Search Plymouth County Criminal Records

Plymouth County criminal court records are managed by the Superior Court in Brockton and three district courts across the county. About 530,000 people live in Plymouth County, making it one of the larger counties in Massachusetts. Criminal cases here range from misdemeanors at the district level to serious felonies tried in Superior Court. The Brockton District Court handles the highest volume of cases because Brockton is the largest city. You can search many Plymouth County criminal records online for free or visit a clerk's office in person. This guide walks you through every option for finding criminal court records in Plymouth County, from online portals to in-person visits.

Plymouth Superior Court in Brockton

Plymouth Superior Court is at 52 Obery Street in Brockton. This court handles all serious felony cases in Plymouth County. Any case that goes through the grand jury process ends up here. The clerk's office stores all Superior Court criminal records and can pull files for public inspection during business hours.

The court is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. You can request records in person at the clerk's window. Have the case number ready if possible. The clerk can search by name too, but criminal name searches are more limited in the court system. If you call ahead at (508) 586-5687, staff can tell you if a record is available before you make the trip. You can also send requests by mail to the clerk's office. Include a written request, your photo ID copy, and payment for any fees.

Plymouth County has a long legal history. The Superior Court handles everything from drug cases and assaults to white-collar crime. Records for closed cases stay on file for years. Felonies with prison time are kept permanently. Other felony records stay for 25 years after the case ends.

District Courts in Plymouth County

Three district courts serve Plymouth County. These courts handle the majority of criminal cases. Most people who get charged with a crime in Plymouth County will have their first court date at one of these locations. Arraignments, bail hearings, and trials for misdemeanors all happen at the district level.

Brockton District Court is the busiest. It sits at 215 Main Street in Brockton. The phone number is (508) 587-6600. This court covers Brockton and several nearby towns. Given that Brockton is the largest city in Plymouth County, this court sees a heavy caseload of criminal filings every year.

Plymouth District Court is at 52 Obery Street in Plymouth. Call (508) 747-8400 for information. This court covers the southern and coastal portions of the county. Hingham District Court is at 28 Main Street in Hingham and handles cases from the northern part of Plymouth County. Its phone number is (781) 749-7000. All three district courts keep their own criminal records and can provide copies.

Note: District court records for misdemeanors are kept for at least 10 years after the case closes, while felony records are kept for 20 years or more.

Search Plymouth County Criminal Cases Online

The free MassCourts portal lets you search Plymouth County criminal court records from any computer. The system covers Plymouth Superior Court, Brockton District Court, Plymouth District Court, and Hingham District Court. Select the court location and enter a case number to see the full docket sheet. The docket shows charges, hearing dates, motions, and the final outcome of the case.

Criminal cases on MassCourts mostly require a docket number to search. Name searches for criminal cases are very limited. This is a statewide rule, not just a Plymouth County issue. If you need to find a case by name, your best bet is to visit the clerk's office at the court where the case was filed. The clerk has access to internal tools that can search more broadly.

The screenshot below shows the MassCourts portal interface used to search Plymouth County criminal court records. Go to masscourts.org to start looking up cases.

Pick your court department and location from the drop-down menus. Enter the docket number using the correct format. Superior Court criminal cases use a format like 1681CR02072. District Court cases use a longer format like 1153CR000005. Capitalization and leading zeros matter.

Criminal Background Checks for Plymouth County

The CORI system is the state's official criminal history database. It goes beyond what court records show. A CORI report pulls criminal history from across all of Massachusetts, not just Plymouth County. You can run a public CORI check through the iCORI online portal. The cost is $25 per search.

To use iCORI, you need the person's full name, date of birth, and Social Security number. The report will show convictions, pending cases, and other criminal record information. Employers who are registered with the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services can get more detailed CORI reports. Each person is allowed one free self-check per year through the same system. That self-check shows your complete criminal history, including sealed records. Public checks do not show sealed records.

The CORI system is separate from court records. Court records give you the details of a specific case. CORI gives you a summary of a person's criminal history statewide. For Plymouth County criminal court records specifically, the court clerk or MassCourts portal is the right place to go.

Plymouth County District Attorney

The Plymouth County District Attorney's office is at 32 Belmont Street in Brockton. Call (508) 584-8120 to reach them. The DA's office handles all criminal prosecutions in Plymouth County. Their website is plymouthda.com.

Court records come from the clerk, not the DA. But the DA's office provides victim and witness services. If you are involved in a Plymouth County criminal case as a victim, their office can give you updates on case status and court dates. They also run community programs and publish information about recent cases on their website.

Plymouth County Sheriff's Department

The Plymouth County Sheriff's Department is at 26 Long Pond Road in Plymouth. Their phone number is (508) 732-1700. The sheriff runs the county correctional facility. They can tell you if someone is currently in custody. Inmate information is separate from court records.

The sheriff also serves warrants and court papers. If you need to know about a warrant, contact the court that issued it or the local police. For booking records and arrest information, the arresting police department is usually the first place to check. The sheriff's office handles transport of inmates to court appearances in Plymouth County.

Sealing Criminal Records in Plymouth County

Massachusetts law lets people seal certain criminal records. Under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A, you can ask to seal a misdemeanor conviction three years after the case ends. Felony convictions can be sealed after seven years. You file the petition at the court where the case was heard.

Dismissed cases and not guilty verdicts can be sealed right away. You file a petition under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100C. The Commissioner of Probation handles sealing requests. Once sealed, the record will not show up on public searches through MassCourts or the clerk's office. Sealed records still exist. Law enforcement can still see them. But employers and landlords doing standard background checks will not find sealed Plymouth County criminal records.

Expungement is also available in limited cases under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100E through 100U. This goes further than sealing. It removes the record from the system entirely. Expungement is rare and only applies in specific situations, such as cases involving identity fraud or certain offenses committed by young adults.

Plymouth County Record Fees

Copy fees at Plymouth County courts follow the statewide schedule. Plain copies are $0.05 per page. Certified copies cost $2.50 per page. A certificate of a court order runs $20. Transcripts cost $3.00 to $5.00 per page depending on the type.

You can pay with cash, check, or credit card at most court locations. If the fees are a hardship, file an Affidavit of Indigency. The court will review your request and may waive the cost. CORI checks through iCORI cost $25 each. That fee is paid online by credit card.

Note: Some courts may charge a small fee for staff-assisted record searches, typically between $5 and $20.

Cities in Plymouth County

Plymouth County includes many towns and two cities with their own criminal court record pages. Click below for more local detail.

Other communities in Plymouth County include Hingham, Marshfield, Whitman, and Bridgewater. Criminal cases from these towns go to the district court that covers their area or to Plymouth Superior Court for serious felonies.

Nearby Counties

Plymouth County shares borders with several other counties. If a criminal case was filed in a neighboring county, you will need to search that county's courts instead. The case goes to the county where the crime happened.