Somerville Felony Records
Somerville felony records are part of the Middlesex County court system, with serious criminal cases going to the Middlesex County Superior Court in Woburn. Somerville is a dense city bordering Cambridge and Boston with about 81,000 residents. This page explains how to search Somerville felony records, what courts handle criminal cases for the city, and how state systems like CORI provide access to criminal history data.
Somerville Overview
Somerville Felony Records: How Courts Work
Felony cases in Somerville start at the Somerville District Court on Fellsway West. This is where arraignments happen and where judges set bail. Cases that involve serious charges or go to a jury trial transfer to the Middlesex County Superior Court in Woburn at 200 TradeCenter. Somerville's district court handles the initial stages. The superior court handles trials and maintains the full felony conviction record.
The Somerville District Court clerk's office is at 175 Fellsway West. Call (617) 665-8300 for case status and records help. The court follows standard trial court hours. If you need records from a case that went to superior court, those documents are in Woburn. Call (781) 939-2700 for the Middlesex Superior Court clerk. Both courts are searchable through MassCourts at masscourts.org.
For serious felony trials, the Middlesex County Superior Court in Woburn holds the complete record, including indictment documents, jury verdicts, and sentencing orders. These are public records except where a judge has ordered them sealed. The Middlesex County Superior Court listing on mass.gov has directions and contact details for the Woburn courthouse.
| Court | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Somerville District Court | 175 Fellsway West, Somerville, MA 02145 | (617) 665-8300 |
| Middlesex County Superior Court | 200 TradeCenter, Woburn, MA 01801 | (781) 939-2700 |
| Somerville Police Records | 220 Washington Street, Somerville, MA 02143 | (617) 625-1600 |
| City Clerk's Office | 93 Highland Avenue, Somerville, MA 02143 | (617) 625-6600 |
How to Search Somerville Felony Records Online
MassCourts is the free state court records system. Go to masscourts.org and search by name or case number. The system covers both the Somerville District Court and the Middlesex County Superior Court. You can see party names, charges, docket entries, and case status. Sealed records and juvenile matters do not show up in public searches.
The Middlesex County Sheriff's Office maintains information on county jail and custody status. Visit middlesexsheriff.org for resources on the county correctional system. If someone is being held in custody on a Somerville felony charge, the sheriff's office can confirm custody status for family members or legal counsel.
The official MassCourts portal provides a county-level search covering all Middlesex County courts. This is useful when searching for cases across multiple courts in the county or when looking for older Somerville records.
DCJIS manages the statewide CORI database under MGL Chapter 6. Individuals can request their own criminal history report for $25. The fee is waived for indigent applicants. Call (617) 660-4600 or visit mass.gov for information on submitting a CORI request. The report covers all Massachusetts courts, including Somerville cases at both district and superior court levels.
Somerville District Court and Middlesex County Sheriff Records
The Somerville District Court is listed on the Massachusetts court portal with current clerk contact information and hours.
View the Somerville District Court page on mass.gov before visiting to confirm current hours. The clerk's office handles docket records, complaint copies, and case status questions for Somerville matters.
The Middlesex County Sheriff's Office website provides information on the county correctional facility and custody records.
The Middlesex County Sheriff's website covers all cities and towns in Middlesex County, including Somerville. The sheriff's office holds people in pre-trial custody and post-sentence custody for county-level crimes.
Somerville Police Department Arrest Records
The Somerville Police Department keeps arrest records for incidents that occur in the city. The Records Division is at 220 Washington Street. Call (617) 625-1600 to ask about the records request process and any fees. Arrest records document the police side of a matter. Court records cover what happened during prosecution. Both types of records may be relevant depending on what you are searching for.
Somerville arrests feed into the statewide CORI database. An arrest may appear on a CORI report even before the case resolves. If you believe a Somerville arrest is listed in error on a CORI report, contact DCJIS at (617) 660-4600 to start a challenge. Having the date of arrest and any incident or case number you know speeds up the process.
Somerville Felony Records: CORI and Sealing
Massachusetts law limits how long felony records stay on CORI reports. Most felony convictions remain for 10 years from conviction or from the end of incarceration, whichever is later. Convictions for murder and sex offenses have no lookback limit under state law. These rules apply to all Somerville cases under MGL Chapter 6.
Under MGL Chapter 276, Section 100A, a person can petition to seal a felony conviction after 7 years. Once sealed, the record no longer appears in standard public CORI checks. Law enforcement can still access sealed records. Somerville residents looking to seal old felony records can get guidance through DCJIS or through free guides at masslegalhelp.org.
Legal Help for Somerville Felony Cases
People facing felony charges in Somerville who cannot afford a lawyer can contact the Committee for Public Counsel Services at (617) 482-6212. CPCS assigns public defenders to those who qualify financially. Counsel is typically appointed at arraignment in Somerville District Court.
Greater Boston Legal Services serves Middlesex County and can help with civil legal matters that come up during or after a criminal case. Their number is (617) 371-1234. MassLegalHelp at masslegalhelp.org has free plain-language guides on CORI rights, sealing, and how to navigate the criminal records system in Massachusetts. The law library at the district court is also open to the public.
Nearby Cities
Felony records for nearby Middlesex and Suffolk County cities are available through the same court systems and state databases.
Middlesex County Felony Records
Somerville is part of Middlesex County. All felony cases from the city run through the Middlesex County court system. The county page has more on courthouse locations, clerk contacts, and county-wide criminal record resources.