Criminal Records in Franklin County
Franklin County criminal records are filed through the courts in Greenfield and Orange, and they are part of the statewide Massachusetts records system managed by DCJIS and the Trial Court. Whether you need to look up a specific case, request an official CORI report, or understand how records from Franklin County fit into the state criminal history system, this page covers the local courts, online access tools, and the state-level processes that apply to all Franklin County cases.
Franklin County Overview
Franklin County Courts
Two courts handle the bulk of criminal matters in Franklin County. The Franklin County Superior Court in Greenfield takes on serious felony cases and jury trials. Cases that start in the district courts can be bound over to Superior Court when the charges are serious or when a defendant requests a jury. The Superior Court clerk's office in Greenfield manages all case filings and maintains the official record of proceedings at that level.
The Greenfield District Court handles misdemeanors, lower-level felonies, arraignments, and bail hearings for the western and central parts of the county. The Orange District Court covers the eastern portion, including the town of Orange and surrounding communities. Both district courts feed their case records into the statewide case management system, making them searchable online through masscourts.org.
| Franklin County Superior Court | Greenfield, MA |
|---|---|
| Greenfield District Court | Greenfield, MA |
| Orange District Court | Orange, MA |
The Franklin County Superior Court in Greenfield holds all court records for major criminal cases tried in the county. The clerk's office is open to the public and can assist with case lookups and certified copies during regular hours.
Searching Franklin County Criminal Records Online
The Massachusetts Trial Court runs a free public case search at masscourts.org. It covers every court in the state, including the Franklin County Superior Court, the Greenfield District Court, and the Orange District Court. You can search by name or case number. Results show charges, hearing dates, and case outcomes for cases that have been processed through the system.
This tool is useful for verifying whether a case exists or checking the status of an ongoing matter. It works for both old and recent cases, though very recent filings may take a short time to appear. The search is free and does not require registration. You can run as many searches as you need.
For in-person access, the Franklin County Superior Court in Greenfield has public terminals in the clerk's office. Staff can help locate a case if you know the general time frame and the person's name. Certified copies of case records are available for a fee per page. Contact the clerk's office before visiting if you need many pages of records, since some requests take time to prepare.
Note: Public court records available online or in the clerk's office are not the same as an official CORI report. For official background check purposes, requests must go through the DCJIS iCORI system at mass.gov.
CORI and Franklin County
CORI, or Criminal Offender Record Information, is the official Massachusetts criminal history record managed by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services. Every criminal case filed in a Franklin County court, whether in Greenfield or Orange, feeds into the statewide CORI database. The record is attached to the individual, not the county. A person charged in Greenfield who also had a prior case in Worcester or Springfield would have records from all those courts combined in one CORI report.
CORI is defined under MGL c. 6 § 167. The law spells out what information is included, who can request it, and what restrictions apply. The general public can access some CORI information at a limited level. People who want their own CORI can get it for free. Organizations that have a qualifying need can register with DCJIS and request CORI on individuals for a $25 fee per subject.
CORI records include arrests, charges, arraignments, convictions, and acquittals. They also include cases that ended in dismissal or were otherwise resolved without a conviction. The level of detail visible in a CORI report depends on how the case ended and the requester's access level. Some old records may be outside the lookback window that applies to the public access level.
The Massachusetts CORI information page on mass.gov is the starting point for requesting official CORI reports. It covers how the iCORI portal works, who can request records, and what the process looks like for individuals and organizations.
How to Request CORI Through iCORI
The iCORI portal handles all official CORI requests through the state's online system. Access it through the CORI page on mass.gov. Individuals requesting their own records sign up for an account and go through an identity verification step. The whole setup takes only a few minutes. Once verified, you can submit a request and receive your results electronically. Most requests come back within a few business days.
Organizations that want to request CORI on other people must register with DCJIS. They agree to the rules about CORI use, pay the $25 fee per subject, and submit requests through the same iCORI system. DCJIS reviews all registrations before granting access. Once approved, organizations can run requests as needed within the rules of the law.
If the $25 fee is a hardship, an Affidavit of Indigency can be filed to request a fee waiver. That form is available at any Massachusetts court, including the Franklin County Superior Court and the Greenfield and Orange district courts. DCJIS can be reached at (617) 660-4640 or by mail at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150 for questions about the process.
Sealing and Expungement in Franklin County
Franklin County residents with old criminal records may have options to seal or expunge those records under Massachusetts law. These options apply to records from the Greenfield District Court, the Orange District Court, or the Franklin County Superior Court, just as they do for courts anywhere in the state.
Sealing under MGL c. 276 § 100A lets a person petition to seal a misdemeanor conviction after five years from the end of the sentence and a felony conviction after ten years. If the case ended in dismissal or acquittal, § 100C allows immediate sealing with no waiting period. Sealing does not erase the record. It limits who can see it. Law enforcement can still access sealed records in some circumstances, but they won't appear in public searches or most background checks.
Expungement removes the record from the system entirely. The rules are in MGL c. 276 §§ 100E through 100U. Eligibility is more limited than for sealing. It covers cases involving people under 21 at the time of the offense and certain first-time cases. You file the petition at the court where the case was heard. For Franklin County cases, that means the Greenfield District Court, the Orange District Court, or the Franklin County Superior Court, depending on where the case was processed. Legal aid services in the western Massachusetts region can help you figure out whether your record qualifies.
Law Enforcement in Franklin County
Franklin County is one of the more rural counties in Massachusetts. Local police departments cover the larger towns, while the Massachusetts State Police handles coverage for smaller communities and unincorporated areas. The Greenfield Police Department is the main local agency in the county seat. The Orange Police Department covers the eastern part of the county. Other towns have their own small departments.
Arrest records held by local police are separate from court records. When charges are filed in a Franklin County court, the case becomes part of the statewide court records system. But initial arrest reports, booking records, and police incident reports stay with the arresting department. To get those, you'd contact the relevant department directly. Greenfield PD can be reached at Greenfield City Hall, and the Orange PD is based in Orange Town Hall. Contact information is on each town's official website.
For victim notification, VINE is available in Franklin County at vinelink.com. This free service lets victims register for automatic alerts when an offender's custody status changes. It covers incarceration at the county jail and state facilities.
Sex Offender Registry in Franklin County
The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board lists Level 2 and Level 3 registered sex offenders statewide. You can search for offenders in Franklin County towns, including Greenfield, Orange, and Deerfield, at mass.gov/orgs/sex-offender-registry-board. The search lets you look by zip code or town name. Level 1 offenders are not shown in the public registry. They may still appear in CORI reports depending on the case and the requester's level of access.
The SORB registry is updated regularly. It is a separate system from CORI and from the court records database. Searching SORB does not give you a full criminal history. It only shows current registration status for qualifying offenders.
Cities in Franklin County
Franklin County's main communities include Greenfield (the county seat), Orange, and Deerfield. None of these towns meet the population threshold for a dedicated city records page on this site. For criminal records related to cases from any of these communities, use the court that covers their area. Greenfield and most of the county are served by the Greenfield District Court. Orange and surrounding towns on the eastern side are served by the Orange District Court. Both districts feed into the Franklin County Superior Court for more serious matters. All are searchable online at masscourts.org.
Nearby Counties
Franklin County sits in the northwestern part of Massachusetts, bordered by Hampshire, Worcester, and Berkshire counties. Cases that cross county lines may have records in more than one court system. Use the links below to find criminal records pages for neighboring counties.