Access Brookline Criminal Court Records
Brookline criminal court records are filed at the Brookline District Court and Norfolk Superior Court. Brookline is a town in Norfolk County with about 63,000 residents, bordered on three sides by Boston. Despite its close ties to the city, Brookline has its own District Court right on Washington Street. The court handles misdemeanor and lesser felony cases from the town. Felony matters that get indicted move to Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham. You can search for Brookline criminal cases online through MassCourts or visit the clerk's office at either court to get copies of case records.
Brookline Overview
Brookline District Court Criminal Records
The Brookline District Court is at 360 Washington Street in Brookline. This court handles misdemeanor charges, motor vehicle offenses, and lesser felonies from the town. The clerk's office manages case files and processes public records requests. Walk-in requests are taken during regular business hours.
To get copies of Brookline criminal court records, visit the clerk's office with the defendant's full name or docket number. Staff will pull the file and make copies while you wait if the case is recent. Older records stored offsite may take a few days. Call ahead at (617) 232-4660 to check availability. Bring a valid photo ID. The Brookline District Court page on mass.gov lists the court's hours, directions, and available services.
Brookline District Court is easy to reach by public transit. The MBTA Green Line C branch stops at Coolidge Corner, which is a short walk from the courthouse. Street parking near the court can be tight during business hours, so the T may be your best bet.
| Court | Brookline District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 360 Washington St Brookline, MA 02445 |
| Phone | (617) 232-4660 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
The screenshot below shows the Brookline District Court page on mass.gov with contact and service details.
Check this page for the latest hours, phone numbers, and forms for the Brookline District Court.
Norfolk Superior Court for Brookline Cases
Serious felony cases from Brookline go to Norfolk Superior Court. The courthouse is at 650 High Street in Dedham, which is the Norfolk County seat. Indicted cases for crimes like drug trafficking, armed robbery, and serious assault charges from Brookline get transferred here from the District Court.
The criminal clerk at Norfolk Superior Court can be reached at (781) 329-7775. You request records the same way you would at the district level. Provide a name or docket number, and the clerk will pull the file. Copies cost the same as at Brookline District Court. Dedham is about a 15-minute drive from Brookline, or you can take the commuter rail to Route 128 station and get a short ride from there.
Norfolk Superior Court handles felony cases from all 28 cities and towns in Norfolk County. That includes Brookline, Quincy, Weymouth, and many others. The volume of cases means the clerk's office stays busy, so plan for a possible wait if you visit in person.
How to Search Brookline Criminal Records
The MassCourts portal is the state's free online search tool. It covers Brookline District Court and Norfolk Superior Court. You can pull up case status, docket entries, and hearing dates. The system works 24 hours a day from any computer with internet access.
Criminal cases on MassCourts require a docket number to search. Name searches do not return results for criminal matters. If you need the docket number, call the Brookline District Court clerk at (617) 232-4660 and ask them to look it up by the defendant's name. Once you have the number, you can track the case online from there. This is the same process at every court in Massachusetts.
For background checks, use the iCORI portal. Your own record is free once a year. Checking someone else costs $25. CORI results cover all Massachusetts courts, not just Brookline. The system is managed by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services. More details are on the criminal records topic page on mass.gov.
Brookline Criminal Case Resources
The Norfolk County District Attorney's Office prosecutes criminal cases from Brookline. The DA's main office is in Canton. They handle everything from shoplifting cases to major felonies. You can contact them for case updates or victim and witness services.
Police reports are not part of the court file. If you need an arrest report or incident report from a Brookline case, you have to get it from the Brookline Police Department. The court record starts with the complaint or indictment. The police record covers the investigation that led to the arrest. These are two different systems.
The Norfolk County Sheriff's Office manages the county jail and correctional center. You can look up current inmates through their site. This only covers people who are in custody right now, not past inmates.
Brookline Court Record Copy Fees
Copy fees at Brookline District Court and Norfolk Superior Court follow the state schedule. You pay when you pick up your records at the clerk's window.
- Non-certified copies: $0.05 per page
- Certified copies: $2.50 per page
- Certificate of order or judgment: $20.00
- CORI check (someone else): $25.00
Mail requests are an option. Send a check or money order to the clerk's office along with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Include the defendant's name, docket number, and what you need. Allow 5 to 10 business days. If you cannot afford the fees, file an Affidavit of Indigency with the court. The judge will review it and decide if you qualify for a waiver.
Sealing Criminal Records in Brookline
You can petition to seal a Brookline criminal record after enough time has passed. Misdemeanors can be sealed 3 years from the disposition date. Felonies take 7 years. File at the court that handled your case, which is Brookline District Court for most local matters.
Dismissed cases and not guilty verdicts can be sealed right away under M.G.L. c. 276, section 100C. There is no fee for filing a sealing petition. Once the court approves it, the record no longer shows on CORI checks. Employers and landlords will not see it. The forms are on mass.gov and free to download. You can also ask for help at the Norfolk County Law Library in the Dedham courthouse.
Norfolk County Criminal Court Records
Brookline is part of Norfolk County. Criminal cases from the town go through Brookline District Court or Norfolk Superior Court in Dedham. The county has multiple District Courts and one Superior Court location. For more on the full Norfolk County court system, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Brookline also have criminal court records pages: