Suffolk County Criminal Records
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Suffolk County in 2026
Members of the public seeking criminal records in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, may access publicly available information through a combination of official court portals, clerk offices, law enforcement agencies, and third-party aggregators such as SuffolkMARecords.us. Suffolk County encompasses the City of Boston and surrounding communities, and its criminal records landscape reflects both state-level public records law and local court administration practices. Records that may be available include arrest logs, booking information, court case filings, charge dispositions, sentencing data, and probation outcomes. Availability varies by record type, agency, and whether a case has been sealed or expunged under Massachusetts law.
Records can be searched through official resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools. The following five methods outline the primary channels through which members of the public may obtain criminal record information.
1. County Court Records
The Suffolk County Superior Court and the Boston Municipal Court maintain criminal case files for felony and misdemeanor matters, respectively. Members of the public may inspect non-restricted case records in person at the clerk's office during business hours.
Suffolk County Superior Court – Criminal Clerk's Office
Three Pemberton Square
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 788-8180
Suffolk County Superior Court
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Requestors should bring a valid government-issued photo ID and, where possible, the full name of the subject and an approximate case filing date. Public access terminals are available in the clerk's lobby for case number lookups.
2. Sheriff's Office
The Suffolk County Sheriff's Department maintains records related to arrests, bookings, and individuals held at the Nashua Street Jail and the South Bay House of Correction. Arrest logs and inmate rosters are available upon request, subject to applicable exemptions.
Suffolk County Sheriff's Department
20 Bradston Street
Boston, MA 02118
Phone: (617) 704-6500
Suffolk County Sheriff's Department
Requests for booking records or inmate information may be submitted in person or in writing. Fees for copies are assessed pursuant to § 66, cl. 10 of the Massachusetts General Laws, which governs public records fees statewide.
3. Online Court Search
The Massachusetts Trial Court provides a statewide online case search portal through the Massachusetts Court System's public case search. Users may search by party name, case number, or docket number. The portal returns case status, hearing dates, and charge information for cases filed in the Trial Court system. Sealed cases and cases involving juveniles do not appear in public search results. Users should note that the online portal reflects data as entered by court staff and may not reflect same-day updates.
4. State Criminal History Repository
The Massachusetts Criminal History Systems Board (CHSB) maintains the statewide criminal history repository and processes formal background check requests under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 6, § 172.
Massachusetts Criminal History Systems Board
200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200
Chelsea, MA 02150
Phone: (617) 660-4600
CHSB iCORI Portal
Individuals and authorized entities may submit requests through the iCORI (Internet Criminal Offender Record Information) system. Standard processing fees apply, and fingerprint-based checks are required for certain employment and licensing purposes. Processing times vary based on request volume and submission method.
5. Written/Mail Requests
Written requests for court records may be submitted to the clerk's office of the relevant court. Requests should include the subject's full legal name, date of birth, and the approximate time period of the case. Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, § 10, agencies are required to respond to public records requests within ten business days.
What Is Suffolk County Criminal Records
A criminal record in Suffolk County is an official compilation of documented interactions between an individual and the criminal justice system, maintained by courts, law enforcement agencies, and state repositories. Under Massachusetts law, a criminal record encompasses arrest records, charging documents, court case filings, plea agreements, trial verdicts, sentencing orders, and post-conviction supervision data such as probation and parole status.
The distinction between record types is legally significant:
- Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that an individual was taken into custody; it does not indicate guilt. A conviction record reflects a formal finding or plea of guilty entered by a court.
- Felony vs. misdemeanor records: Felonies are offenses punishable by imprisonment in a state correctional facility; misdemeanors carry lesser penalties. Both categories are maintained in the court record system.
- Adult vs. juvenile records: Records involving individuals under age 18 at the time of the offense are subject to sealing provisions under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 276, § 100B and are not accessible to the general public.
- Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants reflect outstanding judicial orders for arrest and are maintained in law enforcement databases; historical records document resolved matters.
The agencies responsible for maintaining criminal records in Suffolk County include:
- Suffolk County Sheriff's Department – arrest records, booking data, jail records
- Suffolk County Superior Court and Boston Municipal Court – case files, dispositions, sentencing orders
- Massachusetts Criminal History Systems Board – statewide criminal history repository
- Boston Police Department and municipal police departments – incident reports, arrest data
Records are created at the point of arrest and updated at each stage of the criminal justice process, from arraignment through final disposition. The Massachusetts Trial Court serves as the primary repository for court-based criminal records in the county.
Are Criminal Records Public In Suffolk County
Criminal records in Suffolk County are subject to public disclosure under the Massachusetts Public Records Law, codified at Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, § 10, and the related exemptions set forth in Chapter 4, § 7, clause 26. As a general matter, adult conviction records and court proceedings are open to public inspection. The Massachusetts Secretary of State's Office, which oversees public records compliance, has stated that "the public records law reflects a presumption of public access to government records."
Records that are accessible to the public include:
- Adult conviction records
- Court dockets and case filings
- Sentencing orders
- Arrest logs maintained by law enforcement agencies
Records that are restricted or exempt from public disclosure include:
- Sealed criminal records pursuant to Chapter 276, §§ 100A–100C
- Expunged records under Chapter 276, § 100E
- Juvenile records
- Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations
- Victim and witness identifying information
- Records subject to a court-issued protective order
Federal criminal records maintained by the FBI are governed by separate federal statutes and are not subject to Massachusetts public records law. The Massachusetts Attorney General's Public Records Division provides guidance on the scope of public access and the process for challenging improper denials.
How To Find Criminal Records in Suffolk County Online
Official County Resources
The primary online portal for Suffolk County criminal court records is the Massachusetts Trial Court's public case search, which allows searches by party name or case number across all Trial Court departments, including the Superior Court and Boston Municipal Court. The Suffolk County Sheriff's Department publishes current inmate information on its official website. Users should search by full legal name and, where available, date of birth to narrow results.
State-Level Resources
The iCORI system operated by the Massachusetts Criminal History Systems Board provides online access to criminal offender record information for authorized requestors. The portal supports both self-request and third-party background check submissions. The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board maintains a publicly searchable database of registered sex offenders, which is accessible without charge.
Search Tips
- Search using the subject's full legal name as well as known aliases
- Case number searches return the most precise results
- Cross-reference results across the Trial Court portal and the iCORI system
- Note that records predating electronic filing may not appear in online searches
- Sealed and expunged records will not appear in any public online database
Limitations
Online databases reflect data as entered by court and agency staff and may lag behind real-time case activity. Records predating the digitization of court files may require in-person requests. Online searches do not constitute an official background check for employment or licensing purposes.
Can You Search Suffolk County Criminal Records for Free
Free Options
1. In-Person Inspection: Massachusetts law mandates that members of the public may inspect public records without charge. Pursuant to Chapter 66, § 10, custodians of public records must allow inspection at no cost. Copying fees may apply. In-person inspection is available at the Suffolk County Superior Court clerk's office and the Boston Municipal Court clerk's office.
Boston Municipal Court – Central Division
24 New Chardon Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 788-8700
Boston Municipal Court
2. Free Online Databases: The Massachusetts Trial Court's public case search portal is available at no charge. The Suffolk County Sheriff's inmate roster is publicly accessible online without registration. The Sex Offender Registry Board's public search tool is also free.
3. Sheriff's Logs: Daily booking and arrest logs maintained by the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department are available for public inspection upon request at no charge, subject to applicable exemptions.
What Costs Money
| Service | Approximate Fee |
|---|---|
| Certified copy of court document | $2.50 per page (court schedule) |
| iCORI standard background check | $25 per request |
| Fingerprint-based state background check | $27–$35 depending on purpose |
| Staff-assisted record search | Variable by agency |
| Expedited processing (iCORI) | Additional fee applies |
Fee schedules are established pursuant to state law and are subject to revision by the relevant agency. Fee waiver provisions may apply in limited circumstances as determined by the records custodian.
What's Included in a Suffolk County Criminal Record
Identifying Information: Full legal name and known aliases, date of birth, physical description, photograph (mugshot), last known address, State Identification Number (SID), and FBI number where applicable.
Arrest Information: Date, time, and location of arrest; arresting agency; booking number; charges filed at arrest; bail determination; and facility of detention.
Court Case Information: Case number, court and jurisdiction, filing date, statutory charges with felony or misdemeanor classification, plea entered, and attorney of record.
Disposition: Verdict or plea outcome, conviction date, sentence type and length, fines, restitution orders, conditions of probation or parole, and any appellate proceedings.
Additional Record Elements: Outstanding warrants, active protective orders, sex offender registration status, DUI/OUI entries, and pending charges.
Records NOT Included:
- Juvenile adjudications sealed under Chapter 276, § 100B
- Expunged records under Chapter 276, § 100E
- Records from other states or federal jurisdictions
- Matters resolved through completed diversion programs
- Cases sealed by court order
Accuracy Note: Individuals who identify errors in their criminal record may submit a correction request to the Massachusetts Criminal History Systems Board through the iCORI portal. Maintaining accurate records is essential for employment, licensing, and housing purposes.
How Long Does Suffolk County Keep Criminal Records
Legal Requirements
Massachusetts record retention schedules for court records are established by the Supreme Judicial Court and the Secretary of State's Records Conservation Board. The Massachusetts Trial Court Records Retention Schedule governs the preservation and destruction of court-generated criminal records.
Retention by Record Type
- Felony convictions: Retained permanently by the court and the state repository
- Misdemeanor convictions: Retained permanently in court records; the CHSB retains conviction data indefinitely
- Arrest records without conviction: Retained by law enforcement agencies; subject to sealing after qualifying waiting periods under Chapter 276, § 100A
- Dismissed or acquitted cases: Retained in court records permanently, with disposition noted; subject to sealing upon petition
- Juvenile records: Sealed at age 18 or upon case closure; destruction timelines governed by Chapter 276, § 100B
- Pending cases: Retained until final resolution
Agency Differences
- County courts: Permanent retention for conviction records per Trial Court retention rules
- Suffolk County Sheriff's Department: Booking and jail records retained per agency schedule, with electronic records maintained longer than paper
- Massachusetts CHSB: Permanent retention for conviction data; the CHSB serves as the authoritative state repository
Physical vs. Electronic Records
Electronic records are retained for longer periods than paper records. Paper documents may be destroyed after scanning and verification, but the electronic record persists in the state database.
Destruction vs. Sealing vs. Expungement
Sealing restricts public access to a record but does not destroy it; law enforcement and certain licensing agencies retain access. Expungement under Chapter 276, § 100E results in the physical and electronic destruction of qualifying records. Destruction refers to the routine disposal of records that have exceeded their retention period. Eligibility for expungement is limited to specific offense categories and waiting periods as defined by statute.
Old Records Access
Pre-digital records may require special requests to the clerk's office or the Massachusetts State Archives. Some historical criminal records are held in archival storage and are not accessible through standard online portals.
Federal Records
The FBI maintains its own criminal history repository independently of state systems. Federal records are governed by the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services Division and are subject to separate access rules.
Practical Implications
Even if a county agency destroys physical records, electronic copies may exist in state databases unless the record has been legally expunged. Felony convictions appear on background checks indefinitely. Employment screening practices under the Fair Credit Reporting Act commonly review criminal history for seven to ten years, though professional licensing boards may require full disclosure regardless of age.