Norfolk County was named after the English county of the same name. The county government was incorporated in 1793. As of the 2020 census, the population was 725,981. Its county seat is Dedham.

Courts in Norfolk  County

Norfolk County has several divisions under the County’s Trial Court that handle legal matters within its jurisdiction. These divisions comprise courthouses that hear various cases such as civil, criminal, small claims, family, and probate matters.

The Wrentham District Court hears criminal, civil, juvenile, and mental health cases. The Metro-South Housing Court litigates civil and criminal matters involving the use of residential property and activities affecting such use. On the other hand, Norfolk County Juvenile Court has extensive jurisdiction over guardianship matters and juvenile delinquency cases. The Norfolk Probate and Family Court, aside from adjudicating over a wide range of family, matters also has jurisdiction over probate proceedings and general equity.

The residents of Norfolk County are also served by the Norfolk Superior Court. This court has general jurisdiction over all felony matters, medical malpractice tribunals, civil lawsuits over $50,000, and labor dispute matters where an injunction is requested.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Norfolk  County

General court records are filed and archived by the Norfolk County Clerk’s Office. To obtain these files, members of the public can physically visit the office of the clerk to make requests. Except for sealed or confidential documents, court records are also available and easier to access by filing a request form and submitting it online. This form may also be printed and mailed to the Norfolk County Commissioners’ Records Access Officer.

Types of Public Court Records in Norfolk  County

The following types of court records are available to the public in Norfolk County:

• Civil Court records
• Criminal Court records
• Family Court records
• Probate Court records

Confidential Court Records in Norfolk  County

Court records that are considered confidential contain information or documents from cases that are not available to the general public because of privacy issues or the sensitive nature of the material. In Norfolk County, confidential court records are sealed by law or court order. They include juvenile records, domestic abuse records, mental health data, Social Security numbers, and bank account information, amongst others.

Juvenile Delinquency in Norfolk, MA

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Norfolk 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 847 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Norfolk County. Of that total, 53% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 447 court cases. Another 15% were dependency cases that accounted for 128 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Norfolk County, MA

https://www.mass.gov/

County Seat:	Dedham
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1793
Total Square Miles:	444
2019 Population:	700,322
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	614 High St County Administration Building Dedham , MA 02026-1897 https://www.norfolkcounty.org/

Norfolk County, MA Courts