Cambridge Background Check Records

Cambridge, Massachusetts maintains background check records through several local and state systems. The Cambridge Police Department, Cambridge District Court, and the state CORI system each hold different types of records on individuals with ties to the city. You can request criminal history records, police reports, and court case information through these agencies. This page covers where to go, what to ask for, and how the process works in Cambridge under Massachusetts law.

Cambridge Police Department Records

The Cambridge Police Department is the first stop for local police-based background check records. The department is at 125 6th Street, Cambridge, MA 02142. You can reach the non-emergency line at 617-349-3300 or send email to Personnel@CambridgePolice.Org. Police records in Cambridge include incident reports, arrest logs, and related documentation that may appear as part of a background check request.

The city's Public Records Access Officer (RAO) handles formal public records requests under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10. That officer is Seah Levy of the Cambridge Law Department. You can reach Levy at 617-349-4121 or by email at publicrecords@cambridgema.gov. Requests under the Public Records Law are distinct from CORI requests. Most police incident reports are public records in Cambridge, but criminal history records go through the state CORI system instead.

The Cambridge PD website lists department contacts and forms. For general department info, start at the Cambridge Police Department page on the city's official site.

The city also maintains a second online presence through cambridgepolice.org, which offers additional resources and contact options for the public.

For background check purposes, the most common request is a certified copy of a police incident report. You can ask for this in person at the department or by submitting a public records request to the RAO. Some reports may require redaction review before release.

The Cambridge PD site provides department contact details and program information useful when preparing a records request.

The department's main page on the city site lists divisions, contact numbers, and links to records-related services in Cambridge.

Note: Police incident reports are public under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, but arrest-based criminal history records require a separate CORI request through the state system.

Cambridge District Court Background Check

The Cambridge District Court serves Cambridge, Arlington, and Belmont. Despite the name, the courthouse sits at 4040 Mystic Valley Parkway, Medford, MA 02155. Call (781) 306-2710 for court business. This court handles misdemeanor cases, lower-level criminal matters, and civil claims under $50,000. All arraignments and case dispositions from this court feed into the Massachusetts court records database.

Court records from the Cambridge District Court are searchable through the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access system. This free tool lets you search by name or case number. You can find case status, charges, and disposition information for cases handled in Cambridge and the surrounding area. District court records are a key part of any background check tied to criminal matters in Cambridge.

To get certified copies of court documents, contact the clerk's office directly. Walk-in requests are handled during court hours. Under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A, sealed records are not available through public court searches, so some older cases may not appear in online results.

The official court page at mass.gov shows location details, hours, and contacts for the Cambridge District Court serving Middlesex County.

An alternate view of the Cambridge PD online presence shows public-facing resources connected to local law enforcement records in the city.

This site offers supplemental department information and contact details that may help when requesting Cambridge police records.

Middlesex Superior Court Records

Felony cases involving Cambridge residents are heard at Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn. That court handles major criminal matters and civil cases over $50,000. Its records are also part of the Massachusetts Trial Court system and appear in masscourts.org searches. Superior court records in Middlesex County often surface in comprehensive background checks for Cambridge individuals.

Cambridge falls in Middlesex County. The county's superior court maintains case files going back many years. For copies of superior court records, contact the clerk of courts for Middlesex County directly. Certified copies are available in person or by mail, and fees vary by document type.

How to Request a Background Check in Cambridge

There are two main ways to get a criminal background check in Cambridge. The first is through the state CORI system. The second is through the public court records portal. Each gives you different information and serves a different purpose.

The CORI system is run by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS). To get your own CORI, go to the iCORI online portal. You need a valid Massachusetts driver's license or state ID to register. Once registered, you select the personal CORI request option and pay a $25 fee. Results for personal requests are available right away. If you don't have a Massachusetts ID, you can request by mail using the Personal CORI Request Form. Mail it to DCJIS at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150 with a $25 money order. Mail requests take two to three weeks. Full instructions are at mass.gov/how-to/request-cori-as-an-individual.

Under M.G.L. c. 6, § 172, CORI records contain information on criminal arraignments in Massachusetts courts. The CORI is name-based and uses date of birth. It covers arraignments from courts statewide, including Cambridge District Court. It does not cover out-of-state records or federal cases.

For court records that are not part of CORI, use the free Massachusetts Trial Court case search. This tool gives basic case info without a fee. You can search by name and find cases handled in Cambridge, Arlington, and Belmont through the Cambridge District Court.

Note: Cambridge's CORI Ordinance #1312, passed January 28, 2008, applies to vendors and contractors doing business with the city. It requires an individualized assessment process and does not allow criminal history questions on initial applications for city-related contracts.

Court Records Access in Cambridge

Public access to court records in Cambridge follows Massachusetts rules on open court records. Most criminal and civil case records are public. You can search the statewide case access site for free to find case names, charges, and dispositions from Cambridge District Court and Middlesex Superior Court. This is the fastest way to check if someone has a court record tied to Cambridge.

For full case files or certified documents, you need to go to the clerk's office in person or send a written request by mail. Fees for certified copies vary by case type and number of pages. The clerk can tell you the current rate when you call. Under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A, courts must seal certain records once a waiting period passes. Sealed records do not show up in public searches.

Expunged records in Massachusetts are treated differently from sealed ones. Under recent changes to state law, some records can be fully expunged, which means they are destroyed and cannot be accessed at all. The court where the original case was heard handles expungement petitions. If a Cambridge case has been expunged, it will not appear in any public record search.

Sex Offender Registry in Cambridge

The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) maintains a database of registered sex offenders statewide. Cambridge residents and offenders with local addresses may appear in this registry. SORB classifies offenders as Level 1 (low risk), Level 2 (moderate risk), or Level 3 (high risk). Level 1 records are not public. Level 2 records classified after July 12, 2013 are public. Level 3 records are always public. You can search the SORB database on the SORB website at no cost. Call SORB at (978) 740-6400 if you have questions about specific records or classifications.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Cambridge and also have background check resources in Massachusetts. Each has its own local court and police department.