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Know your CORI rights: Sealing and expungement of criminal record information (CORI), Greater Boston Legal Services, 2024.
Great publication in question and answer form. Covers everything from sealing of records to rights when interviewing for jobs, federal court sealing, and much more, with a set of forms attached. (CORI does not include restraining order cases or non-criminal matters such as DCF “51A” reports of child abuse or neglect. However, a criminal case may be filed if a restraining order is violated, or a child is abused.) Additional resources on CORI and juvenile record sealing are also provided by the GBLS.
Massachusetts laws
Criminal Offender Record Information Act (CORI)
Mass. General Laws c. 6:
- § 167 Definitions
- § 167A Department of criminal justice information services
- § 168 Criminal record review board
- § 168A Transmission of probation and parole records to the department
- § 168B Rules and regulations
- § 168C Post-secondary schools; annual uniform crime reports; campus security policies
- § 171 Regulations generally; continuing education program; evaluative information
- § 171A Right of applicant to criminal history record prior to questioning or adverse decision; penalties for failure to provide applicant with criminal history information; maintenance of written criminal offender record information policy
- § 172 Accessibility and dissemination of information; listing of agencies or individuals receiving information
- § 172A Information request fee
- § 172B Children and families department; youth services department; available information
Massachusetts regulations and executive orders
101 CMR 15 Criminal record checks (Executive Office of Health and Human Services)
108 CMR 15 Criminal offender record checks (Executive Office of Veterans Services)
110 CMR 18 Criminal offender records checks (Department of Children and Families)
803 CMR Department of Criminal Justice Information Services
Executive Order 495 Regarding the use and dissemination of criminal offender record information by the executive department
Selected cases
Forms
Apply for a marijuana pardon certificate, Mass. Governor.
The Governor’s pardon forgives Massachusetts state court convictions before March 13, 2024 for what is commonly known as simple possession of marijuana. Most people will not need to take any action to have their criminal records updated. However, you may request a pardon certificate, which may help remove civil or legal restrictions because of the conviction.
CORI forms, Department of Criminal Justice Information Services.
Forms and policies for organizations and individuals making CORI requests can be found here.
Court forms for criminal records, Mass. Court System and Probation Service.
A collection of court forms related to sealing and expunging criminal records.
Petition for expungement of marijuana offenses form, Mass. Court System and Probation Service.
This form can be used to petition the court for expungement of marijuana offenses that were based on now decriminalized amounts of marijuana.
Request to seal your criminal record, Mass. Probation Service.
Request not to seal criminal records, Mass. Probation Service.
For records entered on/after March 11, 2024: Complete and send this form to the Office of the Commissioner of Probation within 10 days to request that your criminal records not be sealed, under MGL c. 276, § 100C, Paragraph 1.
Reading a CORI
CORI reading: How to read criminal offender record information reports, Greater Boston Legal Services, 2019.
Explains common abbreviations and codes, and how to understand the information you see on a CORI report.
Master Crime List, Mass. Sentencing Commission (June 2018)
Lists felonies and misdemeanors first by MGL reference, and then alphabetically by offense, specifying the penalty type and sentencing information. Easiest way to find penalties for particular offenses. See also the Interactive Master Crime List.
Sample criminal record, Mass. Criminal History Systems Board.
Provides a sample of what a CORI request response will look like.
Getting your own CORI
How to get a copy of your CORI, Mass. Legal Help, 2024.
Outlines the process and provides links to forms for requesting a copy of your own CORI. There is also a fee for obtaining a copy.
iCORI: Request your own CORI online, Department of Criminal Justice Information Services.
To request your own CORI, click on Register as an individual, and on the next screen answer Yes to "Would you like to request your own Personal CORI?"
Request a criminal record self-audit, Department of Criminal Justice Information Services.
You can request a self-audit for your criminal offender information (CORI) form. This self-audit shows you all background check inquiries that another person or organization has made for your CORI form, except inquiries made for criminal justice purposes.
Access by the general public
Massachusetts laws
MGL c. 6, § 178A Access by victims and witnesses
MGL c. 6, § 172(4) Access by general public under certain conditions
Web sources
Judicial Archives of the State Archives
For information prior to 1860. The records for the various county courts (1636-1860) are in the Judicial Archives of the State Archives in Boston. For further assistance you may consult the Finding Aids for the County at the State Archives (Reference Desk) or Contact the Judicial Archives. You should try to find as much information about the case as you can before you contact them. We were told that the person's name, year of the trial, as well as the type of crime is helpful. The archivist suggested that local newspapers from around the time of the trial often provide detailed information.
Open access request form, Mass. Department of Criminal Justice Information Services.
Use to request open access CORI by mail. This form is only to be used to request CORI under the Open Access provisions of MGL c. 6, § 172. There is a fee for obtaining a copy.
What you need to know about Massachusetts criminal records, Mass. Department of Criminal Justice Information Services, 1st ed., March 15, 2019.
Housing and CORI access
CORI and housing, Mass. Legal Help, 2024.
Explains how housing authorities and landlords can look at your criminal record, and what you can do to find housing if you have one. It includes information about both public and private housing.
iCORI: Request CORI as a private landlord
To request CORI information as a private landlord, click on Register as an individual and on the next screen, answer Yes to "Are you a Private Landlord that wishes to request a tenant's or prospective tenant's CORI?"
iCORI: Request CORI as a realtor, public housing authority or property management company
To request CORI information in one of these categories, click on Register as an Organization and on the next screen, select Housing. You must then answer a series of questions about your organization to register.
Employment and CORI access
Laws
MGL c. 71, § 38R Schools' access to criminal records; employees, contractors, and volunteers; use limited to protection of children
MGL c. 151B, § 4(9)
An employer may not "request any information, ... make or keep a record of such information, ... regarding:...any conviction of a misdemeanor where the date of such conviction or the completion of any period of incarceration resulting therefrom... occurred 3 or more years prior to the date of such application for employment or such request for information, unless such person has been convicted of any offense within 3 years immediately preceding the date of such application for employment or such request for information or ... a criminal record, or anything related to a criminal record, that has been sealed or expunged pursuant to chapter 276."
MGL c. 151B, § 4(9-1/2)
An employer may not "request on its initial written application form criminal record information," unless very specific conditions apply.
MGL c. 15D, § 7 and § 8 Background checks for teachers
Teachers at schools and day care centers, bus drivers and others will be required to submit fingerprints for background checks.
Web sources
Consideration of arrest and conviction records in employment decisions under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Under the guidance, background checks must be job-related and consistent with business necessity. When considering conviction records, employers must look at (1) the nature and gravity of the offense, (2) the amount of time that has passed since the offense, and (3) the nature of the position sought. According to the EEOC, arrest records are never job-related and consistent with business necessity because applicants must be treated as innocent until proven guilty.
Guide to criminal records in employment and housing, Mass. Attorney General.
Answers frequently asked questions and includes a form to file a complaint.
Jobs and CORI, Mass. Legal Help, 2024.
Explains how employers get a copy of a CORI and what information they can see, and what employers are allowed and not allowed to ask about your criminal history before hire.
Print sources
Employment law, 3rd ed. (Mass Practice v.45), West, 2016 with supplement.
Section 15:16: Inquiries – Criminal record.
Media access and dissemination
Boston Globe's "Fresh Start" initiative, 2021.
This program allows people to ask the newspaper to update or anonymize past coverage of them online. "The 'Fresh Start' initiative is part of a broader effort to rethink the Globe’s criminal justice coverage and how it affects communities of color."
iCORI: Request open access CORI online
To request CORI information as a member of the general public, click on Register as an individual and on the next screen, answer Yes to "Would you like to request CORI as a member of the public (Open CORI)?"
Sealing, expungement, and pardons
Massachusetts laws
MGL c. 94C, § 34 Unlawful possession of particular controlled substances (provides for sealing of certain records)
MGL c. 94C, § 44 Violations of section 34; acquittal, dismissal or indictment nol prossed; sealing of records
MGL c. 233, § 21 Proof of conviction of crime to affect credibility
MGL c. 276, § 100A Requests to seal files
MGL c. 276, § 100B Requests to seal delinquency files or records
MGL c. 276, § 100C Sealing of records or files in certain criminal cases.
MGL c. 276, § 100D Access by criminal justice agencies
MGL c. 276, §§ 100E-100U Expungement of records
MGL c. 276, § 100K 1/4 Expungement of record resulting from marijuana cultivation, possession, and/or distribution (effective November 9th, 2022)
Court Rules
Boston Municipal Court Amended Standing Order 1-09: Sealing three or more eligible criminal records
For the sealing of 3 or more dismissals and non-conviction criminal records.
Web sources
CORI and juvenile record sealing booklets, Greater Boston Legal Services.
A great series of booklets on how to seal different criminal or juvenile records.
Expunge your criminal record, Mass. Trial Court.
Having a criminal record expunged means that the record will be permanently destroyed so that it's no longer accessible by the court or any other state, municipal, or county agencies. It's not the same as having a record sealed. Find out who's eligible to have a record expunged and how to request to expunge your record.
Expungement packet under MGL c. 276 § 100K, Greater Boston Legal Services, 2019.
Provides important guidance, and sample filled-in forms for expungement for false identification, error, or fraud.
Marijuana pardons, frequently asked questions, Mass. Governor.
On March 13, 2024, Governor Maura T. Healey announced a one-time, large-scale pardon effort for people with certain misdemeanor marijuana possession convictions.
Massachusetts restoration of rights & record relief, Restoration of Rights Project, 2025.
Explains how people can lose and get back their civil and gun rights, how courts and governors can help reduce the impact of a conviction, and what laws protect people from discrimination in jobs, licenses, and housing.
Never sealable crimes, Mass. Legal Help, 2024.
Provides information on the types of convictions that can never be sealed in Massachusetts.
Removing a Dookhan drug conviction from your record
Provides specific information on what to do if you have a drug conviction that involved Annie Dookhan and Drug lab cases info.
Request a non-time-based expungement of your criminal record, Mass. Court System.
Find out how to expunge your criminal record if the record was created as a result of fraud or specifically defined errors or the record was created based on an offense that's no longer considered a crime.
Seal your criminal record, Mass. Probation Service.
Depending on the conviction and the amount of time that has passed, you may be eligible to seal your criminal record. Find out if you're eligible to seal your criminal record and how to request to seal your record.
“Sealing and expungement after Massachusetts Criminal Justice Reform,” by Pauline Quirion v. 100 Issue 4 Massachusetts Law Review 100 (August 2019).
Sealing your CORI, Mass. Legal Help (2024)
Print sources
Criminal practice & procedure, 4th ed., (Mass. practice v.30B), Thomson/West, 2014 with supplement.
Chapter 70: Expungement and Sealing of Criminal Records
Correcting a criminal record
Massachusetts laws
MGL c. 6, § 175
"Subject to appropriation, the department shall provide assistance to individuals that have requested assistance to correct inaccurate or incomplete criminal offender record information. Such assistance shall include but not be limited to cooperation with appropriate entities to correct, modify or appropriately supplement criminal offender record information that has been determined to be inaccurate or incomplete."
Web sources
Information concerning the process in correcting a criminal record, Mass. Department of Criminal Justice Information Services.
Explains what to do about various types of errors you may find on your CORI report.
Print sources
Administrative law and practice, 2nd ed. (Mass Practice v.39), West, 2017 with supplement.
Sections 17:21 through 17:51.
Massachusetts criminal offender record information (CORI) law, 3rd ed., MCLE, 2023.
MLRI: CORI basics: Criminal record sealing, expungement & related issues, MCLE, 2025.
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| Last updated: | December 16, 2025 |
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