Berkshire County, located in the westernmost part of Massachusetts, covers an area of about 946 square miles, making it one of the largest counties in Massachusetts by land area. The county seat is Pittsfield, and the county’s estimated population is 126,000. Berkshire County is home to Tanglewood, the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Courts in Berkshire County

The Berkshire County judiciary system comprises the Superior, District, Probate and Family, Housing, and Juvenile Courts. The Superior Court adjudicates criminal and civil cases, such as felonies, civil disputes involving amounts above $25,000, civil equity cases, and appeals.

The Berkshire District Court is a lesser court that hears misdemeanors, traffic violations, small claims up to $7,000, and general civil claims below $25,000. The Berkshire County Probate and Family Court deals with family and probate law matters, including divorce, child support, division of marital assets, alimony, conservatorships, guardianships, and adoptions.

The Housing Court presides over matters relating to housing and property. It hears landlord/tenant disputes, housing code violations, and foreclosures. The Juvenile Court adjudicates cases involving minors, including delinquency, child protection, and status offenses.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Berkshire County

Public court records are all documents maintained by the courts and publicly available to Berkshire residents. Berkshire County public court records are available online using the Access Massachusetts Court Case tool. The Clerk of Court also maintains court records at the courthouses. Record seekers may access the document in person during business hours. Likewise, the court accepts mail requests for public court records.

Types of Public Court Records in Berkshire County

Access to case files from past lawsuits helps citizens understand how the county’s legal system operates. In Berkshire County, residents have access to the following court records:

• Civil Court Records: Tort, breach of contract, landlord/tenant disputes, product liability, and defamation
• Criminal Court Records: Felonies such as theft, kidnapping, and drug trafficking records. Misdemeanors such as vandalism, simple assault, and shoplifting
• Family and Probate Court Records: Name change, child custody, child support, wills, guardianships, name change, estates, conservatorships
• Traffic Records: Parking violations, hit and run, driving without insurance, reckless driving, and seatbelt violations

Confidential Court Records in Berkshire County

Confidential records are documents maintained by the courts but restricted from the general public. Confidential records are sealed by the courts or federal or state law. The courts seal the document to prevent potential harassment and safeguard the privacy of the individual named on the document. Confidential court records in Berkshire County include:

• Trade secrets and proprietary information
• Grand jury proceedings
• Mental health records
• Substance abuse treatment records
• Juvenile court records

Additionally, the court treats personal data as confidential and redacts them from public court records. The court excludes personal identifiers from the court document to protect vulnerable individuals and prevent misuse, identity theft, and fraud. Personal identifying information excluded from public access are:

• Financial account information
• Passport numbers
• Medical records
• Social Security numbers
• Drivers license numbers

Juvenile Delinquency in Berkshire, MA

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Berkshire County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Massachusetts often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 576 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Berkshire County. Of that total, 45% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 262 court cases. Another 21% were dependency cases that accounted for 123 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Berkshire County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Berkshire County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Berkshire County, MA Courts