Find Criminal Court Records in Essex County

Essex County criminal court records are kept at the Superior Court in Salem and at eight District Courts spread across the county. About 800,000 people live in Essex County, which covers the northeast corner of Massachusetts. Criminal cases here range from minor offenses to serious felonies. You can search for records online through the state court portal or visit a courthouse in person. The county includes cities like Lynn, Lawrence, Haverhill, and Peabody, each served by its own District Court. Salem serves as both the county seat and the home of the Superior Court.

Essex County Superior Court

The Essex Superior Court at 56 Federal Street in Salem handles all serious felony cases in the county. This is the main court for major criminal matters. The clerk's office phone is (978) 744-1025. Fax is (978) 744-2601. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The email for the clerk's office is essex.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us.

Criminal case numbers at Essex Superior Court follow the format with a year code, then CR, then a sequence number. If you have the case number, you can look it up online. Without it, you will need to visit the clerk's office in Salem and ask staff to search by defendant name. They can pull up records and make copies for you on the spot in most cases. Older files may need to be retrieved from archives, which takes a few days.

The courthouse is ADA accessible. If you need help, the ADA coordinator can be reached at (978) 744-1025 extension 530. The TTY number is the same main line. Their email is ada.essex@jud.state.ma.us.

Essex County District Courts

Essex County has eight District Courts. Each one serves a set of towns and cities. District Courts handle misdemeanors, lesser felonies, traffic cases, and other criminal matters. The court where a case gets filed depends on where the crime happened.

Lawrence District Court at 43 Appleton Way covers Lawrence and surrounding towns. Their phone is (978) 687-7181. Lynn District Court at 20 Market Street handles Lynn area cases at (781) 598-5000. Haverhill District Court sits at 45 High Street and can be reached at (978) 374-2853. These three courts see some of the highest case volumes in the county due to the size of the cities they serve.

Peabody District Court at 1 Lowell Street handles cases from Peabody and nearby communities. Call (978) 532-3400. Salem District Court is at 56 Federal Street, the same address as the Superior Court, with a phone number of (978) 744-7800. Newburyport District Court sits at 188 State Street and covers the northern coastal area at (978) 462-2720. Gloucester District Court at 197 Main Street serves the Cape Ann area at (978) 283-6300. The Ipswich District Court shares space at the Newburyport location and can be reached at (978) 462-2185.

All District Courts in Essex County keep the same hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Criminal records from any of these courts can be searched through the MassCourts online portal if you have the docket number.

How to Search Essex County Criminal Records

You can search for criminal court records in Essex County online or in person. The online method is faster but more limited. In-person visits give you full access to case files.

The MassCourts portal covers all Essex County courts. It is free to use. You can find docket entries, case status, and the names of parties involved. But like all Massachusetts courts, criminal case searches require a docket number. You cannot search criminal cases by defendant name online. The system includes cases from the Superior Court and all eight District Courts. Records typically go back to the early 2000s. Sealed, impounded, and juvenile cases will not appear.

To search in person, visit the clerk's office at any Essex County courthouse. The Superior Court in Salem is best for felony cases. For misdemeanors, go to the District Court where the case was filed. Bring a government-issued photo ID. Give the clerk the case number or the defendant's name and approximate date. They will find the file and make copies for you.

The screenshot below shows the MassCourts portal used for searching Essex County criminal court records online.

Use this portal to look up case information by docket number for any court in Essex County.

Essex County Law Enforcement Records

The Essex County District Attorney's Office prosecutes all criminal cases in the county. The office is at 10 Federal Street in Salem. Phone is (978) 745-6610. The DA's office keeps records related to prosecutions and can provide certain documents through a public records request. Contact them directly for information about specific cases they have handled.

The Essex County Sheriff's Office operates the county correctional facility. They are at 20 Manning Avenue in Middleton. Phone is (978) 750-1900. The Sheriff's Office handles inmate custody and can provide information about who is currently held at the facility. This is for active inmates only. Past inmate records are not typically available through the Sheriff's website.

The screenshot below shows the Essex County Sheriff's Office website, which provides inmate lookup and facility information.

The Sheriff's Office provides information about current inmates and facility operations in Essex County.

Essex County Criminal Court Record Fees

Copy fees at Essex County courts follow the statewide schedule. The same rates apply at the Superior Court in Salem and all District Courts across the county.

• Non-certified copies: $0.05 per page
• Certified copies: $2.50 per page
• Certificates (orders, judgments, decrees): $20.00 each
• Staff-assisted record search: $5.00 to $20.00
• CORI background check: $25.00

You can pay in person with cash, check, money order, or credit card. For mail requests, send a check or money order payable to the clerk's office of the court you are contacting. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your written request. Specify the case number, parties involved, date range, and whether you need certified or non-certified copies.

Your first personal CORI check each year is free through the state's iCORI system. After that, each check costs $25.00. Organizations that run background checks on employees or volunteers must register with DCJIS and pay the per-search fee.

Sealing Essex County Criminal Records

Massachusetts law allows certain criminal records to be sealed. Once sealed, a record will not show up in court searches or CORI checks. The rules are the same across all counties, including Essex.

Misdemeanor convictions can be sealed 3 years after the case is done. Felony convictions can be sealed after 7 years. If the case ended in a dismissal or not guilty finding, you can file to seal it right away. The court handles sealing requests. You file the petition at the court where the case was originally heard. For Essex County, that could be the Superior Court in Salem or any of the District Courts.

Juvenile records in Massachusetts are kept separate from adult records. They are confidential under state law. These records are not available through MassCourts or through standard record requests at the clerk's office.

Note: Sealed records do not appear in CORI background checks or online court searches.

Getting to Essex County Courts

The Superior Court in Salem has public parking lots nearby. Street parking is metered. If you take the train, the MBTA Newburyport/Rockport commuter rail line stops at Salem Station, which is a short walk from the courthouse at 56 Federal Street.

Each District Court has its own parking situation. Lawrence, Lynn, and Haverhill all have public parking near the courthouse, though spots can fill up fast on busy court days. Get there early if you can. Most Essex County courthouses are ADA accessible with wheelchair entrances and elevator access.

Cities in Essex County

Essex County has several cities with their own court pages. Criminal cases for each city go to the District Court that serves that area, or to Essex Superior Court in Salem for serious felonies.

Other communities in Essex County include Salem, Gloucester, Newburyport, Beverly, Danvers, and Ipswich. Criminal cases from these towns are filed at the local District Court or Essex Superior Court.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Essex County. Check the town where the crime took place to find out which county court has jurisdiction over the case.