Medford Criminal Records
Medford criminal records are filed and maintained at the Somerville District Court and the Middlesex County Superior Court in Woburn. This page covers how to find criminal records tied to Medford, how the state's CORI system works, and where to go for police records, court case lookups, and other public records requests in Middlesex County, Massachusetts.
Medford Overview
Somerville District Court — Serves Medford
Medford criminal cases at the misdemeanor and lower felony level are heard at the Somerville District Court, not a Medford-based courthouse. The Somerville court handles arraignments, bail hearings, and case filings for both Medford and Somerville. If you need a docket printout or a certified copy of a case record involving a Medford defendant, this is the clerk's office to contact.
| Address | 175 Fellsway, Somerville, MA 02145 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (617) 666-8000 |
| Hours | Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Parking | Free lot behind courthouse |
| Serves | Medford and Somerville |
| Website | mass.gov/locations/somerville-district-court |
The Somerville District Court's page on mass.gov lists current hours, contact numbers, and links to the statewide case search portal. The image below shows the official court listing where you can confirm the court's location and current status.
Free parking behind the courthouse makes in-person visits more straightforward. Call ahead to confirm any fees for certified copies before you make the trip.
Middlesex County Superior Court
Felony criminal cases from Medford are tried at the Middlesex County Superior Court in Woburn. This includes grand jury indictments, serious felony trials, and appeals from the district court level. The Superior Court clerk's office in Woburn handles records access for these cases.
| Address | 200 Trade Center, Woburn, MA |
|---|---|
| Phone | (781) 939-2700 |
If you're not sure whether your case was heard at the district or superior court level, the online case search at masscourts.org is the easiest way to find out. Search by name and look at the court column in the results.
Search Medford Criminal Records Online
Two free online tools let you search for Medford criminal records without visiting a courthouse.
The Massachusetts Trial Court case search at masscourts.org covers district, superior, and appeals court records across the entire state. You can search by name, case number, or court. Results typically show charges, hearing dates, case status, and dispositions. Cases tied to Medford defendants will be filed under Somerville District Court for misdemeanor matters. Most cases from the mid-1990s onward are in the system, but older records may need to be retrieved in person.
The second tool is iCORI, run by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS). iCORI is the state portal for requesting Criminal Offender Record Information. You can request your own CORI for $25. Authorized agencies can also run CORI checks through iCORI. Call DCJIS at (617) 660-4640 if you have questions about your record or need help logging in.
The CORI page on mass.gov explains what information the system contains and who can see what. The CORI law page covers the statutes that govern access and how records can be challenged or corrected.
Medford Police Department Records
The Medford Police Department holds records on arrests and incidents handled by Medford officers. These records are separate from what you'll find in the court system. Police reports don't always make it into the court database, especially for incidents where no charges were filed.
| Address | 100 Main Street, Medford, MA 02155 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (781) 391-6760 |
| Records Division Hours | Mon – Fri, 8:30 AM – 1:00 PM and 2:00 PM – 4:30 PM |
Note the midday break in the Records Division schedule. If you call or visit just before or after lunch, staff may not be available. Massachusetts public records law (MGL c. 66 § 10) gives you the right to request records held by the department. Requests should describe the record you need as clearly as possible — date of incident, names involved, and case or report number if you have it.
What Is CORI?
CORI is the acronym for Criminal Offender Record Information. It is Massachusetts' central database for criminal history records. The system covers arrests, charges, convictions, and case outcomes from all courts in the state. CORI is defined under MGL c. 6 § 167 and managed by DCJIS.
Access to CORI is tiered. The general public can see only certain conviction data. More complete records are available to authorized employers in specific industries, courts, law enforcement agencies, and others who qualify under state law. Any individual can always request their own full CORI. Doing so before a background check runs is a smart way to spot errors or outdated entries.
CORI records may include dismissed charges and not-guilty findings in addition to convictions. These entries carry stricter access rules, but they still exist in the system. If you have entries you think are wrong or should be removed, the sealing and expungement processes described below can help.
Sealing and Expungement in Medford
Massachusetts offers two ways to limit access to your criminal record: sealing and expungement. They are not the same thing.
Sealing under MGL c. 276 § 100A hides your record from the public CORI database. Law enforcement and courts can still see sealed records, but they won't show up in standard background checks. You can petition to seal a misdemeanor conviction after a 5-year waiting period and a felony conviction after 10 years. The clock starts at the end of the sentence or supervision period. Dismissed charges can often be sealed more quickly.
Expungement under MGL c. 276 §§ 100E-100U destroys the record entirely. This is a stronger outcome than sealing, but it applies in fewer situations. The law covers first-time offenses that meet certain criteria and cases where the defendant was a juvenile at the time. If you're not sure which process fits your situation, the Middlesex County courthouse clerk can point you to the right forms, or you can reach out to a legal aid organization in the area.
Sex Offender Registry
The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) maintains a free, searchable public database of registered sex offenders. This is distinct from the CORI system. You can search by name, city, or zip code. Individuals registered in Medford who are classified as Level 2 or Level 3 offenders are publicly listed. Level 1 offenders do not appear in the public registry.
SORB updates the registry on a regular basis. If a registered offender's address or classification changes, the database reflects that. Contact SORB through mass.gov if you need to report a compliance issue or have a question about a specific registration.
Middlesex County Criminal Records
Medford is in Middlesex County. The county courts handle all serious felony cases for the area. For full county court info, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
Medford is bordered by several cities that also use Middlesex County courts for criminal case filings.