own court system and criminal history resources.