Haverhill Felony Records Search
Haverhill felony records are filed and maintained through the Haverhill District Court and the Essex County Superior Court, with statewide criminal history available through the Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS). Whether you need records for a court case, a background check you requested yourself, or to verify case status, this page explains how the system works in Haverhill and what sources are available to you. Most public felony filings in Essex County can be searched online at no cost through the MassCourts portal.
Haverhill Overview
Haverhill Felony Records: How the Courts Work
Felony cases in Haverhill move through two courts. The Haverhill District Court handles arraignments and pretrial hearings for lower-level felonies and misdemeanors. More serious felony charges get sent to the Essex County Superior Court in Salem for trial. Both courts generate public records you can access, and both are part of the statewide MassCourts system at masscourts.org.
The Haverhill District Court sits at 45 Essex Street in the heart of the city. It serves not just Haverhill but several surrounding communities. When a felony charge is filed here, the clerk's office creates a docket entry that becomes part of the public record. You can search by name, case number, or date of birth through the MassCourts public portal. For cases that go to Superior Court, those records shift to the Salem courthouse at 145 Federal Street.
Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 6, criminal offender record information is managed by DCJIS. The agency controls access to CORI reports, which are the most complete summary of a person's felony history in the state. Anyone can request their own CORI for $25. The fee is waived if you are indigent. Third parties have more limited access and must follow specific rules about when and how they can use that information.
Haverhill District Court Records Access
The Haverhill District Court clerk's office keeps public case files on all matters heard in that courtroom. You can walk in during business hours to look at a case file, or you can search through the MassCourts online portal. The online search is free and works well for most basic lookups. If you need certified copies of documents, there is a fee set by the court.
| Court | Haverhill District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 45 Essex Street, Haverhill, MA 01832 |
| Phone | (978) 374-4707 |
| Superior Court | Essex County Superior Court, 145 Federal Street, Salem, MA 01970 |
| Superior Phone | (978) 744-5505 |
| Online Search | masscourts.org |
The Haverhill District Court page on mass.gov has the most current hours and any temporary closures. Hours can shift around holidays and court sessions, so it is worth checking before you drive in. The clerk's office will help you find a case file, but they cannot give legal advice.
Haverhill Police Department Records
The Haverhill Police Department handles arrest records for incidents that occur within city limits. Their records division can provide arrest reports, booking records, and incident reports. Not all arrest records are felony records, but arrests tied to felony charges will also appear in court filings once a case is active.
Arrest records at the police level are a starting point. They show who was booked and on what charge. Once a case moves to court, the court docket becomes the more complete record. You should check both sources if you need a full picture of a person's felony history in Haverhill. The police records division is separate from the court clerk's office and each has its own request process.
| Department | Haverhill Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 40 Bailey Boulevard, Haverhill, MA 01832 |
| Phone | (978) 373-1212 |
| Records Division | Available by phone or in person |
CORI and Statewide Felony History
The state CORI system run by DCJIS is the most complete source for felony records in Massachusetts. It pulls from court filings across all counties, so it catches cases from before someone moved to Haverhill as well as local charges. You can request your own CORI online at mass.gov through the iCORI portal. The $25 fee applies unless you qualify for the indigency waiver.
Under MGL Chapter 6, DCJIS maintains criminal offender records statewide. Felony convictions generally appear in CORI results for ten years from the date of conviction or release from incarceration, whichever is later. Convictions for murder, manslaughter, and sex offenses have no lookback limit under Massachusetts law. That means those records stay visible indefinitely through CORI.
If you are looking for someone else's felony history, you typically need a permissible purpose. Employers and housing providers can access CORI through a formal CORI agreement with DCJIS. Private individuals can access limited public court records through MassCourts. The rules here matter. Misuse of CORI information carries penalties under state law.
DCJIS can be reached at (617) 660-4600 for questions about the CORI process. Their main contact page is at mass.gov. Staff can help you understand what is included in a CORI report and how to dispute inaccurate entries.
Searching Essex County Felony Records from Haverhill
Essex County covers a large stretch of northeastern Massachusetts including Salem, Lynn, Lawrence, and Haverhill. Felony cases from any of these cities that move to Superior Court end up in the same filing system at the Salem courthouse. The Essex County Superior Court records are searchable through MassCourts just like district court records.
The Haverhill District Court photograph below shows the main entrance to the courthouse where local felony cases are first processed.
The district court building at 45 Essex Street is where most Haverhill residents will start when looking for local felony case information. Arraignments and preliminary hearings happen here before cases move to the Superior Court level.
For the most reliable results, stick with the official masscourts.org portal or visit the clerk's office in person. Official records are the authoritative source, and online court dockets are updated regularly as cases move through the system.
The Essex County court system image below provides additional context on how the county handles felony cases at the Superior Court level.
Essex County Superior Court in Salem handles the most serious felony cases originating in Haverhill and across the county, including cases involving major drug charges, violent crimes, and other class A and B felony offenses.
Sealing and Expungement of Haverhill Felony Records
Massachusetts allows people to seal felony convictions after a waiting period. Under MGL Chapter 276, Section 100A, you must wait seven years after the end of your sentence before petitioning to seal a felony conviction. Once sealed, the record is not visible in standard public searches or employer CORI checks, though law enforcement can still see it.
Expungement is a separate and more limited option in Massachusetts. It applies to certain juvenile records and cases where charges were dismissed or the person was found not guilty. You cannot expunge an adult felony conviction through the standard process. Sealing is the practical option for most people with a Haverhill felony record who want to limit its visibility.
MassLegalHelp at masslegalhelp.org has plain-language guides on sealing and your CORI rights. Northeast Legal Aid, which serves Essex County, can help Haverhill residents who qualify for free legal services related to record sealing petitions.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Haverhill also have felony records pages with court and access details.
Essex County Felony Records
Haverhill is part of Essex County. All felony cases in the county eventually route through Essex County Superior Court in Salem. Visit the county page for broader Essex County felony records information.