Access Berkshire County Felony Records

Berkshire County felony records are maintained by the Superior Court in Pittsfield and by three district courts spread across northern, central, and southern Berkshire. Whether you need to search a case online, request certified copies from a clerk, or check criminal history through the state CORI system, this guide explains your options for accessing felony records in this westernmost Massachusetts county.

Berkshire County Superior Court Felony Records

The Berkshire County Superior Court is the main court for felony proceedings in the county. It is located at 7 North Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Phone: (413) 442-6941. This court handles indicted felony cases from all parts of Berkshire County, from North Adams in the north to Great Barrington in the south. Grand jury proceedings, felony trials, sentencing, and post-conviction motions all take place here. The clerk's office keeps all felony case files, including indictments, plea agreements, and judgments.

To get a copy of a Berkshire County felony record from Superior Court, you can visit in person Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Bring the defendant's full name or the case number. The clerk can search by name across a date range if you don't have a case number. Plain copies and certified copies are both available. Certified copies of judgments are often needed for legal purposes. Call (413) 442-6941 before visiting to confirm fees and make sure the records you need are available at the Superior Court location.

You can also search case information online for free at masscourts.org. The MassCourts portal covers Berkshire Superior Court and the district courts. It shows docket entries, party names, charges, and case status. Full documents are not available online. You need a clerk visit or a written request with payment for full case files.

The Berkshire County Superior Court at 7 North Street in Pittsfield is where all major felony cases for the county are tried and sentenced.

Berkshire County District Courts and Early Felony Records

Berkshire County has three district courts. The Pittsfield District Court is at 7 North Street, Pittsfield, phone (413) 499-2700. The Berkshire District Court in Great Barrington is at 9 Gilmore Avenue, phone (413) 528-9200. The Northern Berkshire District Court in North Adams is at 111 Exchange Street, phone (413) 663-5300. All three handle arraignments, bail hearings, and the early stages of felony cases before they are indicted to Superior Court.

Felony cases in Berkshire County often begin at one of these three district courts. The specific court depends on where the alleged crime took place. The southern part of the county, including Great Barrington and Lee, is covered by the Great Barrington court. The northern section, including North Adams and Adams, is covered by the North Adams court. Central communities including Pittsfield itself go to the Pittsfield District Court.

Even after a case moves up to Superior Court, the district court keeps its own file from the early proceedings. If you need the full history of a case from first appearance through final judgment, you may need to check both the district court and Superior Court records.

Berkshire County Felony Records Through CORI

The CORI system, run by DCJIS, is the primary way to access criminal conviction history in Massachusetts. Felony convictions from Berkshire County Superior Court and district courts appear on CORI reports. Under MGL Chapter 6, CORI records are maintained by the state and include charges and final dispositions from courts across Massachusetts. Standard felony records appear on CORI for 10 years. Convictions for murder and sex offenses have no time limit on their lookback period.

Individuals can request their own CORI from DCJIS at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150, phone (617) 660-4600. The fee is $25, waived for those who are indigent. The report is mailed to the requester. This is the most direct way to see what felony conviction history from Berkshire County appears under your name. If there is an error, you can file a challenge with DCJIS under the process set out in MGL Chapter 6.

Berkshire County Sheriff and Inmate Lookup

The Berkshire County Sheriff's Office is at 467 Cheshire Road, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Phone: (413) 442-7461. The Sheriff runs the county house of correction, which holds people arrested in Berkshire County who are awaiting trial on felony charges or serving sentences of two and a half years or less. You can contact the Sheriff's Office to check whether someone is currently in county custody.

The Sheriff's website has information on inmate lookup and jail services. For people who have been released or who were sentenced to state prison, the county Sheriff's records will not reflect current status. People sentenced to more than two and a half years for a Berkshire County felony are sent to a Department of Correction facility. The DOC maintains a separate inmate locator online. Town police departments in Berkshire County can also be contacted for local arrest records.

The Massachusetts DCJIS CORI system includes felony records from Berkshire County courts and is the official statewide source for criminal conviction history.

Berkshire County DA and Prosecution Records

The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office is at 7 North Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Phone: (413) 443-2221. This office is responsible for prosecuting all felony cases from the 32 cities and towns in Berkshire County. The DA works with local police departments, the Massachusetts State Police, and other law enforcement agencies. When a felony case is indicted, the DA's office handles it through the Superior Court process.

The DA's office does not provide public copies of case files. Their role is prosecution, not records access. For actual court documents and case records, go to the clerk of courts at Superior Court or the appropriate district court. The DA's office and the Superior Court are both at 7 North Street in Pittsfield, so you may be able to handle multiple stops in one visit to the courthouse.

Sealing Berkshire County Felony Records

Under MGL Chapter 276, Section 100A, Massachusetts allows people to petition to seal felony convictions seven years after conviction or release from incarceration, whichever is later. After sealing, the record does not appear on standard CORI checks for most purposes. Courts, law enforcement, and certain state agencies can still access sealed records, but private individuals and general public requests cannot.

To seal a Berkshire County felony conviction, you petition the court that entered the conviction. That is either Berkshire Superior Court or one of the three district courts, depending on where your case was resolved. The petition process does not require a lawyer and there is no filing fee. Resources like MassLegalHelp and Greater Boston Legal Services have guides on eligibility and how to complete the petition. If you are unsure whether you qualify, these organizations can help you understand the rules.

Cities and Towns in Berkshire County

Berkshire County has 32 cities and towns. No communities in Berkshire County meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site. Major communities in the county include Pittsfield, North Adams, Great Barrington, Adams, Lee, Lenox, Lanesborough, Williamstown, Stockbridge, and Dalton. All felony cases from these communities are handled by the Berkshire County Superior Court and the appropriate district court based on geography.

Nearby Counties

Berkshire County borders Hampshire and Franklin counties to the east. It also borders New York and Vermont to the west and north. If a case crosses county lines, check which Massachusetts county handled the prosecution.