Criminal Offender Record Information: Criminal Records Guide
Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI): How to Request, Read and Correct Massachusetts Criminal Records
Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) is Massachusetts criminal-history information maintained through the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS). Individuals can request their own CORI, authorized organizations can obtain certain background-check information, and the public can separately search qualifying court dockets.
This guide explains the official iCORI process, fees, identification requirements, background screening rules, access limitations, court-record searches, self-audits, sealing, expungement and what to do when your CORI contains an error.
Research reviewed October 16, 2026 • Official Massachusetts DCJIS, Court System and Probation Service resources
What Is Criminal Offender Record Information?
CORI is the name used by Massachusetts for criminal offender record information. The Commonwealth’s DCJIS operates a name-based system that checks available Massachusetts arraignment records using personal identifiers, including name and date of birth.
A CORI report is not necessarily a complete account of every arrest or every criminal proceeding involving a person. Information returned depends on the type of access the requester is entitled to receive, applicable disclosure rules and the information held in Massachusetts systems.
What CORI can help establish
- Available Massachusetts criminal-history information
- Qualifying arraignment and criminal case records
- Dispositions where available and disclosable
- Criminal-history information authorized for the requester’s access level
What CORI does not automatically include
- Every criminal case across the United States
- A fingerprint-confirmed match
- Every police investigation or arrest report
- Every sealed, expunged or confidential record
- Federal PACER case documents
Massachusetts CORI Fees and Processing Time
These are the fees published on the Massachusetts DCJIS individual-request page when reviewed. The amount depends on the type of request and any applicable waiver.
| Request | Published Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Personal CORI | $25 | Request your own adult CORI |
| Open-access CORI | $50 | Limited qualifying public-access request |
| Indigent subject | $0 | Subject to approval of applicable fee waiver |
| Private landlord | $25 | Subject to housing-screening rules |
| Designated representative | $25 | Additional authorization procedures may apply |
| Self-audit | Free once every 90 days | Additional request within 90 days: $25 |
Check the current DCJIS fee schedule before paying. Government fees and service procedures may change.
How to Request Your Own Massachusetts CORI Online
If you are requesting your own adult criminal record, use the DCJIS individual-request service. You should not need to purchase a commercial people-search subscription for this government process.
Open the individual CORI request page
Read the information under What You Need, Fees and How to Request. Select the official online-account option.
Create or sign in using MyMassGov
DCJIS identifies MyMassGov as the account system for updated iCORI access. Follow the current login and registration screen. Do not enter your credentials on an unofficial website.
Choose a personal CORI request
When registration asks whether you want to request your own personal CORI, select the corresponding personal-request option. Do not select an organizational or landlord role for an ordinary self-request.
Complete identity verification
Follow the current system’s identity instructions. DCJIS guidance identifies a Massachusetts driver license or identification card for online personal requests; the paper method is available for individuals unable to use that identification route.
Review your information and fees
Check your legal name, date of birth and other requested identifiers. If you qualify for financial hardship relief, review the official fee waiver instructions before submitting payment.
Submit the request and retain confirmation
Complete the request through the official system. Keep the transaction number, confirmation or other reference information provided.
Review the result carefully
Allow for the published processing period of up to ten business days. Check the identifying information, criminal case entries and final dispositions before using the report.
Who Can Access CORI and How Much Information Can They See?
Massachusetts law does not give every requester identical access to every person’s criminal history. Disclosure can differ depending on the purpose, statutory authorization and access category.
| Requester | Access Route | Important Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Person requesting own CORI | Personal CORI | Follow DCJIS personal identity and request procedures |
| Employer or volunteer organization | Authorized organizational CORI access | Correct access level, authorization and employment screening obligations |
| Private landlord | Housing-related CORI access | Compliance with Massachusetts housing CORI rules |
| General public | Limited open-access CORI | Restricted to qualifying information under Massachusetts law |
| Certain agencies or licensing bodies | Required or specially authorized access | Applicable law or regulation controls scope |
Open access does not mean unrestricted access. The fact that a person has a criminal-history entry does not make every detail available to every private requester.
Search Massachusetts Criminal Court Cases Without Ordering CORI
If you need a public criminal court docket rather than a DCJIS background report, Massachusetts provides Trial Court Case Access through MassCourts. This is a different service from iCORI.
Open MassCourts
Go to the official Trial Court Case Access website. Complete the security verification, including the “I’m not a robot” checkbox when presented.
Choose public record search
Click the option to search public records. This is different from signing into DCJIS iCORI.
Select the appropriate court department
Choose the court department and division. Criminal cases may originate in District Court, Boston Municipal Court or Superior Court depending on jurisdiction and case circumstances.
Choose the location and search criteria
Select the relevant court location if offered. Search using the case number when available or use the party-name fields and other controls shown by the system.
Open and verify the matching docket
Review the court location, case number, filing information, party details, events and disposition. Do not treat an arraignment or charge as a conviction.
Contact the originating court for certified copies
If you need a certified docket sheet, disposition or case document, contact the Clerk’s Office of the court that maintains the case. The online case summary is not the same as a certified CORI report or court copy.
CORI for Employers, Volunteers, Landlords and Licensing
Organizations using Massachusetts CORI for eligibility decisions must follow the rules applicable to their role. Massachusetts CORI requirements and federal consumer-reporting requirements are not interchangeable.
Employer CORI checks
Organizations should register in the appropriate capacity, determine their permitted level of CORI access, obtain required authorization and follow applicable adverse-decision and record-handling rules.
Official Employer Starting PointHousing-related CORI access
Private landlords and housing organizations have specific account and use requirements. Massachusetts 803 CMR 5.00 addresses CORI use, storage and dissemination in rental and lease evaluations.
Housing RegulationOccupational and professional checks
Some licensing programs have special criminal-history access requirements. Applicants should follow the specific board or agency’s screening instructions.
Fingerprint-supported screening
Some Massachusetts programs use fingerprint-supported checks through authorized channels. Ordinary CORI is name-based, so these procedures are not identical.
Compare Check TypesHow to Find Out Who Requested Your CORI
Massachusetts DCJIS offers a CORI self-audit. Unlike a personal CORI report, a self-audit identifies covered non-criminal-justice requests made for your CORI information.
Self-audit can show
Covered inquiries from employers, schools, healthcare organizations, landlords, housing authorities and other qualifying non-criminal-justice requesters.
Self-audit does not show
Inquiries excluded under the process, including criminal justice or law-enforcement agency queries.
How to request: Open the DCJIS self-audit page, select the appropriate request process, complete the form or online submission requirements and retain your confirmation.
The published self-audit rule allows one request without a fee every 90 days. Additional requests within that period have a $25 fee.
Request a CORI Self-AuditWhat to Do if Your CORI Contains Incorrect Information
Identity confusion, missing dispositions or outdated criminal-history entries can create serious problems. Massachusetts provides correction procedures, but the correct route depends on the type and source of the error.
Identify the inaccurate entry
Compare your personal CORI report against known court records and any documents showing the actual case outcome.
Find the originating criminal court
Record the court name, case number and relevant date. Contact the court to obtain the appropriate certified docket sheet when necessary.
Use the Massachusetts correction process
For covered state or national record errors, DCJIS directs individuals to obtain certified court documentation and follow the Massachusetts State Police Identification Section correction process.
Retain proof of the correction request
Keep the court-certified record, submitted correction form and correspondence. Follow up using the instructions provided by the agency.
Massachusetts CORI Sealing and Expungement
Massachusetts provides processes for sealing eligible criminal records and, under narrower conditions, expunging records. They are not the same remedy.
Sealing
Limits access to eligible records under Massachusetts law. Sealing does not necessarily destroy all records or make them inaccessible for every authorized governmental purpose.
Expungement
Provides a distinct process for eligible records and generally involves destruction of the expunged record under the governing Massachusetts rules.
| Record Category | General Sealing Eligibility | Important Caveat |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible misdemeanor conviction | Generally 3 years | Measured from conviction or release from incarceration, whichever is later; statutory exceptions apply |
| Eligible felony conviction | Generally 7 years | Measured from conviction or release from incarceration, whichever is later; statutory exceptions apply |
| Qualifying dismissal or nolle prosequi | Court petition route | Specific rules and judicial procedures apply |
| Eligible expungement | Separate time-based or non-time-based standards | Not every offense or case qualifies |
Massachusetts states that filing a request to seal a criminal record does not require a filing fee. For eligible convictions, the petition route generally involves Massachusetts Probation Service; certain nonconviction matters follow the relevant court process.
CORI vs. MassCourts vs. Fingerprint Background Checks
| System | Primary Purpose | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|
| iCORI | Massachusetts name-based criminal-history request | Controlled DCJIS access levels |
| MassCourts | Publicly available Massachusetts trial court docket information | Case-by-case court access; not CORI certification |
| Fingerprint check | Identity-supported authorized criminal-history screening | May access broader state/national fingerprint information as permitted |
| PACER | Federal court filings and dockets | Does not replace Massachusetts state history |
Massachusetts DCJIS and Probation Service Contact Information
DCJIS Civil Background Screening Services Unit
Phone: (617) 660-4640
Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m.
Email: icori.info@mass.gov
Use for iCORI registration, request and general process questions.
Department of Criminal Justice Information Services
Address: 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150
Phone: (617) 660-4600
Check specific mailing and document-submission instructions before sending paperwork.
View Chelsea Location on Google MapsOffice of the Commissioner of Probation
Address: 1 Ashburton Place, Room 405, Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 727-5300
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
View Boston Location on Google MapsOriginating Massachusetts Court
If your problem concerns a particular conviction, dismissal, docket sheet or certified disposition, contact the clerk of the court that handled the case.
Prepare your case number, name, court location and the document you need.
Find Court Case InstructionsCriminal Offender Record Information FAQs
What does CORI stand for?
CORI stands for Criminal Offender Record Information. Massachusetts uses the term for criminal-history information administered through DCJIS under state law.
How can I request my own CORI in Massachusetts?
Use the official DCJIS individual CORI request page and follow the current iCORI/MyMassGov registration and verification instructions. A paper request route is available when online requirements cannot be met.
How much does a personal CORI report cost?
The published personal CORI request fee is $25. Eligible indigent individuals may request a waiver under DCJIS procedures.
How long does a CORI request take?
DCJIS says CORI requests can take up to ten business days, although many requests are completed sooner. Processing may vary.
Can anyone search another person’s CORI?
No. Access depends on Massachusetts law, request purpose and applicable authorization. Limited open-access information is available through a distinct process, but that does not grant unrestricted access to complete criminal histories.
Is CORI the same as a MassCourts criminal docket?
No. CORI is a DCJIS criminal-history process. MassCourts provides public access to qualifying trial court case information and is not a substitute for an official CORI request.
Can I find out which employers requested my CORI?
You can request a CORI self-audit from DCJIS. It identifies covered non-criminal-justice inquiries and excludes law-enforcement or criminal justice searches.
How do I correct inaccurate CORI information?
Follow the official Massachusetts correction instructions. Depending on the error, you may need a certified court docket and the Massachusetts State Police record correction process.
Can CORI records be sealed or expunged?
Some Massachusetts criminal records qualify for sealing or expungement under separate legal requirements. Eligibility depends on the record, disposition, timing and applicable exclusions.
Does Massachusetts CORI cover crimes in other states?
An ordinary Massachusetts name-based CORI check covers available Massachusetts information and is not a nationwide fingerprint-supported check. Separate state or authorized national checks may be necessary for other purposes.
Official Sources and Massachusetts CORI Resources
These official government resources support the procedures, fees, access limitations and legal distinctions explained above.
- Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information – DCJIS
- Request CORI as an Individual – Fees, Registration and Processing
- DCJIS CORI Frequently Asked Questions
- Name-Based vs Fingerprint-Supported Checks
- Massachusetts Court Docket Search Instructions
- CORI Self-Audit and Fee Waiver
- Correct a State or National Criminal Record
- Request to Seal Your Criminal Record
- Massachusetts Criminal Record Expungement
- Massachusetts CORI Laws and Legal Resources
- 803 CMR 2.00 – CORI Regulation
- 803 CMR 5.00 – Housing CORI Regulation