What are Boston Public Records?
According to the Massachusetts Open Records Law, Boston public records are all data created, collated, utilized, reproduced, or stored by government agencies - except when exempted by the law. Boston public records may be in the form of papers, books, financial statements, photographs, maps, or statistical data/tabulations. Part of whole records are exempted or redacted if it fulfills the following criteria:
- Invasion of an individual's privacy.
- Personnel records
- Trade secrets
- Police internal affairs records
Boston Crime Statistics
In Boston, the Boston Police Department (BPD) generates the annual crime statistics for all crimes reported in the city. The crime statistics for Boston in 2019 revealed that a total number of 16,537 reported crimes in the city. The report covers 4,244 violent crimes and 12,293 property crimes. The violent crimes included in the report are as follows - 42 murder cases, 231 rape cases, 1,039 robbery cases, and 239 aggravated assault cases. Conversely, property crimes consist of 1,703 burglary cases and 10,590 larcenies-thefts cases. When compared with the 2016 Crime Statistics, the total number of reported crimes dropped by 14 percent. Violent crimes declined by 10 percent, while property crimes reduced by 15 percent.
Are Boston Criminal Records Public?
Not all Boston criminal records are accessible to the public. For example, the Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS), through the iCORI online database, provides access to all non-confidential criminal offenders record information. The following criminal information is exempted or redacted from the public view: in-state and out-of-state juvenile offenses, sealed offenses, civil offenses, and out-of-state sealed records. To access the iCORI platform, requesters must register on the platform either as individuals or organizations.
How to Obtain Boston Police Reports and Arrest Records
Boston police reports and arrest records are accessible to the public. The Massachusetts State Police maintains and provides access to all police reports and arrest records generated within the state. Therefore, individuals who wish to obtain Boston police reports and arrest records should fill out an online application form. Requesters must fill out their names, contact details, and summary of the request before accessing Boston police reports and arrest records.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Boston
The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) is the central repository of all convicted Level 2 and 3 sex offenders residing within the city of Boston and the state in general. Requesters can find sex offenders living in Boston by offender name and registration status (incarcerated, registered, and violation). In addition to this, requesters may search for sex offenders using the Geographical Information Search, which helps requesters get a list of sex offenders living in their immediate region.
How to Find Boston Inmate Records
Interested persons can find Boston inmate records by visiting the Boston Pre-release Center at:
430 Canterbury Street
Roslindale, MA 02131
(617) 822-5000.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Boston Jail?
Families and friends of inmates incarcerated in Boston Pre-release Center may visit the:
Boston Pre-release Center
430 Canterbury Street
Roslindale, MA 02131
(617) 822-5000.
Visiting hours at the Boston Pre-release Center is as follows:
- Tuesday to Saturdays: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
- Sundays: 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Only pre-approved visitors are allowed to visit inmates. Visitors must download and fill out the Visitor Application form and mail it to the Director of Security at the Boston Pre-release Center. Visitors and inmates will be notified if the application is approved or denied.
Adult visitors to the Boston Pre-release Center must present a valid picture ID upon entering the prison facility. In addition to this, adults visiting with minors must provide the minor's birth certificate or any other record specifying the minor’s birth and parental information upon entering the prison facility.
Court Records
As part of the Massachusetts Court System, Boston courts provide the public members with access to different types of Boston court records. The public court records include administrative records, traffic records, criminal records, civil records, and probate records.
Locations of Courts in Boston
The courts in Boston City and Suffolk County include one Superior Court, one District Court, one Probate and Family Court, one Housing Court, four Juvenile Courts, and eight Municipal Courts. The courts' addresses and contact details are listed below:
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)
Chelsea District Court
120 Broadway
Chelsea, MA 02150
Phone: (617) 660-9200
Fax: (617) 660-9215
Suffolk Probate and Family Court
Edward W. Brooke Courthouse
24 New Chardon Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 788-8301
Fax: (617) 788-8962
Eastern Housing Court
Edward W. Brooke Courthouse
24 New Chardon Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 788-8485
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 ext. 400
West Roxbury Juvenile Court
445 Arborway
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Phone: (617) 971-1154
Brighton Division
52 Academy Hill Road
Brighton, MA 02135
Phone: (617) 782-6540 ext. 5
Fax: (617) 254-2127
Central Division
Edward W. 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 ext. 1
Fax: (617) 242-1677
Dorchester Division
510 Washington Street
Dorchester, MA 02124
Phone: (617) 288-9500 ext. 6
Fax: (617) 436-8250
East Boston Division
37 Meridian Street
East Boston, MA 02128
Phone: (617) 569-7550 ext. 5
Fax: (617) 561-4988
Roxbury Division
85 Warren Street
Roxbury, MA 02119
Phone: (617) 427-7000 ext. 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 ext. 1
Fax: (617) 983-0243
Are Boston City Court Records Public?
Unless sealed or exempted by the Open Records Law, Boston court records are accessible to the public. To obtain Boston public court records, interested persons may request online via the Massachusetts online court platform or in-person at the respective court location.
Can You Look Up a Boston Court Case Online?
Not all Boston court case records are available online. Requesters may need to request court records such as abuse prevention records, civil infractions (environmental, dog control, MTBA smoking, e.t.c), and administrative appeals. These court records are provided based on a request to the Court’s Clerk in charge of the records. Conversely, court records such as criminal court case records, civil court case records, and small claims records are available online via the Massachusetts Electronic Case Access.
How to Obtain Boston Civil Court Records
Interested individuals may obtain Boston civil court case records online via the Massachusetts Electronic Case Access platform. The online platform enables requesters to search for criminal records by name, case type, case number, and a ticket number.
How to Obtain Boston Criminal Court Case Records
Boston criminal court records are accessible to the general public via the Massachusetts Electronic Case Access platform. To obtain Boston criminal records, requesters must correctly type-in the docket number of the criminal court record.
What are Boston Vital Records?
Boston vital records are official documents generated by government bodies to signify the occurrence of life events within the city. These vital records include death certificates, divorce records, and marriage licenses. Boston’s vital records are public records. Hence, interested persons may obtain these records by requesting the custodial agency responsible for maintaining the records. The custodial agency may require proof of identification before granting access to the documents.
Where an How to Obtain Boston Divorce Records
The Suffolk County Probate Court is the primary repository of divorce certificates for Boston City and Suffolk County. Conversely, the Massachusetts Vital Records Office maintains divorce records at the state level
Hence, the requester may request certified copies of divorce records by sending a request to the Suffolk County Probate Court at:
Probate & Family Court
24 New Chardon Street, 3rd Floor
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 788-8300
Alternatively, requesters may utilize the Massachusetts Vital Records' online search directory to obtain divorce records. Requesters must fill out the necessary information on the online request form and input the billing address for receiving the divorce record. To get a certified copy of Boston divorce records, requesters must pay $75. On the other hand, requesters must pay $100 to search and obtain certified copies of Boston divorce certificates and a verified photocopy of the divorce agreement.
Where and How to Obtain Boston Marriage Records
The Registry of Vital Records Statistics is responsible for collating and dispensing copies of marriage certificates from 1926 to the present. The RVRS requires requesters to provide the following details:
- The record subject's name.
- The location of the event.
- The date of the event.
- Proof of identification, preferably a state or federal issued ID.
In addition to this, requesters may be required to provide documentation showing their relationship with the record subjects.
Requesters may obtain Boston marriage records via mail-in or in-person services. To obtain marriage records via mail requests, requesters must fill out and send the completed marriage request form and a money order or check payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts at:
Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
150 Mount Vernon Street
1st Floor
Dorchester, MA 02125
Certified copies of marriage certificates ordered via mail-in services cost $32. Interested persons can also request marriage records in-person at the:
Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
150 Mt. Vernon St.
1st Floor
Dorchester, MA 02125
Certified copies of marriage certificates cost $20 for in-person services.
Where and How to Obtain Boston Birth Records
Interested persons may obtain copies of birth certificates from the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics via mail or in-person. The RVRS provides access to birth records from 1926 to the present. Birth records before 1926 are available at the State Archives. To obtain birth records via mail, fill out and complete the birth request form and include a money order or check payable to the Commonwealth of Masax at the:
Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
150 Mount Vernon Street
1st Floor
Dorchester, MA 02125
In-person services are also available at the RVRS. To get birth records, requesters should visit the RVRS office at:
Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
150 Mt. Vernon St.
1st Floor
Dorchester, MA 02125
To obtain Boston birth records, requesters must provide the record subject's name, date of birth, place of birth, and provide a valid form of identification. Certified copies of birth records cost $32 for mail requests and $20 for in-person requests.
Where and How to Obtain Boston Death Records
The Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics is the statewide custodian of all death events recorded in the state. Hence, requesters may obtain Boston death records via in-person or mail requests. To obtain Boston death records via mail, requesters must complete the death record request form and include a money order or check payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to the:
Registry of Vital Records and Statistics
150 Mount Vernon Street
1st Floor
Dorchester, MA 02125
Alternatively, requesters can also visit the address as mentioned above to obtain death records in-person. Birth records obtained in-person cost $20, birth records obtained via mail costs $32.
