Boston Criminal Records

Boston criminal records are maintained across several courts and agencies, including the Boston Municipal Court system, Suffolk County Superior Court, and the statewide CORI system managed by DCJIS. Residents and requesters can search Boston criminal records online through the iCORI portal at mass.gov or through the free public case search at masscourts.org. This page covers how to find criminal case information, request official records, and connect with the right court or agency for your needs in Boston.

Boston Municipal Court

Boston is served by the Boston Municipal Court system, which is unique in Massachusetts. Rather than a single district court, Boston has eight BMC divisions. Each one covers specific neighborhoods. The Central Division handles cases from downtown Boston, Chinatown, the North End, South End, West End, and Beacon Hill. It also runs a Mental Health Court and a Veterans' Treatment Court, both of which deal with criminal matters in specialized ways.

If you need criminal records from a specific part of the city, you may need to contact the right BMC division. Each division keeps its own docket. The Central Division is the main starting point for most Boston criminal case lookups. More serious felony cases go to Suffolk County Superior Court at 3 Pemberton Square. The criminal clerk there is on the 14th floor and can be reached at (617) 788-8160.

Superior Court cases in Suffolk County can also be searched at masscourts.org. Select Suffolk County Criminal when you run your search there.

Search Boston Criminal Records Online

Two main tools let you search Boston criminal records without visiting a courthouse. The first is masscourts.org, which is a free public portal run by the Massachusetts Trial Court. You can search by name, date of birth, or case number. Results show case status, charges filed, and scheduled hearing dates. This works for both BMC and Superior Court cases going back many years.

The second tool is the iCORI system. This provides official Criminal Offender Record Information through DCJIS. Anyone can request a CORI through the iCORI portal at mass.gov/cori. The standard fee is $25 per subject. If you are checking your own record, you can do so once per year for free. The iCORI system pulls from statewide data and includes all Boston cases filed in any Massachusetts court.

The Massachusetts court system page at mass.gov provides an overview of all courts and their roles. The screenshot below shows what that page looks like.

From there you can navigate to court locations, contact details, and case search tools for Boston and every other court statewide.

The Trial Court also offers a direct case search at mass.gov/case-search. The screenshot below shows that search interface.

Use this tool to look up dockets, scheduled hearings, and case outcomes for criminal matters across all Boston courts.

Requesting Boston Criminal Records in Person or by Mail

To get certified copies of case records, go to the clerk's office at the BMC division that handled the case. Bring a valid photo ID. Staff can pull dockets, charging documents, and dispositions. Fees for copies vary but are typically $1 to $2.50 per page depending on the document type. There is no appointment needed at most divisions, but arriving before 4:00 PM is wise to allow enough time.

Mail requests are also accepted at each BMC division. Write to the clerk's office at the address of the division you need. Include the full name of the subject, date of birth, approximate case year, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Certified copies need a check or money order made out to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Processing times for mail requests can range from one to three weeks.

You can also request records through the iCORI system by mail. Send a completed CORI request form and a $25 payment to DCJIS at 200 Arlington Street, Chelsea, MA 02150. Processing is usually 5 to 10 business days. If you cannot pay the fee, an Affidavit of Indigency may allow a waiver. Ask the clerk's office for that form.

Boston Police Department Records

The Boston Police Department keeps arrest records, incident reports, and other law enforcement records. These are separate from court records. BPD records cover what happened at the time of an arrest or incident. Court records show what happened after charges were filed. Both types may be relevant depending on what you need.

Submit public records requests through the portal at police.boston.gov. You can ask for incident reports, arrest logs, and other police records. The first four hours of staff time are free. After that, fees up to $25 per hour may apply. Most basic incident reports come back within 10 business days.

Suffolk County District Attorney

The Suffolk DA's office handles prosecution of criminal cases in Boston and throughout Suffolk County. They do not maintain public records for general requests, but their office can be a contact point for case questions if you are a victim or party to a case.

What CORI Covers in Boston

CORI stands for Criminal Offender Record Information. It is defined under MGL c. 6 § 167 and includes records of arraignments, convictions, and dispositions from Massachusetts courts. Boston cases filed in any BMC division or in Suffolk Superior Court will appear in a CORI report if they resulted in an arraignment.

Not everything shows up. Sealed records do not appear. Some older misdemeanor convictions may be hidden after a waiting period if no new offenses occurred. Juvenile records are generally not part of CORI unless the juvenile was tried as an adult. What stays visible depends on the nature of the offense and how much time has passed since the case ended.

CORI is managed statewide by DCJIS, which stands for the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services. Their office is at 200 Arlington Street in Chelsea. You can reach them at (617) 660-4640 or find more at mass.gov/dcjis. The iCORI portal is the primary way to request an official CORI report for any subject in Massachusetts, including anyone with a Boston criminal record.

Sealing and Expungement of Boston Criminal Records

If you have a criminal record from a Boston court, you may be able to seal or expunge it under Massachusetts law. These are two different processes with different effects.

Sealing hides a record from most public view but does not destroy it. Under MGL c. 276 § 100A, you can petition to seal a record after a waiting period. For misdemeanors, the wait is three years from the end of your case. For felonies, it is seven years. Some offenses are not eligible. Once sealed, the record will not show on a standard CORI check, but courts and law enforcement can still see it.

Expungement goes further. Under MGL c. 276 §§ 100E-100U, certain records can be destroyed entirely. Expungement applies to cases where charges were dismissed, resulted in a not guilty finding, or involved youthful offender matters in limited situations. The law also allows expungement when an offense was later decriminalized. If your record is expunged, it will not appear on any standard background check.

To start either process, file a petition at the BMC division or Superior Court that handled your case. Legal aid groups in Boston can help if you cannot afford an attorney. Greater Boston Legal Services can be reached at (617) 603-1700.

Sex Offender Registry in Boston

The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) keeps a public list of registered sex offenders. The registry is searchable at mass.gov/sorb. You can look up offenders by name or find those near a specific address.

SORB levels matter. Level 1 offenders are not listed publicly. Level 2 and Level 3 offenders appear on the public registry. If you need information on an offender not listed publicly, you can submit a written request to SORB. The SORB registry is separate from CORI and operates under its own legal rules. It covers sex offenses specifically and is not a general criminal record search.

Suffolk County Criminal Records

Boston is in Suffolk County. For broader county court info and resources, visit the county page.

View Suffolk County Criminal Records

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Boston and each has its own criminal records page with local court and agency contacts.