Massachusetts Criminal Records

This guide explains how to find Massachusetts criminal records, arrest records, court records, inmate information, and the public sex offender registry, and how Massachusetts background-check and record-clearing laws work. It was last reviewed in June 2026 using official Massachusetts sources, and it points you to the state and county agencies that hold each type of record. You can also start a name search using the tool on this page.

How do I look up a criminal record in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts calls its statewide criminal history system CORI, which stands for Criminal Offender Record Information. The system is maintained by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS). There are three realistic ways to find criminal-record information:

• Your own CORI. You can request a copy of your own record online through the state's iCORI portal, run by DCJIS. You will need a valid Massachusetts driver's license or state ID to register. The fee is $25 unless you qualify for a hardship waiver. Processing can take up to ten business days.
• Court case records. Individual case filings are generally public and are searchable through the Massachusetts Trial Court's free MassCourts case access portal by name, case type, or case number. See the court-records question below.
• An online people-search tool like the one on this page, which compiles public-record data from many sources into one report. These tools are for personal knowledge only and are not a substitute for an official CORI request or an FCRA-compliant background check.

A fingerprint-based official search is the only way to definitively confirm a record belongs to a specific person; a name search can return results that belong to someone else.

Who can access the Massachusetts CORI system?

It depends on which record and the level of access. Massachusetts restricts who can view a full CORI based on a tiered system. Employers and landlords can access CORI only through the iCORI system after registering with DCJIS. The general public can request an "Open CORI" - a limited view showing only older convictions and certain public information - also through iCORI. Court case records, such as dockets and dispositions, are generally public and can be searched through MassCourts. Records that have been sealed or expunged are not available to the general public.

Where can I look up arrest records in Massachusetts?

Arrest records appear in the CORI system and in court records if charges were filed. For recent bookings, many county jails and local police departments publish online jail or booking rosters. An arrest record only shows that a person was taken into custody - it is not proof of conviction or guilt. Massachusetts law, under M.G.L. c. 151B and CORI reform rules, restricts how far back employers may use arrest information against applicants.

How do I look up warrants in Massachusetts?

Warrants are issued by the courts and served by local police agencies. The most reliable places to check are the clerk of the court in the county where charges would be filed, or the local police department. Statewide case information, including some warrant-related case events, may also surface in the MassCourts online portal. Active warrants may not always be publicly posted to protect the integrity of ongoing law enforcement activity.

Do arrests show up on background checks in Massachusetts?

For employment, tenant, and credit screening run through a consumer reporting agency, both the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and Massachusetts state law govern what can be reported. Massachusetts is stricter than the FCRA in two key ways: under M.G.L. c. 151B, employers may not ask applicants about arrests that did not lead to a conviction, and consumer reporting agencies may not report such arrests at all. The state's Ban the Box law (M.G.L. c. 151B §4) also prohibits most employers from asking about criminal records on a job application.

How far back does a background check go in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts restricts criminal conviction reporting to seven years from the date of disposition, release from incarceration, or the start of parole, whichever is most recent. Critically, Massachusetts closes the FCRA's high-salary loophole - a consumer reporting agency operating in Massachusetts cannot report convictions older than seven years regardless of the salary of the position being filled. Key points:

• Arrests that did not lead to a conviction generally cannot be reported to employers at all.
• Convictions can be reported for up to seven years from disposition, release, or parole start.
• The Ban the Box law bars employers from asking about criminal history on job applications and restricts questions about misdemeanor convictions that occurred more than three years prior.
• Employers running five or more Massachusetts CORI checks must have a written CORI policy on file with DCJIS.

How do I find someone in jail or prison in Massachusetts?

It depends on where the person is held:

• State prison or correctional facility. Use the Massachusetts Department of Correction inmate search (powered by VINELink) on Mass.gov. Search by name or commitment number to find a person in a state DOC facility.
• County jail or house of correction. People awaiting trial or serving short sentences (up to 2.5 years) are held in county-run houses of correction. Check the relevant county sheriff's office website for a jail roster or inmate lookup.
• Federal custody. For federal cases, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator instead.

Are Massachusetts court records public?

Most adult court records in Massachusetts are public and accessible through the MassCourts portal or in person at any trial court clerk's office. The CORI system is not fully open to the public - access is tiered based on the requestor's role (employer, landlord, or member of the general public). Records that have been sealed under M.G.L. c. 276 §100A or expunged under M.G.L. c. 276 §§100E - 100U are not available to the public or most employers. Juvenile records are generally sealed from public view as well.

How do I find court records in Massachusetts?

The Massachusetts Trial Court operates a free public case access portal at MassCourts.org. You can search by party name, case number, or case type across all trial court departments, including District Court, Superior Court, and Boston Municipal Court. The portal shows docket entries, scheduled events, and dispositions. For sensitive case types - such as juvenile cases or sealed records - access is restricted by law. To view case documents or obtain certified copies, you may need to contact the clerk's office in person or by mail.

How do I find out if someone is on probation or parole in Massachusetts?

State parole is supervised by the Massachusetts Parole Board. You can request public parole records through the Board's online public-records request form. For a specific parolee, you can submit a written request to the Board's Office of General Counsel in Natick. Probation is supervised by the Office of the Commissioner of Probation (OCP) and tied to the court that imposed the sentence, so court records are the best starting point. Probation means serving a sentence in the community under court-set conditions instead of being incarcerated.

What crimes are felonies in Massachusetts?

Under M.G.L. c. 274 §1, a crime is a felony in Massachusetts if it is punishable by death or imprisonment in the state prison. The key line is where the sentence is served: if the offense can result in state prison time, it is a felony; if the maximum sentence is served in a county jail or house of correction (up to 2.5 years), it is a misdemeanor. Massachusetts does not use letter grades (Class A, B, C) for felonies - instead, each individual statute sets its own penalty range. Common felonies include murder, rape, armed robbery, trafficking in controlled substances, and arson of a dwelling.

What crimes are misdemeanors in Massachusetts?

A misdemeanor in Massachusetts is any crime that cannot be punished by state prison. Misdemeanors are served in a county jail or house of correction, with a maximum sentence of up to 2.5 years (sometimes expressed as "two and a half years"). Common misdemeanors include a first or second OUI (operating under the influence), simple assault and battery, shoplifting, trespassing, and disorderly conduct. Like felonies, individual statutes specify the maximum penalty for each offense rather than grouping them into named classes.

Are traffic violations crimes in Massachusetts?

Most routine traffic infractions - such as speeding or running a red light - are civil matters, not criminal offenses, and do not appear on a criminal record or CORI. However, more serious driving offenses are criminal. A first or second OUI (the Massachusetts term for DUI/DWI, under M.G.L. c. 90 §24) is a misdemeanor. A third OUI and above is a felony. Other criminal traffic offenses include leaving the scene of an accident causing injury, reckless operation, and operating after license revocation for OUI.

Is OUI (DUI) a felony in Massachusetts?

A first or second OUI offense under M.G.L. c. 90 §24 is a misdemeanor in Massachusetts. A third OUI becomes a felony, punishable by 150 days to 5 years and fines of $1,000 to $15,000. A fourth OUI carries 1 to 5 years, and a fifth OUI carries 2.5 to 5 years. OUI causing serious bodily injury or death can also result in felony charges regardless of prior history. The state uses the term OUI (Operating Under the Influence) rather than DUI or DWI.

Is the sex offender registry public in Massachusetts?

Yes, in part. The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) classifies offenders into three levels based on risk:

• Level 1 (low risk): Information is not publicly available online or through police department inquiries.
• Level 2 (moderate risk): Information for Level 2 offenders classified after July 12, 2013 is available through the SORB online registry. Full Level 2 information, including those classified before that date, can be obtained at local police departments or through a named SORI (Sex Offender Registry Information) request to SORB.
• Level 3 (high risk): Information is publicly available both online and through police departments.

You can search Level 2 and Level 3 offenders through the SORB official registry on Mass.gov. You may also call SORB toll-free at 1-800-93-MEGAN.

Can someone be removed from the Massachusetts sex offender registry?

Yes, in some cases. The registration obligation is automatically terminated for many offenders after 20 years, provided they have committed no new sexual offenses. After 10 years, an eligible offender may petition SORB for early termination by demonstrating, through clear and convincing evidence, that they have not committed a sexual offense during that period and do not pose a danger to the public. Certain high-risk offenders - including those convicted of a sexually violent offense or classified as a sexually violent predator, and those with multiple Wetterling Act offenses - may never terminate their registration obligation. Eligibility is fact-specific, so legal advice is recommended.

How do I seal or expunge my criminal record in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts offers two separate remedies, and they are not the same thing:

• Sealing (M.G.L. c. 276 §100A): Hides the record from public background checks but keeps it accessible to law enforcement and certain agencies. You can petition to seal a misdemeanor conviction 3 years after the guilty finding or release from incarceration, whichever is later. For a felony conviction, the waiting period is 7 years. Non-conviction records (dismissed charges, not-guilty findings) may be sealed under a separate provision with no waiting period.
• Expungement (M.G.L. c. 276 §§100E - 100U): Permanently destroys the record so it is no longer accessible to courts, criminal justice agencies, or other state agencies. Eligibility is narrower: all offenses must have occurred before age 21, the record may have at most two entries, the offense must be on the eligible list (violent crimes, sex offenses, OUI, and firearms offenses are excluded), and the waiting period is 7 years from completion of sentence for any felony (3 years if all offenses are misdemeanors). There is no filing fee for expungement.

To begin either process, download the petition form from the Massachusetts Probation Service website and mail it to the Office of the Commissioner of Probation, One Ashburton Place, Room 405, Boston, MA 02108. The District Attorney may object; if so, a hearing is held.

Do I need a lawyer to seal or expunge my record in Massachusetts?

You are not required to hire a lawyer. The courts and the Office of the Commissioner of Probation make forms and instructions publicly available, and there is no filing fee for expungement. That said, eligibility rules are detailed, some offenses are specifically excluded, and a procedural mistake can cost you the chance to clear the record. Many people benefit from consulting a lawyer or a free legal-aid organization, especially for felony cases or situations where the District Attorney is likely to object.

How long does a felony stay on your record in Massachusetts?

A Massachusetts felony conviction stays on your criminal record permanently unless you obtain relief through sealing or expungement. There is no automatic deletion. The seven-year rule described above limits what a background-check company may report to employers; it does not erase the underlying record. A sealed record still exists for law enforcement; an expunged record is permanently destroyed and cannot be accessed by anyone, including courts and agencies.

Are juvenile criminal records private in Massachusetts?

Juvenile records in Massachusetts are generally not accessible to the public or to most background checks. They remain available to courts, law enforcement, and certain agencies. Juvenile records may be sealed under M.G.L. c. 276 §100B after a waiting period of at least 3 years, provided the person has not been adjudicated in Juvenile Court or found guilty of any criminal offense (other than minor traffic fines) during that period. A youthful offender who was treated as an adult for sentencing purposes may have a public record.

Middlesex County criminal records

Middlesex County is the most populous county in Massachusetts, home to more than 1.6 million residents, and includes cities such as Cambridge, Lowell, and Somerville. Criminal cases in Middlesex County are heard in the District Courts (for misdemeanors and lower-level felonies) and the Middlesex County Superior Court (for serious felonies). Case docket information for all these courts is searchable through the statewide MassCourts online portal by party name or case number. To request certified copies or case documents, contact the Middlesex County Superior Court clerk's office in Woburn directly. In-person public access terminals at each courthouse allow broader access than the internet portal.

Official Massachusetts criminal record sources

• Massachusetts iCORI portal (DCJIS) - request your own CORI or run an Open CORI check; $25 fee, requires MA ID.
• MassCourts Trial Court case access - free public search of case dockets, dispositions, and scheduled events statewide.
• Massachusetts DOC inmate search (Mass.gov) - locate a person in a state Department of Correction facility using VINELink.
• Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) - official registry for Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders, searchable by name; call 1-800-93-MEGAN.
• Massachusetts Parole Board - information on parole supervision; public records requests accepted online.
• Massachusetts law about criminal records (CORI) - Mass.gov - official guide to CORI statutes, regulations, and iCORI access rules.
• M.G.L. c. 274 §1 - Felonies and misdemeanors - the statutory definition of a felony vs. a misdemeanor in Massachusetts.
• Middlesex County Superior Court - clerk's office for requesting case records in the state's most populous county.

Disclosure: criminal.com may earn a commission when you use the people-search tool on this page, which is powered by a third-party background-check service. Results from such tools are for your personal knowledge only and may not be used to make decisions about employment, housing, credit, tenant screening, or any other purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). An arrest record or mugshot is not proof of guilt. This page is general information about Massachusetts public records, not legal advice; for advice about your situation, consult an attorney. Information was last reviewed in June 2026 and laws may change.