Franklin County Felony Records Search

Franklin County felony records are held at the Superior Court in Greenfield and at two district courts serving this rural western Massachusetts county. This page explains how to search Franklin County felony case records online and in person, how to use the state CORI system for criminal history, and what resources the Sheriff's Office and DA provide for public record inquiries.

Franklin County Superior Court Felony Records

The Franklin County Superior Court is where all indicted felony cases in the county are tried. It is at 425 Main Street, Greenfield, MA 01301. Phone: (413) 774-7015. The court handles grand jury proceedings, felony trials, and sentencing. All major felony case records for Franklin County are stored at this location, including indictments, plea agreements, trial transcripts, and judgments. The clerk's office at the Superior Court handles all document requests.

You can visit the Superior Court in person Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, to search for and request copies of Franklin County felony records. Bring the full name of the defendant or a case number. The clerk can search by name if needed. Certified copies cost more than plain photocopies. Call (413) 774-7015 ahead of your visit to confirm fees and what documents are available for the case you are researching.

For online searches, go to masscourts.org. This free state portal covers the Franklin County Superior Court and district courts. You can search by party name or case number. The portal returns docket entries, hearing dates, case status, and charge information. Documents are not available for download. For the full case file, you need an in-person or written request to the clerk's office.

The Franklin County Superior Court at 425 Main Street in Greenfield handles all major felony proceedings for the 26 towns in this Pioneer Valley county.

Franklin County District Courts and Felony Case Records

Franklin County has two district courts. The Greenfield District Court is at 425 Main Street, Greenfield, phone (413) 774-7017. The Orange District Court is at 1 Court Square, Orange, phone (978) 544-6337. These two courts handle the initial stages of felony cases: arraignments, bail hearings, and probable cause hearings. Once the DA presents a case to the grand jury and an indictment is returned, the case moves to Superior Court.

District court records for Franklin County felony cases include the original complaint, initial appearance documents, and any pretrial orders issued before indictment. These records stay at the district court even after the case moves up to Superior Court. If you need the full timeline of a case from first arrest to final judgment, you may need to check both the district court and the Superior Court.

The Greenfield District Court handles cases from the central and northern parts of the county. The Orange District Court serves the eastern part. For towns in the western part of Franklin County near the Berkshire County line, check whether the case was handled by the Greenfield or Orange court based on where the incident occurred.

Accessing Franklin County Felony Records Through CORI

The Massachusetts CORI system, managed by DCJIS, includes felony records from all state courts including Franklin County. Under MGL Chapter 6, criminal charges and dispositions from Massachusetts courts are part of the CORI database. A felony conviction from Franklin County Superior Court will appear on a CORI report. Standard felony records show up for 10 years after conviction or release. Murder and sex offense convictions have no lookback time limit.

You can request your own CORI from DCJIS at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150. Phone: (617) 660-4600. The personal CORI fee is $25, waived for those who are indigent. DCJIS mails the report to you after processing your request. This is the most reliable way to see what Franklin County felony history appears in the statewide system under your name. Organizations that are authorized under MGL Chapter 6 can also access CORI for specific allowed purposes, but individuals requesting a CORI on someone else must go through an authorized organization.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office website provides inmate search information and details on the county's house of correction for those researching people in custody on felony charges.

Franklin County Sheriff and Inmate Records

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is at 160 Elm Street, Greenfield, MA 01301. Phone: (413) 774-4014. The Sheriff runs the county house of correction, which holds people arrested in Franklin County who are awaiting trial on felony charges or serving sentences of two and a half years or less. Contact the Sheriff's Office to check whether someone is currently in custody at the county facility.

For people who have been released from county custody or who were sentenced to a state prison facility, the Franklin County Sheriff's records will not show current status. Massachusetts sentences of more than two and a half years are served at state Department of Correction facilities. The DOC has a separate inmate locator available online. Town police departments across Franklin County, including the Greenfield Police Department, can also be contacted for local arrest records under a public records request.

Franklin County is a rural county. Some towns have their own police departments, while others rely on the Massachusetts State Police for law enforcement. If you are trying to trace an arrest that led to a felony charge, you may need to contact the State Police or a specific town department depending on where the incident occurred.

Franklin County DA and Prosecution Information

The Franklin County District Attorney's Office is at 13 Conway Street, Greenfield, MA 01301. Phone: (413) 774-5100. The DA prosecutes all felony cases brought from Franklin County courts. The DA's office works with local police departments and State Police to investigate and prosecute cases from all 26 towns in the county. When a case is indicted, the DA presents it to the Superior Court.

The DA's office does not hand out copies of case files to the public. Public access to case documents goes through the court clerk's offices. But the DA can sometimes confirm whether a case is active or has been resolved. Their office at 13 Conway Street is a short distance from the Superior Court at 425 Main Street in Greenfield, so you can potentially handle both stops in one visit.

Sealing Felony Records in Franklin County

Massachusetts allows people to petition to seal felony convictions after a waiting period. Under MGL Chapter 276, Section 100A, the wait is seven years from conviction or release from incarceration, whichever is later. Once a record is sealed, it does not appear on standard CORI checks run by private individuals or most organizations. Courts, law enforcement, and some government agencies can still access sealed records.

To seal a Franklin County felony conviction, you file a petition with the court that convicted you. That could be Franklin County Superior Court or one of the two district courts, depending on where the case was resolved. There is no filing fee for the petition. MassLegalHelp provides step-by-step guides on who qualifies and how to file. Greater Boston Legal Services also has resources for people working through the sealing process, including what courts in western Massachusetts need from petitioners.

How to Search Franklin County Felony Cases Online

MassCourts at masscourts.org is the best free tool for searching Franklin County felony records online. The portal is run by the Massachusetts Trial Court and covers both Superior Court and district courts. You search by person name or case number. Results include the docket, court dates, charges filed, and current case status.

Keep in mind the MassCourts portal shows case information, not full documents. You cannot download indictments, judgments, or other filed papers from the portal. To get copies of those, you must contact the clerk's office in person or by mail. Some older cases may only exist in paper form and might not appear online. If a search returns no results and you believe a case should exist, call the clerk's office directly. Staff can do a manual search for cases that predate the electronic system.

Cities and Towns in Franklin County

Franklin County has 26 towns, all of them rural or small-city in character. No communities in Franklin County meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site. Towns in the county include Greenfield, Montague, Deerfield, Orange, Shelburne Falls, Northfield, Gill, Erving, Leverett, Shutesbury, New Salem, and others. All felony cases from these towns are processed through the Franklin County Superior Court and the Greenfield or Orange District Court.

Nearby Counties

Franklin County borders Hampshire and Berkshire to the south and west. Worcester and Middlesex counties are to the east and southeast. If you are unsure which county court handled a case, check MassCourts by name or contact the court clerk for the town where the incident took place.