What are Suffolk County Arrest Records?
Suffolk County arrest records provide information about arrests and apprehensions wishing the county. Suffolk arrest records include arrest reports, mugshots, arrest warrants, and accident reports. The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department generates arrest records in Suffolk County. A requester can get a Suffolk County arrest record or report by sending a written request with details, or the arrest or incidence indicated, to the Sheriff’s Department at:
Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department
200 Nashua Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 635-1100
Crime Statistics
Suffolk County recorded 5,514 violent crimes and 17,665 property crimes in 2015, the last year with a complete set of crime statistics. The county’s violent crime rate fell by 18.3% between 2010 and 2015. In the same period, the property crime rate dipped by 25.1%. With 3,368 cases, aggravated assault was the leading violent crime in Suffolk County in 2015. Other incidences of violent crime include 41 murders, 306 rapes, and 1,799 robberies. Larceny led property crimes with 13,421 cases while there were 2,399 burglaries, 1,545 vehicle thefts, and 9 arsons.
Compared to 2010 figures, the five-year crime trend in Suffolk County reveals that were fewer cases of all crimes in 2015 except rape and arson. Arson figures remain the same for the two years but the rape rate slightly increased by 2%. In contrast, murder, aggravated assault, and robbery rates fell by 49.4%, 19.2%, and 18.2% respectively. Burglary rate dipped by 38.6% over the five-year period while the larceny rate reduced by 20.1% and the vehicle theft rate shrank by 35.8%.
What are Suffolk County Criminal Records?
Suffolk County criminal records are official files that compile information about the criminal history of persons within Suffolk County. Suffolk County criminal records include information about arrest warrants, criminal charges, convictions, and corrections. The Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) is the state central repository for criminal records and background check services.
How Do I Get Suffolk County Criminal Records?
The CJIS administers the issuance of Suffolk County criminal history records through name-based or fingerprint-based searches on the subject of interest. Name-based searches provide criminal records information on the subject on a state basis. Fingerprint-based searches can give more specific criminal and arrest records and convictions to the county level.
Access to name-based searches is through the iCORI online portal. The CJIS uses this online portal to provide name-based search services. Since it provides statewide information, it can be used to search criminal records of persons in Suffolk County and other parts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Criminal records fingerprint-based search services are available to few authorized persons and agencies. Simply schedule a fingerprinting appointment for the subject of the search with any of the CJIS-approved vendors. They can get the criminal record check results from the Massachusetts SAFIS service site.
How to Find Suffolk County Sex Offender Information?
The Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) maintains a statewide database of registered sex offenders living in all the counties of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It makes this central registry publicly available online. To access it, visit the SORB website and search for offenders by name or zip code. Choose the county search option to see a complete list of registered sex offenders residing in Suffolk County. This SORB resource lists Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders and also provides identifying information for non-compliant and incarcerated offenders.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Suffolk County Jail?
The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department oversees the operation of the two jails in the county. The bigger facility is the South Bay House of Corrections located at:
South Bay House of Corrections
20 Bradston Street
Boston, MA 02118
(617) 635-1000
The other facility is the Nashua Street Jail located at:
Nashua Street Jail
200 Nashua Street
Boston, MA 02114
(617) 635-1100
Call the contact number of either of these facilities to schedule an inmate visit.
Where and How to Find Suffolk County Inmate Information?
The Sheriff’s Department does not provide inmate and jail records online. To find more information about these county jails as well as inmate location, call the House of Corrections at (617) 635-1000 and the Nashua Street Jail at (617) 635-1100.
What are Suffolk County Court Records?
Suffolk County Court Records are documents that concern legal proceedings administered by Suffolk County courts. Court dockets for Suffolk County are available online on the two main judicial record systems of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. To access and view case documents and court calendars, visit the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access portal and the website of the Supreme Judicial Court and Appeals Court of Massachusetts.
Residents can obtain certified copies of the records of the Suffolk Probate and Family Court by visiting the court location or submitting mail requests. Available records include a certificate of divorce and letters of authority or appointment in guardianship cases. To obtain such records, download and complete a Request for Copies form. Bring it to Suffolk Probate and Family Court located at 24 New Chardon Street, Boston, MA 02114. Mail requests also go to this address. Those should include the required fees paid with checks and money orders made out to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
The Suffolk Probate and Family Court charges a fee of $20 for each certificate of divorce, certificate or name change, and the first page of a certified copy of a judgment of divorce nisi. Additional pages of a judgment of divorce nisi are charged at the rate of $1 per page.
Location of All Courts in Suffolk County
Courts in Suffolk County include one Superior Court, one District Court, one Probate and Family Court, one Housing Court, four Juvenile Courts, and eight Boston Municipal Courts. The addresses and contact information of these courts are below:
Suffolk County Superior Court
Suffolk County Superior Court
Suffolk County Courthouse
3 Pemberton Square
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 788-8175 (Civil)
Phone: (617) 788-8160 (Criminal)
Fax: (617) 788-7798 (Criminal)
Suffolk County District Court
Chelsea District Court
120 Broadway
Chelsea, MA 02150
Phone: (617) 660-9200
Fax: (617) 660-9215
Suffolk County Probate and Family Court
Suffolk Probate and Family Court
Edward West Brooke Courthouse
24 New Chardon Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 788-8301
Fax: (617) 788-8962
Suffolk County Housing Court
Eastern Housing Court
Edward W. Brooke Courthouse
24 New Chardon Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 788-8485
Suffolk County Juvenile Courts
Boston Juvenile Court
Edward W. Brooke Courthouse
24 New Chardon Street, P.O. Box 9663, Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 788-8525
Fax: (617) 788-8991
Chelsea Juvenile Court
120 Broadway
Chelsea, MA 02150
Phone: (617) 660-9225
Dorchester Juvenile Court
510 Washington Street
Dorchester, MA 02124
Phone: (617) 288-9500, extension 400
West Roxbury Juvenile Court
445 Arborway
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Phone: (617) 971-1154
Suffolk County Boston Municipal Courts
Brighton Division
52 Academy Hill Road
Brighton, MA 02135
Phone: (617) 782-6540, extension 5
Fax: (617) 254-2127
Central Division
Edward West Brooke Courthouse
24 New Chardon Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 788-8600
Fax: (617) 788-8465
Charlestown Division
3 City Square
Charlestown, MA 02129
Phone: (617) 242-5400, extension 1
Fax: (617) 242-1677
Dorchester Division
510 Washington Street, Dorchester, MA 02124
Phone: (617) 288-9500, extension 6
Fax: (617) 436-8250
East Boston Division
37 Meridian Street
East Boston, MA 02128
Phone: (617) 569-7550, extension 5
Fax: (617) 561-4988
Roxbury Division
85 Warren Street
Roxbury, MA 02119
Phone: (617) 427-7000, extension 1
Fax: (617) 541-0286
South Boston Division
535 East Broadway
South Boston, MA 02127
Phone: (617) 268-9292
Fax: (617) 268-7321
West Roxbury Division
445 Arborway
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Phone: (617) 971-1200, extension 1
Fax: (617) 983-0243
What are Suffolk County Vital Records?
Suffolk County vital records are official documents generated over a lifetime for citizens residing within Suffolk County. They document vital events, such as births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. Suffolk County divorce records are in the custody of the county’s Probate and Family Court. Suffolk County residents and other interested persons can request birth, death, and marriage registered between 1926 to date from the Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS).
Where and How to Get Suffolk County Divorce Records?
The Suffolk County Probate and Family Court maintain divorce records and processes requests of interested persons in the county. To obtain a divorce record, send a written request with information about the divorce to:
Suffolk Probate and Family Court
Edward West Brooke Courthouse
24 New Chardon Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 788-8301
Fax: (617) 788-8962
Where and How to Get Suffolk County Marriage Records?
The RVRS keeps records of marriages performed since 1926 to date in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The RVRS accepts in-person and mail requests for marriage records. To order a marriage record, bring or send a completed vital records mail order form to:
Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
150 Mount Vernon Street
1st Floor
Dorchester, MA 02125
The RVRS receives in-person requests from Monday to Friday between 8:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Include a photocopy of a valid photo ID with a mail request as well as payment for copies of vital records as a check or money order. Cash is also accepted for in-person requests. The fee for obtaining a marriage record in person is $20. The RVRS charges $32 for each certified copy of a marriage record requested by mail.
Where and How to Get Suffolk County Birth Records?
Records of births registered in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are at the Office of the RVRS. The birth records with the RVRS are from 1926 to date. Interested persons may request a birth record in person or by mail by filling out the vital records mail order form. The requester should enclose a copy of a valid ID and payment and submit to:
Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
150 Mount Vernon Street
1st Floor
Dorchester, MA 02125
In-person requests are accepted from Monday to Friday between 8:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Make payments for mail requests with check or money order. Cash is accepted for in-person requests. The fee for a birth record gotten in person is $20. It costs $32 for each certified copy of a birth record requested by mail.
Where and How to Get Suffolk County Death Records?
Suffolk County death records from 1926 to date are kept by the RVRS. Residents and other interested persons may submit mail or in-person requests to obtain a death record. Simply fill out the vital records mail order form. Attach a copy of a valid ID as well as payment to the filled-out form and submit to:
Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
150 Mount Vernon Street
1st Floor
Dorchester, MA 02125
In-person requests for death records are accepted from Monday to Friday between 8:45 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. Accepted payment methods for mail requests are check and money order. Cash is accepted for walk-in requests. An in-person requested death record costs $20. For mail requests, it costs $32 each.
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.
Are Property Records Open to the Public in Suffolk County?
Under the Massachusetts Public Information Act, Suffolk County property records are accessible to the public. Interested persons may send requests to the custodian to obtain copies of property records.
Where and How to Find Property Records in Suffolk County?
The Suffolk County Register of Deeds maintains records of lands and property within the county. The office of the Register of Deeds has property records from the 1800s to date. Interested residents can obtain copies of property records by submitting in-person, mail, or email requests to:
Suffolk County Register of Deeds
24 New Chardon Street
P.O. Box 9660
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 788-8575
Phone: (617) 788-6251
Fax: (617) 720-4163
Email: suffolk.deeds@sec.state.ma.us
How to Look Up Suffolk County Property Records?
The Suffolk County Register of Deeds provides the general public with the land records search portal. There are several help and instruction manuals provided to help users easily carry out Suffolk County Property Searches and navigate the website. The city assessors in the county provide property search portals for interested persons. They include the City of Boston, the City of Chelsea, the City of Revere, and the Town of Winthrop.
Location of Suffolk County Property Assessors
City of Boston Assessing Department
1 City Hall Square
Room 301
Boston, MA 02201-2011
(617) 635-4287
Assessing@Boston.Gov
City of Chelsea Assessor’s Office
Chelsea City Hall
Room #211-212
500 Broadway
Chelsea, MA 02150
Phone: (617) 466-4010
Fax: (617) 466-4019
City of Revere Assessor
City Hall
281 Broadway
Revere, MA 02151
Phone: (781) 286-8170
Fax: (781) 286-8388
Town of Winthrop Assessor
1 Metcalf Square
Winthrop Town Hall
Winthrop, MA 02152
Phone: (617) 846-2716
Fax: (617) 846-4780
