Suffolk County Felony Records

Suffolk County felony records are held at the Superior Court at Pemberton Square in Boston and at the Boston Municipal Court, which handles a high volume of criminal cases across the city's neighborhoods. Suffolk County is the most urban county in Massachusetts and covers Boston, Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop. Felony records here are public documents that can be searched online, requested by mail, or viewed in person at the courthouse.

Suffolk County Superior Court - Felony Records

The Suffolk County Superior Court is at 3 Pemberton Square, Boston, MA 02108. The criminal clerk's office is on the 14th floor, phone (617) 788-8160, fax (617) 788-7798. The civil clerk is on the 12th floor at (617) 788-8175. The courthouse is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Certified copies of felony judgments, sentencing records, and full case dockets are all available through this office.

The Superior Court is where the most serious felony cases in Suffolk County are tried. This includes major drug trafficking cases, violent crimes, and large-scale fraud matters. Each case file holds the grand jury indictment or criminal complaint, all pre-trial motions and court responses, evidence and exhibit lists, hearing transcripts, and the final verdict or plea agreement. The sentencing record shows exactly what penalty was imposed. All of these are public records under MGL c. 66, § 10 and MGL Chapter 6.

Copy fees at Suffolk Superior Court are $1.00 per page for certified copies. This is different from some other counties in the state, which charge $2.50 per page. Non-certified copies may be available at a lower rate; ask the clerk when you call. Payment by check, money order, or cash is standard. Have the defendant's name and approximate case year ready before you contact the office.

Full contact details, hours, and directions are available at the Suffolk County Superior Court page on mass.gov.

The image below is from the Superior Court's official listing at mass.gov, showing the public access and contact information for Suffolk County felony records.

This is the official starting point for in-person visits and mail requests to the Suffolk County criminal clerk.

Boston Municipal Court - Suffolk County Felony Arraignments

Boston Municipal Court (BMC) plays a central role in Suffolk County felony records. The BMC handles arraignments and early-stage felony proceedings for cases arising within the city of Boston. Its main location is the Edward W. Brooke Courthouse, 24 New Chardon Street, Boston, MA 02114, phone (617) 788-8600. The BMC has seven divisions that cover different Boston neighborhoods: Central, Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, Roxbury, South Boston, and West Roxbury.

Felony cases start at the BMC division for the neighborhood where the offense occurred. After arraignment and any bail hearings, the case is committed to Suffolk Superior Court for trial or plea. This means that early-stage records, including arraignment documents, initial bail determinations, and probable cause hearings, are held at the relevant BMC division. Later-stage records, including trial proceedings and sentencing, are at the Superior Court on Pemberton Square.

Chelsea District Court (120 Broadway, Chelsea, MA 02150, phone (617) 660-9200) handles cases originating in Chelsea, one of the four cities in Suffolk County. Like the BMC divisions, the Chelsea District Court processes early felony proceedings before transfer to Superior Court.

How to Search Suffolk County Felony Records Online

The free state case portal at masscourts.org covers both the Suffolk County Superior Court and the Boston Municipal Court. Select the court type and Suffolk County or the specific court location, then search by name, case number, case type, or ticket number. The portal shows case parties, attorney information, the assigned judge, charges, hearing dates, docket entries, and the final disposition. Civil Superior Court cases can be searched by name; criminal cases work best with a case number.

What does not appear online: sealed records, juvenile cases, adoption proceedings, competency hearings, certain family court records, and grand jury materials. If masscourts.org returns no results but you believe a case exists, contact the criminal clerk at (617) 788-8160. Staff can check the internal system to confirm whether a file is restricted or held at a different location.

Beyond the state portal, you can request a CORI report through DCJIS for a broader look at someone's criminal history in Suffolk County. The Suffolk County Clerk's office at (617) 788-8160 can also help locate records that do not appear online, including older cases or those filed under variant name spellings.

When searching for Suffolk County felony records, having the defendant's full name and approximate case date helps narrow results on the state portal.

Using the court type filter on masscourts.org lets you separate Superior Court felony cases from Boston Municipal Court records in Suffolk County.

Suffolk County DA and Sheriff - Felony Record Resources

The Suffolk County District Attorney's office is at 1 Bulfinch Place, Boston, MA 02114. Main phone: (617) 619-4000. For public records requests to the DA's office, email SCDAOPRR@state.ma.us or contact Beth Stone at the same address. The DA prosecutes all felony cases in Suffolk County. Visit suffolkda.com for press releases on major cases, case outcome data, and information on victim services. The DA's office does not hold court case files; those are at the Superior Court or BMC clerk's offices.

The Suffolk County Sheriff's Department is at 20 Bradston Street, Boston, MA 02118. Phone: (617) 635-1000. Email: info@scsdma.org. The Sheriff manages the Suffolk County House of Correction and the Nashua Street Jail, where people awaiting trial or serving shorter sentences are held. Visit scsdma.org for information on inmate lookup and the county's detention facilities. If you need to confirm whether someone is currently in Suffolk County custody, the Sheriff's office is the right contact.

Suffolk County public records can also be accessed through direct requests to the DA's office or the Sheriff's Department, depending on what type of information you need.

For felony case files, the Superior Court clerk's office holds the most complete records. The Sheriff's Department handles custody and detention information separately.

Boston Police and City Public Records for Felony Cases

The Boston Police Department (BPD) is at 1 Schroeder Plaza, Boston, MA 02120. Main phone: (617) 343-4200. For public records requests, go to bpdnews.com/public-records-request. Media inquiries go to MediaRelations@pd.boston.gov. BPD arrest records, incident reports, and police narratives are separate from court case files but often relate to the same felony case. Arrest reports can give you the initial charges and arresting officer information before the court case begins.

The City of Boston's Public Records Office handles requests for city-held documents. It is at 1 City Hall Square, Room 615, Boston, MA 02201. Phone: (617) 635-4037. Email: publicrecords@boston.gov. Contact person: Shawn Williams. City records that may relate to felony cases include 911 call logs, incident reports from city agencies, and documents tied to city investigations. These are separate from court case records but can be useful for research on specific incidents.

Police arrest records cover the initial stages of a case: the arrest report, officer narratives, criminal complaints, photographs, and audio or video recordings tied to the incident. Court records pick up from arraignment onward. Together they give a full picture of a Suffolk County felony case from arrest through final disposition.

Searching by defendant name on masscourts.org is the most direct way to find Suffolk County felony cases when you do not have a case number.

Selecting the correct court type and location on the state portal helps filter results to Suffolk County felony cases specifically.

CORI and Sealing of Suffolk County Felony Records

Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) is the statewide criminal history system managed by DCJIS. DCJIS is at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150, phone (617) 660-4600. A personal CORI report costs $25, waived for those who qualify as indigent. Suffolk County felony convictions appear in CORI under the standard lookback of 10 years. Murder and sex offense convictions have no time limit in CORI.

Under MGL Chapter 276, § 100A, a Suffolk County felony conviction can be sealed after 7 years from the date of conviction or release from custody, whichever is later. Misdemeanors require 3 years. Once sealed, the record does not appear in most public CORI searches. Sealing does not equal expungement; the record still exists but with limited visibility. Expungement is available in specific circumstances under state law, such as wrongful conviction or certain youthful offense cases. For help with record sealing in Suffolk County, Greater Boston Legal Services offers free legal assistance to qualifying Boston-area residents. The MassLegalHelp CORI rights page is a solid starting point for understanding what can be sealed and how.

Mail Requests for Suffolk County Felony Records

To request Suffolk County felony records by mail, write to: Criminal Clerk's Office, 3 Pemberton Square, 14th Floor, Boston, MA 02108. Include the defendant's full name, the approximate year of the case, the case number if you have it, and a description of what you need (docket sheet, certified copy of judgment, etc.). Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope and a check or money order for the copy fees. Allow 7 to 10 business days for the clerk to process the request.

If you are unsure which court holds the records you need, call the criminal clerk at (617) 788-8160 first. Staff can confirm whether the case is at the Superior Court or at a BMC division and direct you to the right office. This saves time when the case may have started at BMC and moved to Superior Court mid-proceedings.

The Boston Public Records Office at boston.gov/departments/public-records is the right contact for city-held documents, not court case files. If you need police reports or city agency records tied to a Suffolk County felony case, that is where to submit your request.

Cities in Suffolk County

The following qualifying cities in Suffolk County have dedicated felony records pages.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Suffolk County. Each has its own Superior Court for felony records.