Criminal Records
The Hampshire County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency of the county and is tasked with providing security-related services to county residents as well as maintaining records of criminal activity within county limits. However, the State Department of Criminal Justice Information Services serves as the central repository of criminal history information, and as such is better suited to process requests for criminal records and background checks. Thus, requests for these Hampshire county criminal records are directed to the Department.
How to Get Criminal Records
Criminal records provided by the State Department of Criminal Justice Information Services typically include information relating to the criminal history activities of the subject including records of traffic, misdemeanor and felony arrests, charges and all conviction information that apply. Records can be obtained by requesting name-based or fingerprint-based searches.
Name-based search requests can be made using the iCORI web application. The requesting party will be required to register for site access and obtain login information. Registered users must also furnish the query tool with necessary information regarding the subject, including their name, gender and date of birth if required.
On the other hand, fingerprinting record requests typically require that the requestor call and schedule an appointment with the approved fingerprinting vendor of the DCJIS. The subject of the search is typically required to provide a government-issued photo ID on the scheduled appointment date, and pay the stated fee before accessing the requested record.
How to Find Sex Offender Information
The State of Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board is tasked with publishing information relating to registered and convicted sex offenders residing in the state of Massachusetts. The Sex Offender Registry can be used to obtain information regarding registered offenders in Hampshire County including their locations, compliance status and proximity to specific addresses. Offenders can be searched by name, zip code or address or by their registration number. Interested persons may also opt to subscribe to the Email Alert System available on the site in order to stay updated regarding offenders within the county.
Where and How to Get Inmate and Jail information
The Hampshire County Sheriff's Office is charged with managing the Hampshire Jail and House of Correction and as such maintains relevant information regarding the county correctional facility as well as its housed inmates. Jail and inmate queries may be directed to the county sheriff's office or the county jail staff at (413) 584-5911. Information regarding inmate commissary, scheduling visits, and inmate welfare may also be retrieved from the Jail Information Page. Inmate location, primary charge, and bail/bond conditions can be tracked using the Find an Inmate Tool managed by the department of correction. Using the tool, inmates can be searched by first or last name, arresting agency or booking number.
Court Records
Where and How to Get Court Records
The office of the Hampshire County Superior Court Clerk of Courts performs clerical and administrative functions of the county court and is tasked with maintaining records of court cases heard within the county. The office provides copies of non-confidential court records upon request. However, in order to request a record, the requestor will be required to provide information relating to the record including the name of the plaintiff or defendant, the date the record was filed as well as the case file number of the court record. Requests for these records can be made in-person or via mail to:
15 Gothic St., P.O. Box 1119,
Northampton, MA 01061
Phone: (413) 584-5810
Fax: (413) 586-8217
Location of Courts in County
Listed below are the addresses and contact information of all the courthouses in Hampshire County Massachusetts.
Hampshire County Superior Court
15 Gothic Street,
P.O. Box 1119,
Northampton, MA 01061
Phone: (413) 584-5810
Fax: (413) 586-8217
Eastern Hampshire District Court
205 State Street,
Route 202,
P.O. Box 1490,
Belchertown, MA 01007
Phone: (413) 323-4056
Fax: (413) 323-6803
Northampton District Court
15 Gothic Street,
Northampton, MA 01060
Phone: (413) 584-7400
Fax: (413) 584-9479 (Civil)
Fax: (413) 586-1980 (Criminal)
Hampshire Probate and Family Court
33 King Street, Suite 3,
Northampton, MA 01060
Phone: (413) 586-8500
Fax: (413) 584-1132
Western Housing Court - Hadley Session
116 Russell Street,
Hadley, MA 01035
Phone: (413) 748-7838
Fax: (413) 732-4607
Western Housing Court - Springfield Session
37 Elm Street, P.O. Box 559,
Springfield, MA 01102
Phone: (413) 748-7838
Fax: (413) 732-4607
Belchertown Juvenile Court
205 State Street,
Belchertown, MA 01007
Phone: (413) 323-4056
Hadley Juvenile Court
116 Russell Street,
Route 9,
Hadley, MA 01035
Phone: (413) 584-7686
Where and How to Get Property Records
The Hampshire District Registry of Deeds Office is charged with recording and maintaining documents relating to land and real property ownership including deeds, mortgages, land records, liens, and plats. The office issues copies of these records to interested persons for a fee. Requestors may access these records online or using the Hampshire Registry of Deeds Online Index or by sending a written request stating the document type and number and recording date to the office at:
Hampshire County Register of Deeds Office
60 Railroad Ave.,
Northampton MA 01060
Tel: (413) 584-3637
Fax: (413) 584-4136
Email: hampshirereg@sec.state.ma.us
Vital Records
Massachusetts' vital records are generally issued by the State Registry of Vital Records and Statistics which is the primary custodian of statewide birth, death, marriage, and divorce records. At the county level, Hampshire county provides no options for retrieving vital records other than divorce records which can be obtained from the Hampshire Probate and Family Court. Thus all requests for birth, death and marriage records may be directed to the RVRS office.
Where and How to Get Divorce Records
Records of Divorces granted in Hampshire County are maintained by the issuing court which is the Hampshire Probate and Family Court. The court clerk provides copies of these records to county residents upon request. Interested persons may request a record by making in-person queries to the court or by sending a written request to the court clerk stating relevant information regarding the divorce such as the name of divorcees, the date and place of the divorce as well as the case file number of the court docket (if known). Requests may be made at/to:
The Hampshire Probate and Family Court
15 Atwood Drive, Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 586-8500
Where and How to Get Marriage Records Birth Records and Death Records
Copies of birth, marriage and death certificates can be requested from the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics. The records available in the office are of events that occurred in Hampshire (and other Massachusetts counties) from 1926 to date.
Interested persons may request these records by querying in person or by sending a written request indicating the name of the subject(s) of the record, the date and place of the event and a copy of the requestor's ID (preferably a driver's license or any government-issued ID). Requests may also be made by completing and sending a Vital Records Form along with the stated fees to:
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Department of Public Health
150 Mount Vernon Street, 1st Floor
Dorchester, MA 02125-3105
(617) 740-2600
In addition to government agencies, county public records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. Users are able to search third-party websites remotely for multiple records at a time with just the name of the record subject and their last known location, including the city, county, or state. Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
