Massachusetts Background Check

Massachusetts background checks give you access to criminal history records through the state's CORI system. CORI stands for Criminal Offender Record Information, and the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services manages it for the whole state. You can search Massachusetts background check records online through the iCORI portal, or send a mail request to DCJIS. Local courts and the statewide case access system also hold relevant records. This page covers how to find and request records, what the CORI system contains, and where to search across all 14 Massachusetts counties.

The Massachusetts Background Check System

Massachusetts uses the Criminal Offender Record Information system as its core tool for background checks. CORI pulls from Massachusetts court records and returns data on arraignments and case outcomes across the state. The Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) runs the system and handles all CORI requests. Their main office is at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150. The CORI Unit can be reached at (617) 660-4640, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Under M.G.L. c. 6, § 167A, DCJIS was established to oversee the collection and release of criminal history data in Massachusetts. The database holds records from Massachusetts courts only. It does not pull from federal courts or other states. That is one reason some people also request a fingerprint-based check, which can reach broader databases. CORI records include charges, case dates, and court outcomes. Records draw from district courts, superior courts, and other trial courts spread across the state's 14 counties.

The Massachusetts CORI information page on mass.gov is the starting point for most background check requests in the state. From there you can find direct links to the iCORI portal, downloadable request forms, and current guidance from DCJIS on how the system works.

The CORI background check system in Massachusetts searches by name and date of birth. It is name-based, not fingerprint-based. That means results depend on how accurately a person's name is recorded in court documents. An arraignment in the database means charges were filed. It does not mean someone was convicted. Anyone reading a Massachusetts criminal background check should understand what each entry means before drawing conclusions about a record.

Search Massachusetts Background Check Records Online

The iCORI portal is the primary way to run a Massachusetts background check online. You can access it at icori.chs.state.ma.us. The portal is available around the clock. Results for personal requests come back right away. To use it, you must register an account and have a valid Massachusetts driver's license or state ID.

Once logged in, enter the subject's full name and date of birth to start a search. The fee is $25 per name-based search, paid by credit card through the portal. If you are looking up your own record, this is the fastest route available. Results show charges, case numbers, and court dispositions from Massachusetts courts under M.G.L. c. 6, § 172. You can save or print the results directly from the portal after your search is done.

The Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access system is another useful tool. It is free to the public and lets you search by name, case number, or case type across district, superior, probate, family, housing, and Boston Municipal Court records. You can look up case details without paying any fee. This is a solid complement to a CORI background check when you need to see case-level data directly from court files.

How to Request a Background Check in Massachusetts

Two ways exist to request your own Massachusetts background check: online through iCORI, or by mail. Online is faster. The mail option works for people who do not have a valid Massachusetts ID. Both routes go through DCJIS in Chelsea.

For the online method, visit the iCORI portal and create an individual account. Choose the personal CORI request option. Enter your full name, date of birth, and other identifying details. Pay the $25 fee by credit card. Your digital CORI result arrives right after you complete the steps. The whole process takes just minutes once your account is set up and verified.

For the mail method, download the Personal CORI Request Form from the DCJIS website. Fill it out and sign it in front of a notary. Include a $25 money order made out to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Or attach an Affidavit of Indigency if you qualify for a fee waiver. Mail everything to DCJIS at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150. Allow two to three weeks for the office to process a mailed request. The Request CORI as an Individual page on mass.gov lists exactly what to include in your envelope.

If the $25 fee is a financial hardship, request an Affidavit of Indigency. That form is free. DCJIS will process your background check at no cost if the affidavit is approved. This waiver applies to both the online and mail request routes.

There is also an Open Access CORI request available to the general public for $50 per search. This provides limited public information about a third party. It is distinct from the personal request, which gives you access to your own full record.

Fingerprint-Based Background Checks in Massachusetts

Massachusetts offers a second type of background check called a SAFIS check. SAFIS stands for Statewide Automated Fingerprint Identification System. Unlike CORI, a SAFIS check matches fingerprints against both Massachusetts and FBI databases. It can return records from other states that a name-based CORI search would miss entirely. Fingerprint-based checks generally cost $35 to $55 depending on record type and take longer than online CORI requests.

Fingerprinting must be done at an approved site. Some local police departments in Massachusetts provide fingerprinting services. Boston Police Department offers fingerprinting at BPD Headquarters for $5.00 per card, by appointment only. You can book at boston-scheduling.as.me/InkFingerprinting and appointments are available to Boston residents. Fingerprints from a SAFIS check are matched against the Massachusetts AFIS and FBI IAFIS databases, returning broader results than CORI alone can provide for the same person.

Note: Most local police departments in Massachusetts do not provide CORI results directly to individuals. Personal background check requests must go through DCJIS regardless of where fingerprinting takes place.

Massachusetts Background Check Law and the DCJIS

DCJIS handles all CORI background check requests and also oversees how records are stored, corrected, and released. Under M.G.L. c. 6, § 175, anyone who believes their CORI is inaccurate has the right to challenge and correct it. You contact DCJIS directly to start that process. Their staff can walk you through filing a correction request and what supporting documents you will need.

The DCJIS homepage at mass.gov/orgs/department-of-criminal-justice-information-services is the main hub for all background check resources in Massachusetts. From this page you can reach the iCORI login, download request forms, and read the current CORI regulations. The page also links to 803 CMR 2.00, the Code of Massachusetts Regulations governing DCJIS procedures and how background check data is used and protected.

Consumer reporting agencies in Massachusetts are limited by M.G.L. c. 93, § 52, which bars them from reporting most adverse information older than seven years. Bankruptcies are capped at 14 years. This rule applies to third-party reporting agencies, not direct CORI requests through DCJIS. The page on Massachusetts law about CORI breaks down the key statutes and regulations that govern the state background check system.

That resource links directly to General Laws and CMR regulations so you can read the actual statutes when needed.

Massachusetts Court Records and Criminal History

Massachusetts court records form the backbone of most background checks in the state. The court system has seven types of trial courts: Superior Court, District Court, Boston Municipal Court, Probate and Family Court, Housing Court, Juvenile Court, and Land Court. Criminal cases go through either Superior Court for felonies or District Court for misdemeanors. The Massachusetts court system covers every city and county across all 14 counties of the state.

Each court's records feed into the CORI background check database. But you can also search case data directly without going through CORI. The Massachusetts Trial Court case access portal at masscourts.org lets the public search cases for free by name or case number. District, superior, probate, family, housing, and BMC records are all included. Case details show party names, charges, hearing dates, and outcomes. It is a useful tool for verifying specific cases found during a background check search.

Court records can also be requested in person at any courthouse. Most clerks can provide copies for a fee, typically $0.50 to $2.50 per page. Certified copies cost more, usually $5 to $20 per document. Records are public under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, the state Public Records Law. You do not need to be a party in a case to request copies of court files.

The Guide to Criminal Records from mass.gov explains what background check records contain and how to read them under state law. It is one of the most useful plain-language resources DCJIS offers.

Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry

The Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) maintains the public list of registered sex offenders in Massachusetts. SORB operates under M.G.L. c. 6, §§ 178C-178P. The board classifies offenders by risk level. Level 1 is low risk and not publicly available. Level 2 is moderate risk and publicly available if classified after July 12, 2013. Level 3 is high risk and always publicly available. You can reach SORB at (978) 740-6400, Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM.

The Sex Offender Registry Board website lets you search the public registry free of charge. Results show the offender's photo, address, and offense history where available. This search is separate from the CORI system but is often used alongside a background check when a more complete picture of someone's Massachusetts criminal history is needed.

SORB also issues community notifications for high-risk offenders in specific areas. Local police departments across the 14 Massachusetts counties may also have information on registered offenders living within their jurisdictions.

Sealing Criminal Records in Massachusetts

Massachusetts allows people to seal past criminal records under specific conditions. Sealed records do not show up on most background checks. Two routes exist for sealing: administrative sealing by mail, or sealing by court petition. Each has its own rules and timelines.

Administrative sealing is the simpler route. For misdemeanors, the waiting period is three years after your last conviction or release, whichever is later. For felonies, the wait is seven years. You mail a sealing request form to the Office of the Commissioner of Probation. Under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A, the commissioner reviews and seals qualifying records without a court hearing. The process takes several weeks once your form is received and reviewed by that office.

Sealing by court petition is available for cases dismissed or entered as nolle prosequi. No waiting period is required for this route. You file the petition in the court where the original case was heard. A judge decides whether to grant the seal at a hearing. Expungement is a stronger option available for records created before age 21, cases of mistaken identity, or offenses no longer considered crimes under M.G.L. c. 276, §§ 100E-100U. The Request to Seal Your Criminal Record page on mass.gov walks through both routes in detail.

Sealing your record means it will not appear on most CORI background check results. It does not erase the record entirely. Some agencies can still access sealed records under narrow circumstances defined in state law.

Browse Background Check Records by Massachusetts County

Each of Massachusetts's 14 counties has its own courts and sheriff's office that hold local criminal records. Select a county below to find local contact information, court locations, and background check resources for that area.

View All 14 Massachusetts Counties

Background Check Resources in Major Massachusetts Cities

Residents of major Massachusetts cities can access background check records through local courts and police departments. Select a city below to find specific contact information and local resources.

View Major Massachusetts Cities