Search Boston Criminal Court Records

Boston criminal court records are held at two main courts in the city. The Boston Municipal Court handles most criminal cases filed in the city, while Suffolk Superior Court takes on more serious felony matters. Boston is the only city in Massachusetts with its own municipal court system. You can search criminal court records in Boston through several free and paid tools. The state's MassCourts portal at masscourts.org lets you look up docket entries, case status, and party names from home. In-person visits to the clerk's office give you access to full case files and certified copies of court documents.

Boston Criminal Courts

Boston has a court setup that no other city in the state can match. The Boston Municipal Court, known as BMC, is the main court for criminal cases in the city. It sits at 24 New Chardon Street in downtown Boston. BMC handles misdemeanors, some felonies, and civil matters. The court has eight divisions spread across different parts of the city, but the main hub is the central division downtown. Call BMC at (617) 494-4100 for case info or to ask about records.

Major criminal cases in Boston go to Suffolk Superior Court. This court is at 3 Pemberton Square, just a short walk from BMC. Suffolk Superior handles serious felonies like murder, armed robbery, and drug trafficking charges. The clerk's office at (617) 788-8160 can help you find case files and get copies of court records. Both courts are near the Government Center T stop on the Green and Blue lines.

The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office prosecutes criminal cases in Boston. Their office is at 1 Bulfinch Place. You can reach them at (617) 619-4000 or visit suffolkdistrictattorney.com for case updates and victim services.

How to Search Boston Criminal Records

There are a few ways to search for criminal court records in Boston. The method you pick depends on what you need and how fast you need it. Online searches work well for basic case info. Going to the courthouse in person is best when you need certified copies or want to see a full case file.

MassCourts is the free online portal run by the state court system. It covers BMC and Suffolk Superior Court records. You can search by a person's name or by case number. The site shows docket entries, hearing dates, charges, and case status. Not all records show up online, but it is a good place to start. Visit masscourts.org to run a search. Some older cases may not be in the system. The site works best for cases filed after 2010 or so.

The Boston Police Department keeps its own records of arrests and incident reports. You can get a copy of a police report by going to the Records Unit at Boston Police headquarters. This is not the same as a court record, but it can help fill in details about a case. The BPD also posts a public journal of arrests online.

To search in person, go to the clerk's office at BMC or Suffolk Superior Court. You will need to know:

• The full name of the person
• The case number if you have it
• The year the case was filed
• Which court handled the case

Staff at the clerk's window can look up cases and pull files for you to view. Bring a valid photo ID. You can ask for plain copies or certified copies of any document in a public case file.

The Boston Police Department website provides details on how to get incident reports and arrest logs for Boston criminal court records research.

Incident reports from BPD can supplement the court records you find through MassCourts or the clerk's office at BMC.

Boston CORI Background Checks

A CORI check is the standard way to get a criminal record summary in Massachusetts. CORI stands for Criminal Offender Record Information. The state runs an online system called iCORI that lets anyone run a check on themselves or, with consent, on another person. The fee is $25 per search. Go to icori.chs.state.ma.us to start. You will need the person's full name and date of birth.

CORI reports pull data from courts across the state, not just Boston. If someone has cases in Worcester or Springfield, those show up too. The report lists charges, dispositions, and sentencing info. It does not include sealed or expunged records. Organizations like employers and landlords can also run CORI checks through a separate certified process. Boston residents who want to check their own record before applying for jobs often use iCORI first.

The mass.gov criminal records page has more details on how CORI works, who can access it, and what shows up on a report.

Boston Criminal Court Record Fees

Getting copies of criminal court records in Boston costs money. The fees are set by the state and apply at all Massachusetts courts. Plain copies cost $0.05 per page. Certified copies run $2.50 per page. If you need a certificate of disposition or a letter from the court, that costs $20.

These fees add up fast on big case files. A case with 50 pages of documents would cost $2.50 for plain copies or $125 for certified ones. Most people only need a few key documents, not the whole file. Ask the clerk what specific pages you need before paying for copies. Cash, checks, and money orders are the usual forms of payment at the clerk's window. Some courts now take credit cards too.

If you cannot pay the fees, you can ask for a fee waiver. File an Affidavit of Indigency with the court. The judge will review it and decide if you qualify based on your income.

Note: iCORI background checks cost $25 per search and are separate from court copy fees.

Sealing Criminal Records in Boston

Massachusetts law lets people seal certain criminal records after a waiting period. For misdemeanors, you can ask to seal the record 3 years after the case ends. For felonies, the wait is 7 years. You file a petition with the court that handled your case. In Boston, that means filing at BMC or Suffolk Superior Court, depending on where the original case was heard.

Sealed records do not show up on standard CORI checks. They still exist in the court system, but public access is cut off. Employers and landlords will not see sealed cases. Some jobs in law enforcement, education, and health care have exceptions that allow access to sealed records. The court clerk can give you the forms you need to file a sealing petition. There is no fee to file. A judge reviews the petition and decides if sealing is appropriate based on the facts of the case and your record since then.

Not all crimes can be sealed. Sex offenses and certain violent felonies are not eligible. If you are not sure whether your case qualifies, talk to a lawyer or contact the clerk's office for guidance.

Legal Help in Boston

Greater Boston Legal Services is the main free legal aid group in the city. They help low-income residents with criminal record issues, sealing petitions, and CORI problems. Call (617) 371-1234 to see if you qualify. The Committee for Public Counsel Services provides public defenders for people who cannot afford a lawyer in criminal cases.

The Massachusetts Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service. Call (617) 654-0400 for a referral to a criminal defense attorney. The first meeting is $25 for 30 minutes. Suffolk University Law School also runs a clinical program where law students, supervised by licensed attorneys, help people with criminal record issues for free. Boston has more legal aid resources than most cities in the state, so take advantage of what is available.

Suffolk County Criminal Court Records

Boston is the county seat of Suffolk County. The county also includes Revere, Chelsea, and Winthrop. Suffolk County criminal court records cover all cases filed at BMC, Chelsea District Court, and Suffolk Superior Court. For a full look at the county court system and all its resources, check the Suffolk County page.

View Suffolk County Criminal Court Records

Nearby Cities

Several other cities near Boston have their own criminal court pages. Cambridge is just across the river and uses Cambridge District Court. Quincy sits to the south in Norfolk County. Somerville borders Boston to the north. Brookline is surrounded by the city on three sides. Revere and Everett are also close by and each have their own court arrangements.