Springfield Background Check Database
Springfield background check records are held across several agencies in Hampden County. The Springfield Police Department, Springfield District Court, and Hampden County Superior Court all generate records that feed into a background check for anyone who has had contact with the criminal justice system in this city. You can access these records through the state CORI system, the Massachusetts Trial Court's public portal, or direct requests to local agencies. This guide walks through each source and how to use it.
Springfield Quick Facts
Springfield Police Department Records
The Springfield Police Department is at 130 Pearl Street, Springfield, MA 01105. The main line is (413) 787-6310. For non-emergency matters, call (413) 787-6302. The department's Records Coordinator is Justin P. Morin, who can be reached directly at (413) 787-6085. More information about the department is available at springfield-ma.gov/police.
The image below shows the Springfield Police Department's official city page, where contact details and department information are listed.
To request police records tied to a Springfield background check, use the city's online public records portal. The portal is at cityofspringfieldma.nextrequest.com. You can submit requests for incident reports and other law enforcement documents through this system. Requests are tracked online and you can check the status at any time. The Massachusetts public records law at M.G.L. c. 66, § 10 requires agencies to respond within ten business days.
The image below shows the Springfield public records request portal, which accepts requests for police reports and other city documents relevant to background checks.
Springfield has a local note worth knowing. City ordinance requires that drivers who operate vehicles for hire, such as taxis and livery cars, must maintain a CORI log and hold a background check clearance certificate. This is one of the few local-level requirements tied directly to the CORI process that goes beyond the state baseline.
| Address | 130 Pearl Street, Springfield, MA 01105 |
|---|---|
| Main Phone | (413) 787-6310 |
| Non-Emergency | (413) 787-6302 |
| Records Coordinator | Justin P. Morin, (413) 787-6085 |
| Public Records Portal | cityofspringfieldma.nextrequest.com |
| Website | springfield-ma.gov/police |
Springfield District Court
Springfield District Court handles arraignments, bail hearings, and trials for misdemeanors and lower-level criminal charges filed within the city. Cases heard here become part of the public record and show up in background checks for people who have been charged in Springfield. The court is at 50 State Street, Springfield, MA 01102. The main line is (413) 748-8600. More is at mass.gov/locations/springfield-district-court.
The image below shows the official state page for Springfield District Court, which is the source for court hours, contact information, and clerk office services.
District court records from Springfield are searchable for free at masscourts.org. The system covers District Court, Superior Court, and several other trial court departments. Search by full name or case number. You will see case type, charges, filing date, and current status. For physical copies, contact the clerk at Springfield District Court. Certified copies cost more than plain copies and are needed when records must be submitted to another court or government agency.
| Address | 50 State Street, Springfield, MA 01102 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (413) 748-8600 |
| Case Search | masscourts.org |
| Court Page | mass.gov/locations/springfield-district-court |
Hampden County Superior Court
Hampden County Superior Court handles felony cases and civil actions over $50,000 for Springfield and the rest of Hampden County. The courthouse is at 50 State Street, Springfield, MA 01102, the same building as the District Court. The main number is (413) 747-1000 and a secondary line is (413) 735-6016. Felony convictions and serious criminal records from this court are part of any thorough Springfield background check. These cases are also searchable at masscourts.org.
For copies of Superior Court documents, contact the clerk directly. If you need a certified copy, you must request it in writing and pay the applicable per-page fee. Uncertified copies cost less but are not accepted for official legal submissions.
How to Request a Springfield Background Check
The main route for a formal Massachusetts background check is through the CORI system, managed by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS). The CORI law is at M.G.L. c. 6, § 172. CORI returns information on arraignments and charges filed in Massachusetts courts. Records from Springfield District Court and Hampden County Superior Court are included in CORI results when the person being searched has a case on file there.
To get your own CORI online, go to icori.chs.state.ma.us. You need a valid Massachusetts driver's license or state ID to register. The fee is $25 per name search. You get results right away. No ID? You can still request by mail. Download and complete the Personal CORI Request Form, have it notarized, attach a $25 money order, and mail it to DCJIS at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150. Mail requests take two to three weeks. Step-by-step instructions are at mass.gov/how-to/request-cori-as-an-individual.
The full overview of the CORI program is at mass.gov/massachusetts-criminal-offender-record-information-cori. DCJIS is at mass.gov/orgs/department-of-criminal-justice-information-services and can be reached at (617) 660-4600 or icori.info@mass.gov.
Note: Individuals can request their own CORI at no cost if they qualify for an Affidavit of Indigency, which waives the $25 fee.
Springfield Court Records and Case Access
Court records in Springfield follow the same rules as the rest of Massachusetts. They are public documents under state law. The free masscourts.org portal shows basic case data for all trial court departments. Searches cover District Court and Superior Court records from Springfield. Results show charges, case status, and filing dates. Sealed records are not visible. Under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A, a person may petition to seal a misdemeanor after three years or a felony after seven years. Once sealed, that case does not appear in public background check searches.
The record sealing petition is filed at the court where the case was originally heard. In Springfield, that would be Springfield District Court or Hampden County Superior Court, depending on the case. There is no filing fee for a sealing petition.
Sex Offender Registry in Springfield
The Sex Offender Registry Board covers all of Massachusetts, including Springfield and Hampden County. Level 1 offenders are low risk and not public. Level 2 offenders classified after July 2013 are publicly searchable. Level 3 offenders are always public. To look up anyone with a Springfield address in the registry, go to mass.gov/orgs/sex-offender-registry-board. SORB's phone is (978) 740-6400, open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM.
Nearby Cities
Chicopee is near Springfield and has its own background check page. Both cities are in Hampden County and use the same state CORI system for record requests.
Hampden County handles records for Springfield and the surrounding area. See the Hampden County background check page for more on county-level court records and how to request them.