Find Norfolk County Criminal Records

Norfolk County criminal records are maintained by the Superior Court in Dedham and five district courts spread across the county's cities and towns, covering roughly 725,000 residents in the area south of Boston that includes Quincy, Brookline, Weymouth, and dozens of smaller communities. Cases range from misdemeanors handled at the district court level to serious felonies tried at the Superior Court, and knowing which court handled the specific matter you need is the key first step in any Norfolk County criminal records search.

Norfolk County Superior Court Criminal Records

The Norfolk County Superior Court handles the most serious criminal cases filed in the county. Its jurisdiction covers all felonies, first-degree murder, and civil cases over $50,000. The court also handles medical malpractice matters. It is the main source for the most significant Norfolk County criminal records, including full trial transcripts, dockets, judgments, and sentencing records.

The Superior Court is in Dedham on High Street, a short distance from the center of town. The clerk's office is open Monday through Friday. In-person visits work well for most requests. You can also submit written requests by mail to the address below. The first four hours of search time are free, and after that the rate is $25 per hour. Regular copies cost $1 per page. Certified copies are $3 per page.

The Norfolk County Superior Court page on mass.gov has up-to-date contact information, directions, and notes on available services. It is worth checking before you visit, especially if you need a specific type of certified record.

The mass.gov page for Norfolk County Superior Court provides the official address, phone numbers, and hours for requesting criminal records, certified copies, and case information in Dedham.

Norfolk County District Courts and Criminal Records

Five district courts cover Norfolk County. Each one holds criminal records for its specific service area, and filing location depends on where the offense took place. District courts handle misdemeanors, lower-level felonies, civil cases under $50,000, small claims, and eviction matters.

The Quincy District Court has the largest service area in terms of population, covering major communities like Quincy, Weymouth, and Braintree. If you are unsure which district court filed a specific case, use the free public search at masscourts.org to look up the case by name or case number. That will show you the filing court, the charges, and the case status without any cost or registration.

Norfolk County Criminal Records Through CORI

CORI, the Criminal Offender Record Information system, is the state's official criminal history database and the most complete source for Norfolk County criminal records. It covers every arraignment, charge, and disposition filed in any Massachusetts state court and is maintained by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS).

The standard CORI fee is $25 per subject. You can request your own record once per year at no charge through the iCORI online portal. Mail requests also work, but they take two to three weeks and require the Adult Personal CORI Request Form with notarization, a $25 payment or Affidavit of Indigency, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Send mail requests to DCJIS at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150.

More information about what CORI includes and how to request it is available at the official CORI page at mass.gov. The CORI law overview page explains the governing statutes in plain language, covering who can access what and under what conditions.

CORI access rules fall under MGL Chapter 6, Sections 167 through 178. Individuals have the right to see their own complete CORI report at any time. Organizations that access CORI on other people must qualify under specific categories and follow strict rules on how they store and handle that information. Fee waivers are available through an Affidavit of Indigency for people whose income is at or below 125% of the federal poverty level.

CORI does not include federal cases or records from other states. If a record has been sealed, it won't appear. Sealing is available after five years for misdemeanors and ten years for felonies under MGL c. 276 Section 100A, and right away for dismissals and not guilty findings under Section 100C. Expungement is a separate process governed by MGL c. 276 Sections 100E through 100U and removes the record entirely for those who qualify.

Norfolk County Sheriff and Inmate Records

The Norfolk County Sheriff's Office operates a jail and house of correction in Dedham. The facility holds pre-trial detainees and people sentenced to terms of up to two and a half years. The Sheriff also maintains arrest records, booking information, warrant data, and daily arrest logs as part of its official records.

Norfolk County offers a free online inmate search tool. You can search the current inmate population by name without registering, and the database is updated daily. This is a convenient way to check whether someone is currently held at the facility before making a phone call.

The Norfolk County Sheriff's website provides access to the online inmate search tool and contact information for the facility at 200 West Street in Dedham, where you can request booking records and other Sheriff-held criminal records for Norfolk County.

You can also track inmate status alerts using the VINE system at vinelink.com. VINE covers facilities across Massachusetts and can notify you by phone or email when a person's custody status changes. This is useful if you want to know when someone is released, transferred, or has a court date coming up.

Police Records in Norfolk County

Arrest records, incident reports, and investigation files in Norfolk County are maintained by individual city and town police departments. There is no central county records office for police records. Each department handles its own public records requests separately.

Three of the larger departments in the county have the following procedures:

Weymouth's NextRequest portal lets you submit a public records request online, which is more convenient than going in person. Quincy also has an online request form available through their city website. For towns without an online option, written requests in person or by mail are standard. Under MGL c. 66 Section 10, agencies must respond within ten business days.

Norfolk Probate and Family Court

The Norfolk Probate and Family Court handles guardianship, conservatorship, adoption, and domestic relations matters. While probate records are not criminal records, they sometimes come up in the context of related legal proceedings.

Note that this court is in Canton, not Dedham where the Superior Court is located. The two are separate facilities with different functions.

Sex Offender Registry for Norfolk County

Sex offender registration information for people living or working in Norfolk County is maintained by the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board. Level 2 and Level 3 registrants appear in the public database and can be searched by name, town, or zip code at the SORB website. The search is free and shows the person's photo, offense history, and registration tier. Level 1 offenders are not listed publicly.

Cities in Norfolk County

Three cities in Norfolk County have dedicated criminal records pages with local court details, police contacts, and access information specific to each city.

Nearby Counties

Norfolk County is surrounded by five other Massachusetts counties. Each has its own court system and criminal records offices.