Medford City, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Crime Index

According to the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) and the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), Medford City recorded a total of 1,298 crimes in 2019. These crimes include 116 violent crimes, 526 property crimes, and 25 drunk driving cases (OUIs).

A summary of the statistics on violent crimes shows a record of

• 7 rapes
• 17 robberies
• 92 aggravated assaults

The property crimes included

• 51 burglaries
• 442 larcenies
• 33 motor vehicle thefts
• 1 case of arson

When compared to 2018, the city experienced a 4% increase in crime rates. The rate of rape, robbery, aggravated assault, and larceny increased by 17%, 89%, 59%, and 7% respectively. During the same period, there was a decline in the rate of burglary by 40%, motor vehicle theft by 33%, arson by 50%, and OUIs by 34%. The rate of murder remained the same.

Somerville District Court

The Somerville District Court adjudicates criminal, civil, housing, juvenile, mental health, and other types of cases emanating from Medford City. According to Trial Court’s Statistics, the court received a total of 1,236 criminal case filings and 83 search warrants in the 2020 fiscal year.

The court also provides public access to its records. Interested persons may access their district court records as well as other court records through the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access Portal. Alternatively, residents may contact the Court’s Clerk for more information on obtaining court records.

Somerville District Court

175 Fellsway

Somerville, MA 02145

Phone: (617) 666-8000 (Clerk’s Office & Probation Department)

Fax: (617) 776-2111(Clerk’s Office)

Fax: (617) 666-4361 (Probation Department)

Email: cmsomervilledc@jud.state.ma.us

The District Court offers other services like the adult drug court, the Virtual Court Service Center, and the provision of legal assistance through the lawyer for the day program. Currently, most of the court’s activities are addressed virtually to be inline with the Covid-19 protocols. The District Court may handle the following matters in-person:

• Show Cause hearings (except when the clerk decides to conduct such hearings virtually)
• Warrant Removals
• Criminal Arraignments
• Criminal Evidentiary Hearing on motion or request
• Functions at the Clerk’s Office
• Meeting with a probation officer or staff person
• Petitions for substance use disorder commitments
• Petitions for mental health commitments
• Abuse Prevention Orders
• Harassment Prevention Orders
• Extreme Risk Protection Orders

Middlesex Superior Court

The Middlesex Superior Court has authority over civil and criminal matters that exceed the jurisdiction of other courts that serve Medford. Typically, the court hears cases of felonies or crimes that attract a jail term of more than five years. Within the 2020 fiscal year, the court recorded a total of 888 criminal case entries.

The Middlesex Superior Court also hears civil matters involving over $50,000, as well as labor disputes and medical malpractice tribunals.

Middlesex County Superior Court - Lowell

370 Jackson Street

Lowell, MA 01852

Phone: (978) 453-0201 (Civil)

Phone: (978) 453-4181 (Criminal)

Fax: (978) 970-2386

Email: Middlesex.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us

Middlesex County Superior Court - Woburn

200 Trade Center, 2nd Floor

Woburn, MA 01801

Phone: (781) 939-2700

Email: Middlesex.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us

Residents may access their Superior Court records by visiting the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access Portal. The court adopts Covid-19 protocols and currently conducts certain court businesses virtually. To explore virtual alternatives such as email, phone, and videoconference, interested parties may direct their inquiries to the Office of the Court Clerk using the contact details above. Residents may however require a physical appearance at the court for the following purposes:

• To attend in-person court proceedings (when ordered by the court)
• Conduct activities with a clerk's, register's, or recorder's office
• Meet with a probation officer or probation staff person; or
• Conduct business at other courthouse offices that are open to the public

Cambridge Juvenile Court

The Cambridge Juvenile Court has general jurisdiction over juvenile delinquency, guardianship issues, and youth offender cases emanating from Medford City. According to Trial Court Statistics, the court recorded a total of 3,214 case filings in the 2020 fiscal year alone.

Juvenile court proceedings and records are precluded from public access. Individuals authorized to obtain Juvenile Court records include representatives or appointees of parties to the case and parties with a court order to that effect.

Most of the Juvenile Court’s functions are currently conducted virtually.

Cambridge Juvenile Court

121 3rd Street

Cambridge, MA 02141

Phone: (617) 494-4100

Email: middlesex-jccallctr@jud.state.ma.us

Middlesex Probate and Family Court

The Middlesex Probate and Family Court adjudicate a variety of Medford family cases and probate proceedings including divorce, abuse prevention, paternity, marriage affirmation or annulment, child custody, child support, the probate of wills, termination of parental rights, change of name, and administration of estates. Despite closing for three months due to Covid-19, the court still recorded a total of 19,893 case filings within the 2020 fiscal year.

The court provides access to its records. Requesters are required to submit a completed copy of the Request for Copies form together with the stipulated fees by mail or physically to the courthouse located at:

Middlesex Probate and Family Court South - Woburn

10-U Commerce Way

Woburn, MA 01801

Phone: (781) 865-4000

Email: middlesexprobate@jud.state.ma.us

The court conducts much of its functions remotely by phone, mail, or videoconference due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, trials and evidentiary hearings still require a physical appearance.

Eastern Housing Court

The jurisdiction of the Housing Court encompasses Medford civil and criminal matters pertaining to the use of residences and conditions affecting such use. Trial Court Statistics reports that within the 2020 fiscal year, the court had a total of 333 criminal case entries, while also disposing of 328 criminal cases.

Eastern Housing Court - Middlesex Session

175 Fellsway

Somerville, MA 02145

Phone: (617) 788-8485 (Clerk’s Office)

Phone: (617) 788-6233 (Housing Specialist Department)

Email: EasternHousingCourt@jud.state.ma.us

Massachusetts Land Court

The Massachusetts Land Court has jurisdiction over Medford real property matters, which include title registration, zoning, and real estate tax lien. According to Trial Court Statistics, the court’s caseload stood at 26,037 by the end of the 2020 fiscal year. Records of the Land Court’s proceedings are available for public access on the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access Portal.

Massachusetts Land Court

3 Pemberton Square

Boston, MA 02108

Phone: (617) 788-7470

Supreme Judicial Court (SJC)

The SJC is the state’s appellate court. The court entertains appeals of Medford cases from the Appeals Court, while also performing supervisory functions like providing rules for the operations of all other courts. In the 2018 fiscal year, the SJC’s gross entries stood at 194, with the court eventually dismissing 14 cases.

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court - John Adams Courthouse

1 Pemberton Square

Boston, MA 02108

Phone: (617) 557-1000

Hours: Mon. - Fri., 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

The court may make an on-paper ruling without oral arguments. Hearings before a sole justice can be conducted in-person, in line with necessary protocols.

Appeals Court

The Appeals Court entertains appeals of Medford cases from all trial court departments, as well as administrative tribunals like the Appellate Tax Board, the Department of Industrial Accidents, and the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board. The Appeals Court has appellate jurisdiction over all types of civil and criminal matters except for appeals of first-degree murder, which go straight to the Supreme Judicial Council. The court handled a total of 736 criminal case appeals in the 2020 fiscal year. The Appeals Court currently performs most of its activities virtually by telephone, electronic filing, email, videoconference, or other similar media.

Massachusetts Appeals Court - John Adams Courthouse

1 Pemberton Square

Boston, MA 02108

Phone: (617) 921-4443

Hours: Mon. - Fri., 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Tufts University

Tufts University is a private institution with a campus in Medford. According to the UCR, the Medford campus experienced a total of two violent crimes and 41 property crimes in 2018. The violent crimes included a case each for rape and robbery, while the property crimes were 6 burglaries and 35 larcenies.

Tufts University - Medford/Somerville Campus

419 Boston Avenue

Medford, MA 02155

(Dowling Hall parking garage)

Phone: (617) 628-5000