Find Background Check Records in Framingham

Framingham background check records are available through the Framingham Police Department, the Framingham District Court, and the statewide CORI system run by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services. Residents can request their own criminal history through the iCORI portal for $25, or submit a notarized request by mail. The Framingham Police Department also runs its own online portal for public records requests. This page explains each source and how to use it for records in Framingham, Massachusetts.

Framingham Police Department Records

The Framingham Police Department handles police records for the city. Incident reports, arrest logs, and other law enforcement documents are available through this office. The department has an online portal that lets residents submit public records requests without coming in person, which makes the process easier for most people.

The online portal for Framingham public records requests is at townforms.com/FOIADirect-FraminghamMACitizens. You create a free account and submit your request through the system. This covers records held by the Framingham Police Department. For questions, you can call (508) 532-5920 or fax (508) 872-3506. The Records Access Officer email is ksullivan@framinghamma.gov. The department is at 1 William H. Welch Way, Framingham, MA 01702. Under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, public records requests must be answered within ten business days. If a record is withheld, the department must explain which exemption applies.

The Framingham Police Department at 1 William H. Welch Way manages police records and handles public records requests through its online portal.

Framingham District Court

The Framingham District Court is at 600 Concord Street, Framingham, MA 01701. The phone number is (508) 875-7461. This court serves a wide area that includes Framingham, Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Sudbury, and Wayland. Any criminal case arising in these towns will have records at this court.

You can search Framingham District Court cases for free at masscourts.org, the Massachusetts Trial Court case access portal. The search works by name or case number. It returns basic case information including charges, court dates, and dispositions. This tool covers District, Superior, Probate and Family, Housing, and Boston Municipal Courts. It does not show sealed or expunged records. If you need certified copies or full case documents, you go to the clerk's office at the Framingham District Court in person or call ahead to ask about their copying process. The court sits in Middlesex County, so its records are also part of the county-level court data maintained by the Trial Court.

Framingham District Court at 600 Concord Street handles criminal and civil cases for Framingham and five surrounding towns in Middlesex County.

Cases at Framingham District Court fall under state CORI rules governed by M.G.L. c. 6, § 172. Conviction records from this court feed into the CORI database maintained by DCJIS. Non-conviction records may be sealed on petition under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A. Sealed records do not appear in public searches or standard CORI results.

How to Request a Background Check in Framingham

There are a few ways to get background check records in Framingham. The right path depends on what type of record you need. Most people start with CORI for criminal history and turn to the police department for incident or arrest reports.

To get your own CORI, use the iCORI system at icori.chs.state.ma.us. Log in with your Massachusetts driver's license or state ID. Select the personal CORI request option. The fee is $25. Results are immediate. If you do not have a Massachusetts ID, download the Personal CORI Request Form from mass.gov, notarize it, and mail it with a $25 money order to DCJIS at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150. Allow two to three weeks for mail requests. The DCJIS phone number is (617) 660-4600 and the CORI Unit line is (617) 660-4640, open Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.

For police records, use the Framingham online portal or call the department directly. For court records, check masscourts.org first and then contact the Framingham District Court clerk if you need copies.

Note: Anyone can request an open-access CORI for $50 per search through the iCORI system, which returns limited public-facing criminal history.

Framingham Court Records and CORI

Court records from Framingham District Court enter the CORI system once charges are arraigned. CORI stands for Criminal Offender Record Information. It is managed by DCJIS and covers all Massachusetts arraignments going back many years. CORI is a name-based search that uses a person's name and date of birth. It is not fingerprint-supported, so name matches may not always be exact.

Under state law, different organizations get different levels of CORI access. Standard access shows misdemeanor convictions from the past five years and felony convictions from the past ten years. Certain organizations get broader access based on their role. Murder, manslaughter, and sex offenses show up regardless of when they occurred. Pending cases also appear in CORI results. The rules for CORI access are set out in M.G.L. c. 6, § 172 and the related regulations at mass.gov. If you believe your CORI has an error, contact DCJIS to start a correction request.

Record sealing is available for Framingham cases. Misdemeanors can be sealed after three years and felonies after seven years under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A. Charges that were dismissed or dropped can be sealed by petition with no waiting period. Once sealed, a record disappears from CORI and public court searches. Full sealing instructions are at mass.gov/how-to/request-to-seal-your-criminal-record.

Framingham City CORI Policy

Framingham has a formal CORI policy, numbered Policy 35, that sets rules for when and how the city uses criminal record checks in city operations. The policy applies to several city departments including Police, Fire, Library, Recreation, Public Works, and Building Inspectors. Individuals covered by this policy must sign a CORI Acknowledgement Form, which stays valid for one year.

When a decision is based on CORI information, the city follows the adverse action steps required by state law. This includes giving the individual notice, providing a copy of the record, identifying what specific information led to the decision, and offering a chance to dispute any errors. These steps follow the framework in M.G.L. Ch. 6, § 172 and 803 CMR 2.18. The full Framingham CORI Policy is posted at framinghamma.gov. If you have questions about how this policy applies in a specific context, contact the city's Records Access Officer at ksullivan@framinghamma.gov.

This policy is consistent with the statewide rule that any organization running five or more CORI checks per year must keep a written policy on file. Framingham maintains this policy in line with M.G.L. Ch. 6, § 171A.

Sex Offender Registry in Framingham

The Sex Offender Registry Board covers all of Massachusetts, including Framingham. The board classifies offenders into three levels by risk. Level 3 offenders are considered high risk, and their information is publicly searchable online. Level 2 records are public if classified after July 12, 2013. Level 1 records are not available to the public. Call SORB at (978) 740-6400 during business hours or search the public registry on the SORB website. This registry is separate from CORI and covers sex offense records specifically.

The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board provides public-facing sex offender data for all cities including Framingham.

Nearby Cities

These nearby Massachusetts cities have their own background check resources. Each is served by a local police records office and district court.

Framingham is in Middlesex County. All court records from Framingham cases are part of the Middlesex County trial court system and are searchable through the statewide case access portal.