Massachusetts Criminal Records

Massachusetts has kept some form of vital records since 1635 which makes it a treasure trove for genealogists. Massachusetts criminal records can usually be obtained by the court(s) that handled the prosecution, so you need to know where that particular court is located. If you don’t know the court, you can make a request through the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services. You can make a request for copies of Massachusetts arrest records by writing to:

Dept. of Criminal Justice Information Services
200 Arlington St.
Suite 2200
Chelsea, MA 02150
Phone: (617) 660-4600

Although Massachusetts criminal records are considered public information, there are certain instances where aspects of the records won’t be revealed by the state, such as the sealing of particular information by a judge. The fee for a state-based search is $25 per name and you may pay by check or money order to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The fee is non-refundable, even if the search doesn’t reveal a record. Be sure that you include as much information as you can in the request letter, including the full name of the person in question, date of conviction, birth date and other pertinent data that will ensure the accuracy of the search.

MA Criminal Records

Another method of searching for Massachusetts criminal records is to enlist the help of a private, fee-based, online search service which can provide accurate and up-to-date information in a full report. If no record is found, you pay nothing. These Internet sites employ powerful search engines and long-reaching databases so they can thoroughly cross-reference your information to guarantee accuracy and timeliness of the report they’ll send you at the end of the search. Legal professionals and genealogists use these powerful sites on a constant basis to legitimize their reports and for a reasonable fee, you can perform a one-time search to retrieve the information you need and desire. You may want to check for the said legal records for several reasons which would benefit the community and the entire society. Today, in our transient society you never know if the person you’re dealing with is truly the person he claims to be. One professional look through a state’s arrest records will give you the information you need to make a decision. Background checking should become part of the process to maintain safety and security. If he’s previously lived in Massachusetts, you can search through Massachusetts arrest records to find out the truth about something. Fraud is a major problem in the world today, but you can help avoid the devastation it could have on your life by searching through Massachusetts criminal records to set your mind at ease.