Suffolk County Court Records Lookup

The following is for information purposes only

With a population of about 785,400 people, Suffolk County is the fourth-most populous county in Massachusetts and was founded in 1643. Suffolk County has a total area of 120 square miles, and its water bodies occupy 62 square miles (52%) of its total area. Boston, the state capital, is its largest city. Suffolk County's justice system includes Superior, District, Juvenile, Probate and Family, and Municipal Courts. These courts play crucial roles in the administration of justice in the county.

The Suffolk County Superior Court in Boston is the principal court in the county with jurisdiction over major felonies and civil cases with claims above $25,000. The Chelsea District Court hears lesser felonies, misdemeanors, and civil cases with claims under $25,000. The Suffolk Probate and Family Court in Boston handles domestic relations matters, such as annulment, divorce, maintenance, wills, and estates. The Juvenile Courts in Boston, Chelsea, Dorchester, and West Roxbury, focus on juvenile matters, including child protection, delinquency, and dependency. The Eastern Housing Court in Boston handles residential property matters, landlord-tenant disputes, and other housing-related matters. The Boston Municipal Court is the only municipal court in Suffolk County. It deals with traffic offenses and municipal ordinance violations. The Boston Municipal Court has eight court Divisions in Boston, Brighton, Charlestown, Dorchester, East Boston, Roxbury, West Roxbury, and South Boston.

The average crime rate in Suffolk County is about 4,560 per 100,000 population. The county's Superior Court attends to over 4,500 cases annually, while the Chelsea District Court tries about 9,000 cases. Also, the Suffolk County Juvenile Courts handle over 3,600 cases yearly, and the Suffolk County Probate and Family Court hears over 12,500 cases. The Boston Municipal Court hears an average of 50,000 cases per year. Clerks of each court meticulously maintain court records and make nonconfidential records available to the public in compliance with state and county regulations. Anyone can visit the courts to inspect and request copies of public court records from Suffolk County courts. They can also access them online via the Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access portal. However, confidential records are closed to the public. Certain records are sealed by default under Massachusetts law or by court orders to protect sensitive information and preserve privacy. These records can only be viewed by authorized persons or court orders.

In summary, the court system in Suffolk County ensures the just and fair resolution of disputes to protect the liberties and rights of the county's residents. The circuit and county courts are critical to delivering justice for all persons in Suffolk County. The public's confidence in the legal system is increased by implementing an efficient electronic system for managing court records, which guarantees accessibility and transparency. Suffolk County is a model of efficient court administration in Massachusetts and is still committed to fulfilling its legal obligations.