Established in 1643 and named after Suffolk, England, Suffolk County is one of Massachusetts' original counties. Suffolk County has a population of over 797,000 residents and covers a total area of 310 square kilometers. The county has its seat in Boston, the capital of Massachusetts.

Courts in Suffolk County

The trial court system in Suffolk County comprises the Superior Court, District Court, Probate and Family Court, Housing Court, Juvenile Courts, and Boston Municipal Courts, each with specific jurisdiction and functions within the judicial system. The Suffolk County Superior Court has general jurisdiction over major criminal and civil cases. They handle felonies and civil claims for damages of more than $25,000. The District Court serves Massachusetts and presides over less severe criminal cases such as felonies, misdemeanors, and town and city violations. The Probate and Family Court deals with matters related to distributing the estate of a decedent and family matters.

The Housing Court presides over matters arising from violations of state and local laws, such as building and sanitation code violations. The Housing Court has limited authority over the safety of residences, properties, and goods and services connected to a property. The Juvenile Courts preside over cases involving minors, such as juvenile delinquencies, child protection cases, and lawsuits involving children in need of services. The Boston Municipal Court serves Boston City. The Court has limited jurisdiction similar to the District Courts and presides over misdemeanor criminal cases and town and city ordinance violations.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Suffolk County

Public court records are the documents from legal proceedings available to Suffolk County residents. The Court Clerk is the record custodian for all public court records in the county. Record seekers can access public court documents at the public terminals at the courthouse. Public court records are also available online using the Massachusetts Trial Court Case Access.

Types of Public Court Records in Suffolk County

Public court records help citizens stay informed about the county’s judicial process. Public court records open to Suffolk County residents include:

• Criminal Court Records: Felonies and misdemeanors such as armed robbery, homicide, shoplifting, and simple assault
• Civil Court Records: Property disputes, employment disputes, personal injury claims, breach of contract, and securities fraud
• Family Court Records: Child custody orders, child support orders, divorce decrees, and spousal support
• Probate Court Records: Wills and testaments, letters of administration, trusts, and name change
• Traffic Court Records: DUI cases, court documents on traffic court proceedings, traffic citations and tickets

Confidential Court Records in Suffolk County

Confidential court records in Suffolk County refer to court documents and papers restricted from the public. Members of the public cannot access, view, or copy confidential court records as they are sealed by court orders or state law. Confidential court records contain sensitive information where disclosure may threaten the safety of the person named on the court document. Confidential court records in Suffolk County include:

• Juvenile court record
• Medical and mental health records
• Grand jury proceeding
• Adoption records
• Trade secrets

Public court records may contain private information where disclosure may result in an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. The courts treat personal identifying information as confidential and restrict them to the public. Private information redacted from public court records include:

• Social Security numbers
• Medical records
• Driver’s license numbers
• Tax identification numbers
• Home and personal email addresses

Juvenile Delinquency in Suffolk, MA

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

In 2017, a total of 1398 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Suffolk County. Of that total, 69% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 963 court cases. Another 31% were dependency cases that accounted for 434 of the juvenile cases.

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

Government of Suffolk County, MA

https://www.mass.gov/

County Seat:	Boston
Government Type:	City-County Consolidation
Authority:	Home Rule
Year Organized:	1643
Total Square Miles:	120
2019 Population:	797,939
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00
County Contact:	1 City Hall Square Ste. 550 City Hall Boston , MA 02201-2043 https://www.boston.gov/

Suffolk County, MA Courts