Plymouth County Background Check Records
Plymouth County background check records come from several local and state sources. The Plymouth County Sheriff, two Superior Courts, and multiple District Courts all hold public criminal and court records for this county. Whether you need a CORI report through the state's iCORI system or want to look up a case in the court records system, this guide covers the main offices and how to reach them. Plymouth County serves a large region southeast of Boston and handles a significant volume of court filings each year.
Plymouth County Overview
Plymouth County Sheriff's Office
The Plymouth County Sheriff's Department (PCSD) operates the county jail and handles civil process service. The main office is at 24 Long Pond Road in Plymouth, and the Plymouth County Correctional Facility sits at 26 Long Pond Road just next door. The sheriff's office holds arrest and detention records for people booked into the county jail. These records can be part of a background check in Plymouth County.
The Civil Process Division is a separate arm of the Plymouth County Sheriff that operates out of Brockton. That office is at 22 Cottage Street, Brockton, MA 02301. They handle service of process for civil court orders and related paperwork. You can reach the Civil Process Division at 508-580-2110 or 508-746-8800, or send email to service@pcsdcivil.org. If you need a record or document from the sheriff's office under the public records law, the Records Access Officer is Jessica Kenny. She can be reached at (508) 830-6200 x867 or jkenny@pcsdma.org.
The Plymouth County Sheriff's Department website has information on the jail roster, civil process, and how to contact various units. Inmate records and booking information may be available through that portal. Records held by the sheriff's office fall under M.G.L. c. 6, § 172, which governs the use and release of criminal offender record information in Massachusetts.
The sheriff's office website shows current department services and public information resources for Plymouth County.
Plymouth County Sheriff's Department (pcsdma.org) provides access to department services and public information.
The sheriff's department site is the starting point for finding jail records and civil process information tied to background checks in Plymouth County.
| Main Office |
24 Long Pond Road Plymouth, MA 02360 Phone: (508) 830-6200 |
|---|---|
| Correctional Facility |
26 Long Pond Road Plymouth, MA 02360 |
| Civil Process (Brockton) |
22 Cottage Street Brockton, MA 02301 Phone: 508-580-2110 |
| Records Access Officer | Jessica Kenny | jkenny@pcsdma.org | x867 |
| Website | pcsdma.org |
Plymouth County Superior Courts
Plymouth County has two Superior Courts, which is not common for Massachusetts counties. The Plymouth Superior Court at 52 Obery Street, Plymouth handles cases from the southern and coastal parts of the county. The Brockton Superior Court at 72 Belmont Street, Brockton serves the northern and more urban part of the county. Superior Court handles felony criminal cases and civil claims over $50,000. Criminal records from these courts are part of any background check in Plymouth County.
Both Superior Courts connect to the Massachusetts Trial Court electronic access system at masscourts.org. You can search by name or case number to find Superior Court cases from Plymouth County. Basic case information is free. The system covers criminal arraignments, indictments, and verdicts. If you need certified copies of court documents, you must contact the clerk's office directly at the specific courthouse. Fees apply for certified copies.
The Superior Court is the main source for serious felony criminal records in Plymouth County. These cases show up in background checks run through CORI and through the public court access portal.
The Plymouth Superior Court page gives location details and hours for records access in Plymouth County.
Plymouth County Superior Court (mass.gov) lists contact information, location, and how to access court records.
Both Superior Courts in Plymouth County use the same mass.gov portal for public information, though each courthouse has its own phone number and clerk staff.
| Plymouth Superior Court |
52 Obery Street Plymouth, MA 02360 Phone: (508) 747-8400 |
|---|---|
| Brockton Superior Court |
72 Belmont Street Brockton, MA 02301 Phone: (508) 584-8120 |
| Online Case Access | masscourts.org |
District Courts in Plymouth County
Plymouth County has four District Courts that handle misdemeanor criminal cases, civil cases under $50,000, and other local matters. District Court records are also part of a complete background check. The court access portal at masscourts.org covers District Court cases as well. Each court serves a different part of Plymouth County.
The Plymouth District Court serves the Plymouth area and can be reached at (508) 747-8400. Brockton District Court covers the Brockton area and is reachable at (508) 587-8000. Hingham District Court handles the northern towns at (781) 749-8580. Wareham District Court covers the Wareham area and can be reached at (508) 295-5200. All four of these courts feed into the statewide court records system, so a single search on masscourts.org can return results from any of them for Plymouth County.
Note: District Court records include arraignments, pretrial hearings, and final dispositions for misdemeanor cases in Plymouth County.
How to Request Background Check Records in Plymouth County
The main way to get a criminal background check in Massachusetts is through the CORI system. CORI stands for Criminal Offender Record Information and is managed by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS). CORI pulls from all Massachusetts courts, so a search covers Plymouth County cases along with cases from every other county in the state. This makes it the most complete source for a Massachusetts background check.
Individuals can request their own CORI through the iCORI online portal. You need a valid Massachusetts driver's license or state ID to register online. The fee is $25 per name-based search. Once you pay, the results come back right away. If you don't have a Massachusetts ID, you can still get your CORI by mail. Download the Personal CORI Request Form, have it notarized, include a $25 money order or an Affidavit of Indigency for a waiver, and mail it to DCJIS at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150. Mail requests take two to three weeks. Full instructions are at mass.gov/how-to/request-cori-as-an-individual.
The iCORI system covers all courts statewide, including every court in Plymouth County. You don't need to contact Plymouth courts separately when using iCORI. The system pulls from Superior, District, Probate, and other trial courts across Massachusetts under M.G.L. c. 6, § 172.
For public court records outside of CORI, use the free Massachusetts Trial Court portal at masscourts.org. That system lets anyone search by name or case number without paying a fee. It shows case type, status, and basic filing information. To get actual documents or certified copies, contact the specific courthouse.
Court Records Access in Plymouth County
Public access to Plymouth County court records is governed by M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A, which sets the rules for what can be sealed or expunged, and by M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, which gives the public the right to inspect government records. Under these laws, most court records in Plymouth County are open to the public unless they have been sealed or involve juvenile matters.
The Massachusetts Trial Court system at masscourts.org is free to use and covers all trial court departments. You can look up cases from Plymouth District Court, Brockton District Court, Plymouth Superior Court, and Brockton Superior Court all in one place. The portal shows docket entries, party names, case types, and case status. This is a fast way to check whether someone has an open or closed case in Plymouth County without visiting the courthouse.
If you need certified copies or full case documents, you have to go to or contact the clerk's office at the courthouse where the case was filed. Staff can make copies for a per-page fee. Bring a case number if you have it to speed things up. Plymouth County Probate and Family Court records are kept at 52 Obery Street, Plymouth, phone (508) 747-8300, and cover family matters that may appear in background research.
Note: Sealed records do not appear in public searches. If a record has been sealed under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A, it will not show in masscourts.org results or in a standard CORI check.
Sex Offender Registry in Plymouth County
The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) maintains the statewide registry of classified sex offenders. SORB is separate from CORI and uses its own classification system. Level 1 offenders are considered low risk and are not publicly listed. Level 2 offenders who were classified after July 12, 2013, are publicly available. Level 3 offenders are high risk and are listed publicly regardless of when they were classified. You can check SORB for Plymouth County offenders through the SORB website or by calling (978) 740-6400 Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM.
Cities in Plymouth County
Plymouth County covers a wide area with many towns and two major cities. All criminal cases from cities and towns in Plymouth County go through the county court system and appear in statewide CORI checks.
Other towns in Plymouth County include Abington, Bridgewater, Duxbury, Halifax, Hanover, Kingston, Marshfield, Middleborough, Norwell, Pembroke, Rockland, Scituate, and Wareham. Cases from all of these towns go through Plymouth County courts and show up in background checks.
Nearby Counties
Plymouth County borders several other Massachusetts counties. If a case was filed in a neighboring county, you would search those court records separately through masscourts.org or the relevant county's court offices.