Cambridge City, Massachusetts Crime Index
According to the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS), the city of Cambridge, Middlesex County, recorded 3,850 crimes per 100,000 people in 2019. Compared to 2018, the crime rate decreased by 1%.
The FBI reported a total of 334 violent crimes and 1,991 property crimes in 2019. The violent crimes included 1 murder, 26 rapes, 67 robberies, and 240 aggravated assaults.
The property crimes included 161 burglaries, 1,724 larcenies, 98 motor vehicle thefts, and eight arsons. There were 32 OUI arrests in Cambridge City in 2019. Compared to the 2018 Cambridge crime index, there was a decrease in incidents of rape by (3.7%), robbery (34.3%), burglary by (35.3%), and motor vehicle theft by (10.1%). There was however an increase in murder (from zero to one), aggravated assault (14.3%), larceny (1.2%), arson (14.3%), and OUI offenses (10.3%).
Middlesex County Superior Court
The Middlesex County Superior Court serves the city of Cambridge. The Court has both civil and criminal jurisdiction. The Court’s civil jurisdiction includes civil actions over $50,000 and cases in which equitable remedies are sought. The Superior Court has exclusive original jurisdiction to hear first-degree murder cases. It also has jurisdiction in all other criminal cases.
The Court is open from Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The Court offers remote virtual court services, and parties can join some cases by video or phone. Interested individuals may contact the court at
Middlesex County Superior Court
200 Trade Center, 2nd Floor,
Woburn, MA 01801
Phone: (781) 939-2700
Email: Middlesex.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us
While the Court offers virtual services and answers inquiries by phone or mail, interested individuals may go to the court to:
- Attend proceedings taking place in person
- Obtain information, make inquiries, or conduct any other business with the clerk’s, recorder’s, or register’s office
- Meet with a probation officer or staff person
- Conduct business in other offices located in the courthouse and open to the public
Cambridge District Court
The Cambridge District Court opens from Monday to Friday, between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The Court includes a drug court and a mental health court. The District Court also has jurisdiction over criminal, civil, housing, juvenile, and other types of cases. The criminal jurisdiction of the Massachusetts district courts includes all misdemeanors, felonies with a possible sentence of up to five years in prison, violations of city ordinances and by-laws, and some other specific felonies. For felonies outside the criminal jurisdiction of the District Court, the Court determines whether there is probable cause to remand the suspect at the Superior Court. The Court conducts hearings to issue criminal complaints, arrest warrants, and to determine whether there is probable cause to detain individuals arrested without a warrant. The Court can also issue criminal and administrative search warrants.
The District Court’s civil jurisdiction includes cases of small claims up to $7,000 and cases in which damages are not likely to be more than $50,000. The Court may hold hearings virtually, and people can participate in such hearings through video or phone. The Court notifies any party to a virtual hearing of the hearing details. The Court also accepts eFiling of civil, small claims, and supplementary processes. The court recorded cases involving 1,657 defendants for criminal case filings and 150 search warrants in its report for the 2020 fiscal year.
Interested parties may contact the court at
Cambridge District Court
4040 Mystic Valley Parkway,
Medford, MA 02155
Phone: (781) 306-2715
Fax: 781-395-2035
Email: cmcambridgedc@jud.state.ma.us
The Court may make the following orders for abuse and harassment:
- Abuse prevention orders
- Harassment prevention orders
- Extreme risk protection orders
Middlesex Probate and Family Court
The Middlesex Probate and Family Court serve Cambridge. The Massachusetts probate and family courts have jurisdiction over family and probate matters. These include divorce, paternity, child support, abuse prevention, termination of parental rights, adoption, and parenting time. The Middlesex Probate and Family Court handle matters concerning guardianships, wills, trusts, change of name, and estates. The Court opens Mondays to Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Court also provides remote virtual court services. Cases may be determined virtually, with parties joining by video or phone. The Probate and Family Court allows eFiling of cases concerning estate and administration, some cases of divorce, and guardianship of an incapacitated person.
Middlesex Probate and Family Court
10-U Commerce Way,
Woburn, MA 01801
Phone: (781) 865-4000
Fax: (617) 225-0781
Email: middlesexprobate@jud.state.ma.us
The Court offers also offers services related to:
- Information for change of name
- Information about child support
- Access to wills both in person and by phone
- Access to court dockets, calendars, and case information
Land Court
The Land Court serves all of Massachusetts, including Cambridge. The Court has jurisdiction over the registration of real property titles, disputes arising from such registrations, foreclosure, and redemption on real property tax liens. The Court’s jurisdiction in cases with these subject matters is exclusive. The Court shares jurisdiction with other courts on contracts relating to real estate and other property matters and can hold its sessions in any location in Massachusetts. However, the Court opens from Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at
Land Court,
3 Pemberton Square,
Boston, MA 02108
Eastern Housing Court
The Eastern Housing Court, Middlesex Session, serves Cambridge. The Court opens only when it is in session on Fridays, at 8:30 a.m. The jurisdiction of the Housing Court includes civil and criminal matters relating to residential housing, small claims cases, civil actions that involve the welfare of landlords, tenants, and homeowners, summary process (eviction) cases, and consumer protection cases. The Court’s criminal jurisdiction extends to actions brought to enforce local ordinances and state codes that regulate residential housing. The Court does not hear cases solely concerning commercial property. The Eastern Housing Court provides both virtual hearing and eFiling services. Electronic filings may be done in the court for cases concerning small claims, supplementary process, and summary process. Other physical processes may be initiated at the court.
Eastern Housing Court
175 Fellsway,
Somerville, MA 02145
Phone: (617) 788-8485
Email: EasternHousingCourt@jud.state.ma.us
Cambridge Juvenile Court
The Cambridge Juvenile Court hears criminal and civil cases that involve children, including delinquency cases, youthful offenders, care, and protection cases. The jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court extends to cases relating to an adult’s influence on a child to commit a crime. The Court works to rehabilitate juveniles and protect the public from delinquency.
The Court address is
Cambridge Juvenile Court
121 3rd Street,
Cambridge, MA 02141
Phone: 617-494-4100
Email: middlesex-jccallctr@jud.state.ma.us
The Court determines cases concerning:
- Child requiring assistance
- Adoption
- Guardianship
- Termination of parental rights
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The US Department of Education Office of Postsecondary Education recorded 17 violent crimes and 33 property crimes in the Institute in 2018. The violent crimes included 16 rapes and one aggravated assault. The property crimes included 30 burglaries and three motor vehicle thefts. Compared to 2017, there was a decline in cases of aggravated assault by (50%), an increase in the incidents of rape by (77.8%), burglary by (50%), and motor vehicle theft by (50%). Interested parties may contact the university at
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
77 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
Harvard University
Harvard University. The US Department of Education recorded 34 violent crimes and 55 property crimes in the University in 2018. The violent crimes included 30 rapes, two robberies, and two aggravated assaults. The property crimes included 49 burglaries, nine motor vehicle thefts, and one arson. Compared to 2017, there was a decrease in the reported incidents of rape by (14.3%), aggravated assault by (60%), and burglary by (8.2%). There was an upshoot in motor vehicle theft by (12.5%) and arson by (from zero to one). The rate of robbery stayed the same.
Harvard University
Massachusetts Hall
Cambridge, MA 02138
Lesley University
Lesley University. No records of violent crimes but the university recorded 4 property crimes in 2018. The property crimes included two burglaries and two motor vehicle thefts. Compared to the recorded crime rates in 2017, there was an increase in motor vehicle theft from 0 to 2, while the burglary rate stayed the same. There was a decrease in the rate of rape from 1 to 0 and aggravated assault from 1 to 0. Interested parties may contact the University at
Lesley University
29 Everett St,
Cambridge, MA 02138
