Access Berkshire County Criminal Court Records
Berkshire County criminal court records are kept at the Superior Court and three district courts in the westernmost part of Massachusetts. The county seat is Pittsfield, where the Superior Court and main district court are located. Criminal cases from all 32 towns and cities in the county pass through this court system. You can look up records online through the MassCourts system or visit a courthouse in person. The clerk's office at each court can help you track down docket sheets, case filings, and copies of court orders. Berkshire County covers a large rural area, so the three district courts are spread out to serve the northern, central, and southern parts of the county.
Berkshire County Overview
Berkshire Superior Court Criminal Cases
Berkshire Superior Court is at 76 East Street in Pittsfield. This court handles all felony criminal cases in the county. The phone number is (413) 442-6941. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The clerk's office manages all case files and can help you search for records.
Felony cases start at the district court level with an arraignment. After a grand jury hands down an indictment, the case moves to Superior Court for trial. Serious crimes like armed robbery, drug trafficking, and violent offenses are tried here. The clerk can look up cases by name or docket number. You can also check the Berkshire Superior Court page on mass.gov for court contact info and directions to the courthouse.
To get copies of criminal records from the Superior Court, visit the clerk's office or send a mail request. Include the case name or docket number and the specific documents you want. Non-certified copies are $0.05 per page. Attested copies cost $2.50 per page. Certificates of court orders run $20 each. Mail requests take two to three weeks.
| Court | Berkshire Superior Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 76 East Street Pittsfield, MA 01201 |
| Phone | (413) 442-6941 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| berkshire.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us |
Berkshire County District Courts
Three district courts serve Berkshire County. They handle misdemeanors, arraignments, and preliminary hearings for felonies. Each court covers a different part of this large rural county. Misdemeanor charges like OUI, simple assault, trespassing, and petty theft are tried at the district level.
Pittsfield District Court is the busiest of the three. It is at 24 Wendell Avenue Extension in Pittsfield. The phone number is (413) 442-0941. It covers Pittsfield and the surrounding central Berkshire towns. Northern Berkshire District Court sits at 111 Holden Street in North Adams and handles cases from the northern part of the county including North Adams, Williamstown, and Adams. Call (413) 663-5334 to reach them. Southern Berkshire District Court is at 9 Gilmore Avenue in Great Barrington and serves the southern towns. Its number is (413) 528-1600.
Each court keeps its own records. You need to contact the specific court where a case was filed to get copies. If you don't know which court handled a case, try calling the Pittsfield District Court first since it handles the most cases in the county. The clerks can often tell you if a case was filed elsewhere.
| Pittsfield District Court | 24 Wendell Ave Extension, Pittsfield, MA 01201 | (413) 442-0941 |
|---|---|
| Northern Berkshire District Court | 111 Holden Street, North Adams, MA 01247 | (413) 663-5334 |
| Southern Berkshire District Court | 9 Gilmore Avenue, Great Barrington, MA 01230 | (413) 528-1600 |
Search Berkshire County Criminal Records Online
Use the MassCourts portal to search Berkshire County criminal court records online. This is the state's free public access system. It covers the Superior Court and all three district courts. Go to masscourts.org, complete the CAPTCHA, and select the court and division you want to search.
The MassCourts system provides online access to Berkshire County criminal court dockets and case information.
Start your search here for docket information on criminal cases filed in any Berkshire County court.
The big catch with criminal searches is that most cases require a docket number. Name searches are limited for criminal matters on the MassCourts system. If you know the case number, enter it exactly as formatted. Upper and lower case matters. Spacing and leading zeros matter too. A Superior Court criminal case number looks like 1681CR02072. District court numbers follow a similar pattern with a different court code prefix.
When you don't have the docket number, go to the clerk's office at the court in Pittsfield, North Adams, or Great Barrington. Staff can search by name. Bring a photo ID with you. You can also call the clerk and ask about a case status, but they may not be able to give full details by phone.
Berkshire County District Attorney
The Berkshire District Attorney's Office prosecutes all criminal cases in the county. The office is at 7 North Street in Pittsfield. Call (413) 442-2273 to reach them. Unlike some other western Massachusetts counties that share a DA, Berkshire County has its own dedicated district attorney.
The Berkshire DA's official page has information about the office that handles all criminal prosecutions in Berkshire County.
The Berkshire DA's office handles criminal cases ranging from drug offenses to violent crimes across all 32 towns in the county.
The DA's office runs a victim witness assistance program for people affected by crime in Berkshire County. Staff can keep you updated on case progress and explain court procedures. The office also handles community safety programs and works with local police departments across the county. Prosecutors from this office appear in all four Berkshire County courts.
Berkshire County Criminal Background Checks
Massachusetts uses the CORI system for criminal background checks. CORI stands for Criminal Offender Record Information. The iCORI portal lets you run a check online. A public search costs $25 and shows conviction records that are not sealed or expunged. You need the person's name and date of birth.
Everyone can get one free self-check each year through iCORI. After that, self-checks are $25. The CORI system pulls records from all Massachusetts courts, so Berkshire County convictions show up in the results along with any other state convictions. Employers and housing providers who want to run CORI checks have to register with the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services first.
Records can be sealed under M.G.L. c. 276, Section 100A. Misdemeanors become eligible after three years. Felonies can be sealed after seven years. Sealed records do not show up in public CORI checks or court file searches. Dismissed cases and not guilty verdicts can be sealed right away by filing a petition with the court.
Berkshire County Sheriff's Office
The Berkshire County Sheriff's Office is at 467 Cheshire Road in Pittsfield. The phone number is (413) 447-7110. The sheriff's office runs the county correctional facility, serves court papers, and handles prisoner transport for criminal cases.
If you need to know whether someone is in custody in Berkshire County, call the sheriff's office. They can confirm if a person is being held and give you basic booking details. The office also serves warrants and subpoenas throughout the county. Given how spread out Berkshire County is geographically, the sheriff's department covers a lot of ground serving process to all 32 towns. They also run inmate programs including substance abuse treatment and job training for re-entry.
What Berkshire Criminal Records Contain
Criminal court records from Berkshire County follow the standard Massachusetts docket format. The docket sheet is the main document. It lists every event in a case from the filing of the complaint through the final disposition. You can see the charges, the statute each charge falls under, hearing dates, motions filed, and the outcome.
The header on a Berkshire County criminal docket shows the defendant's name and the case number. Charge information includes the specific offense and the relevant section of the Massachusetts General Laws. For example, an OUI charge would reference M.G.L. c. 90, Section 24. The docket tracks bail amounts, plea entries, trial dates, and any continuances. The disposition section at the end shows guilty, not guilty, dismissed, continued without a finding, or whatever the final result was.
Most criminal court records in Berkshire County are public. Anyone can request copies. But sealed records are off limits. If a judge has ordered a case sealed, it won't show up in public searches and the clerk cannot give out copies. Financial affidavits and certain documents related to juvenile matters are also restricted.
Berkshire County Court Copy Fees
All Berkshire County courts use the statewide fee schedule. Unattested copies are $0.05 per page. Attested copies cost $2.50 per page. A certificate of a court order costs $20. Judgment transcripts are $50. These fees apply at the Superior Court and all three district courts.
Pay with cash, check, or credit card in person. For mail requests, send a check or money order. List what you need and include the case details. If you can't pay, file an Affidavit of Indigency. The judge reviews it and may waive the fees based on your income.
Towns in Berkshire County
Berkshire County has 32 towns and cities. It is the westernmost county in Massachusetts, stretching along the New York border. None of the communities are large enough to be classified as major cities. All criminal cases from Berkshire County towns go through the county court system. Cases get filed at one of the three district courts based on where the offense happened, and felonies move to Berkshire Superior Court.
Major communities include Pittsfield, North Adams, Great Barrington, Williamstown, Lee, Lenox, Adams, Dalton, Stockbridge, and Sheffield. Each town's police department files criminal complaints with the district court that covers their area.
Nearby Counties
Berkshire County is on the western edge of Massachusetts. It borders three other counties to the east. If you are unsure which county a criminal case belongs to, check the location where the alleged offense occurred. The case is always filed in that county.