Hampden County Felony Records Search

Hampden County felony records are kept at the Superior Court in Springfield, which serves as the main court for serious criminal cases in western Massachusetts. This guide explains how to find and access Hampden County felony records online, in person, and by mail, along with information on the district courts, the DA's office, the sheriff, and the statewide CORI system.

Hampden County Superior Court

The Hampden County Superior Court is the main court for felony cases in the county. It is at 50 State Street, Springfield, MA 01103. Phone: (413) 748-7760. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. This court handles felony offenses where potential jail time exceeds 5 years, civil claims over $25,000, abuse prevention proceedings, equitable relief matters, state agency claims, real estate disputes, and appeals from lower courts.

The Hampden County Superior Court keeps the full criminal record for every felony case it handles. That means complaints, indictments, arraignment records, bail orders, pretrial motions, discovery filings, plea agreements, trial exhibits, verdict forms, and sentencing orders. The docket sheet for each case logs all of these events in chronological order. It is the best place to start when reviewing a Hampden County felony case.

Hampden County has a few unique features when it comes to fees. Certified copies cost $2.50 per page. Non-certified copies cost just $0.05 per page. Certificates of orders or judgments cost $20.00 each. Electronic documents cost $5.00 per document. Audio recordings of proceedings cost $50.50 per 90-minute segment plus postage. These rates differ from many other Massachusetts counties, so confirm current fees when you call ahead.

Visiting the Hampden County Superior Court at 50 State Street lets you inspect felony case files in person at no cost. Copy fees apply only when you want documents to take with you.

How to Search Hampden County Felony Records

For online searches, go to masscourts.org. From the home page, check the box confirming you are not a robot, then select the public records search. Choose Superior Court and then Hampden County. Enter a name or case number. Results show party information, charges, case status, filing date, and a complete docket list. The system caps results at 75 per page, so use case numbers when you have them to narrow your search.

Hampden County also has a Quick Pay option through the court portal. If you already know the case number, you can use Quick Pay to download documents directly. Fees apply. This bypasses the standard search interface and can save time when you know exactly what file you need. Not all documents in a case are available through Quick Pay; impounded and sealed materials are excluded.

For mail requests, send to: Hampden County Superior Court, 50 State Street, P.O. Box 559, Springfield, MA 01102. Include the case number, the names of all parties, the type of records you need, a list of specific documents if you know them, a check or money order for the appropriate fees, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for return. The court accepts cash, checks, money orders, and credit or debit cards.

The masscourts.org portal and the courthouse itself are the most reliable sources for Hampden County case data. Start your search there for the most accurate and up-to-date felony records.

Hampden County Felony Records: What Is and Isn't Public

Most of the Hampden County felony case file is public. That includes the complaint or indictment, arraignment record, bail order, most pretrial motions and court orders, plea agreements, trial exhibits, verdict forms, and the sentencing document. The docket sheet is always public.

The Hampden County DA's office is subject to certain exemptions when it comes to public records requests. Active investigations and ongoing prosecutions are protected. Personal identification details for certain parties may be redacted. Grand jury minutes are never released. Medical records, health information, and autopsy reports attached to a case are withheld. Attorney work product is protected. Juvenile case records are confidential. Materials that could identify victims of sexual assault or domestic violence are restricted. Personnel files for court staff are not public.

These exemptions apply to records in the DA's possession. Records filed with the court and in the clerk's case file follow a different standard. Most of what the court holds is public unless a judge has ordered it sealed or impounded. If you are not sure whether a specific document is public, ask the clerk when you visit or call ahead.

Checking the public file before you make a trip to Springfield can save time. The masscourts.org portal lets you confirm what is available before you submit a formal request to the court or DA's office.

Hampden County District Courts

Serious felony cases go to Superior Court in Springfield, but all cases start at the district level. Hampden County has five district courts. Springfield District Court shares the address at 50 State Street with the Superior Court, phone (413) 748-7730. Chicopee District Court is at 30 Church Street, (413) 598-0095. Holyoke District Court is at 20 Court Street, (413) 534-6000. Palmer District Court is at 235 Sykes Street, Palmer, (413) 283-3685. Westfield District Court is at 224 Western Avenue, Westfield, (413) 572-5100.

If a Hampden County felony case started at district court before being transferred to Superior Court, both courts hold relevant records. The district court keeps the early filings including the arraignment, initial bail determination, and any early motions. Once the case moves to Superior Court, new filings go there. You may need both sets of records to get the full picture.

District courts also handle cases that are resolved at the misdemeanor level and never transferred to Superior Court. If you are unsure which court handled a specific case, start with the masscourts.org search and look at both court levels for Hampden County.

Hampden County DA and Public Records Requests

The Hampden County District Attorney's Office is at 50 State Street, Springfield, MA 01103. Phone: (413) 747-1000. The DA's website is hampdenda.com. The DA's office publishes its own guidelines for public records requests at hampdenda.com/contact-us/guidelines-for-public-records-requests. The office specifically advises against submitting requests for "any and all records" related to a case, as these are more likely to be denied or delayed. Focused, specific requests get better results.

When you submit a public records request to the Hampden County DA's office, include the case number, the names of the parties, the specific documents you want, and why you need them if it helps clarify the request. The office must respond within 10 business days under the Massachusetts Public Records Law. Complex requests involving large files may take longer.

Hampden County Sheriff

The Hampden County Sheriff's Office is at 627 Randall Road, Ludlow, MA 01056. Phone: (413) 547-8000. The sheriff's website is hampdensheriff.com. The sheriff runs the county jail and maintains inmate records. The sheriff's website has an inmate lookup tool where you can search for people currently in county custody by name. Results show booking dates, charges, and expected release dates.

Inmate records tell you where someone is being held, but they are separate from the Superior Court case file. A person may be in county custody while their felony case is still pending. Check both the court portal and the sheriff's inmate lookup to get a full picture of where a Hampden County case stands.

Hampden County Probate Court

The Hampden County Probate and Family Court is at 50 State Street, Springfield, MA 01103. Phone: (413) 755-8600. This court handles guardianship, civil commitments, and family matters that can connect to felony cases. If a criminal case has related probate or family court filings, you may need to check both systems.

Probate court records are accessible through masscourts.org in the same way as Superior Court records. You can search for probate and family court filings alongside criminal case data all in one place.

Hampden County court records across Superior, District, and Probate courts can all be searched through the masscourts.org system.

CORI and Hampden County Felony History

All Hampden County felony convictions appear in the statewide CORI system managed by DCJIS in Chelsea. Under MGL Chapter 6, a personal CORI report costs $25, with fee waivers for indigent individuals. You can audit your own CORI once every 90 days at no cost. Most felony convictions stay on CORI for 10 years. Murder and sex offense convictions have no time limit.

Felony records in Hampden County can be sealed after 7 years under MGL Chapter 276, Section 100A. Once sealed, a record stops appearing in most public searches. If you search for a Hampden County felony case and find nothing, sealing is the most common reason.

For help understanding CORI rights or the sealing process in Hampden County, MassLegalHelp provides a plain-language guide. For people in the Springfield area, local legal aid organizations can also help with CORI corrections and sealing petitions.

Cities in Hampden County

These cities in Hampden County have dedicated records pages.

Nearby Counties

Hampden County borders four other Massachusetts counties, each with its own court system.