Waltham, Middlesex County, Massachusetts Crime Index
Waltham had a crime rate of 979 incidents per 100,000 residents in 2019. With a total of 614 crimes reported, residents of the city have a 1 in 103 chance of becoming a victim of a crime.
Based on the crime classifications by the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, Waltham recorded a total number of 1,357 crimes, an overall crime rate of 2,163 incidents for every 100,000 residents. The 2019 records revealed
There were 512 property crimes in Waltham-
- 420 cases of larceny
- 70 burglary cases
- 22 reported motor vehicle thefts
The city had a total of 102 violent crimes in 2019, including 82 aggravated assaults, 7 robberies, 13 reported rape incidents, and no cases of murder. The city also recorded 5 cases of arson and 50 cases of driving under the influence cases.
Waltham District Courthouse
The Waltham District Court is a trial court with jurisdiction over most criminal matters, including misdemeanors and violations of town and city by-laws and ordinances. Although the court handles certain felonies, the law limits its jurisdiction to felonies that are punishable by a sentence of no more than 5 years of incarceration.
The Court may also carry out probable cause hearings for felonies that are outside its jurisdiction to determine whether or not to transfer over a defendant to the Middlesex Superior Court. The magistrates of the Court equally have the authority to issue criminal and administrative search warrants, as well as arrest warrants.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the court conducts most of its activities remotely by email, telephone, videoconference, or a combination of all three. Members of the public may listen to the Court’s events in real-time via a Public Access Telephone Line. The court is open to people who need to
- Be in-person at the court proceedings
- Carry out any business in-person with a clerk's, recorder's or register's office
- Meet with a probation officer or staff person
- Conduct business at other offices that are located in the courthouse and is open to the public
The Waltham District Courthouse may also provide a drop-box in an accessible and secure location at the courthouse entrance to deliver documents or pleadings for filing. To find out whether to appear at court in-person or to request to appear virtually at a scheduled in-person court hearing, interested parties may contact the Court at
Waltham District Court,
38 Linden Street,
Waltham, MA 02452
Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Telephone: (781) 894-4500
Email: cmwalthamdc@jud.state.ma.us
The Waltham District Court handled 1,485 criminal defendants in 2020 and 2,018 criminal defendants in 2019.
Northeastern Housing Court - Woburn Session
The Northeast Housing Court - Woburn Session handles all residential housing cases within Waltham. It has jurisdiction over criminal and civil matters that involve the safety, health, or welfare of the occupants or owners of residential housing. The court also handles code enforcement cases and appeals from the decisions of the local zoning board that affects residential housing.
Additionally, the Northeastern Housing Court may preside over criminal matters that are conducted to enforce local ordinances or the state’s sanitary, building, and fire prevention codes that regulate residential housing. The court sits only on Fridays by 8:30 a.m. but conducts most hearings remotely due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Access to the courtroom is also restricted to parties to the case, attorneys, witnesses, court personnel, and other persons that the presiding judge may consider necessary. The Northeast Housing Court Clerk's Office and the Northeast Housing Specialist Department provide a virtual front counter to provide people with the necessary information. Court users can get face-to-face assistance from court staff without visiting the courthouse in person.
Attorneys and Self-represented litigants may submit documents by electronic Filing. The Clerk’s Office of the Northeast Housing Court - Woburn Session is available at
Northeast Housing Court - Woburn Session,
200 Trade Center,
Courtroom 540 - 5th Floor,
Woburn, MA 01801
Phone: (978) 689-7833
Email: NortheastHousingCourt@jud.state.ma.us
The Northeastern Housing court received 52 criminal case entries in 2019 and 56 criminal case entries in the 2020 fiscal year.
Middlesex Superior Court
Felonies committed in Waltham, punishable by 5 years imprisonment and above are within the jurisdiction of the Middlesex County Superior Court. The Court also has exclusive jurisdiction over first-degree murder cases.
In adhering to applicable health protocols, the Middlesex County Superior Court conducts virtual hearings. However, the Court may hear the following criminal matters in person:
- Arraignments if the accused is not in custody
- Bench trials
- Evidentiary hearings on contested probation violations
- Guilty pleas
- Evidentiary hearings on motions
- Dangerousness hearings, if either party informs the court before the proceeding that such party plans to call one or more witnesses
Interested parties may contact the Middlesex County Superior Court at
Middlesex Superior Court,
200 Trade Center, 2nd Floor,
Woburn, MA 01801
Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Phone: (781) 939-2700
Email: Middlesex.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us
In 2020, the court received 888 criminal case filings. This is considerably lower than the 1,142 criminal cases received by the Court in 2019.
Middlesex County Juvenile Court - Waltham Session
The Middlesex County Juvenile Court - Waltham Session is the trial court with jurisdiction over
- Guardianship
- Delinquency
- Termination of parental rights proceedings
- Care and protection
- Youthful offender
- Children requiring assistance
- Adoption
- Adult contributing to the delinquency of a minor
The Court's remote options are available through the Middlesex Juvenile Court Virtual Front Counter. Parties may contact the court at
Waltham Juvenile Court,
38 Linden Street,
Waltham, MA 02452
Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Telephone: (781) 899-7672
Email: middlesex-jccallctr@jud.state.ma.us
There were a total of 3,214 case entries in the Middlesex County Juvenile Court in 2020. 695 of these cases were delinquency matters and 12 were youthful offender cases.
Massachusetts Land Court
Registration of title to real property in Waltham, as well as all cases and conflicts pertaining to such title is within the jurisdiction of the Land Court. The Court also handles the redemption and foreclosure of real estate tax liens. The Land Court typically conducts its court proceedings in Boston. However, the Court may sit in other cities, including Waltham upon the request of an attorney or if the circumstances warrant.
The Land Court Recorder’s Office has a virtual front counter where court users may receive face-to-face assistance from the court staff. This virtual counter is operational only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. The Court is located at
Land Court,
3 Pemberton Square,
Boston, MA 02108
Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
In 2020, the Land Court had a total of 7,325 new case entries but presided over 26,037 matters including cases that were carried over from 2019 and trials that were reopened.
Middlesex Probate and Family Court South - Woburn
The Middlesex Probate and Family Court South - Woburn handles divorce, adoption, custody, child support, paternity, parenting time, termination of parental rights, and abuse prevention matters. The Court also has jurisdiction over wills, estates, trusts, conservatorships, guardianships, and changes of name.
Due to the health concerns arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Middlesex Probate, and Family Court South - Woburn provides a virtual registry for court users. Additionally, the court's efiling option gives attorneys and self-represented litigants the chance to file court documents online. However, this option may only apply to cases concerning
- Voluntary Administration Statement
- Joint Petition for Divorce 1A
- Petition for Guardianship of Incapacitated Person
- Petition for Late and Limited Formal
- Complaint for Divorce 1B
- Petition for Informal Probate
- Petition for Formal Probate
For inquiries, parties may contact the court at:
Middlesex Probate and Family Court,
10-U Commerce Way,
Woburn, MA 01801
Telephone: (781) 865-4000
Paternity: (781) 865-4007
Adoption/SIJS: (781) 865-4002
Divorce: (781) 865-4004
Probate (Estates/Guardianships): (781) 865-4008
Fax: Registry (617) 225-0781, Lobby (781) 528-2318, Probation (617) 374-9845
Email: middlesexprobate@jud.state.ma.us
The Middlesex Probate and Family Court received 19,893 cases in 2020. 53.8% of these cases were domestic cases while 46.2% were probate matters, including estate administration, equity, etcetera.
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
The Supreme Judicial Court comprises seven Justices, one Chief Justice, and six Associate Justices. These Justices hear appeals from the trial courts and the Appeals Court on a wide range of criminal cases.
In keeping to health safety precautions, the Courthouse is only accessible to litigants, attorneys, and other specific members of the public. Interested parties may contact the Court at:
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court,
John Adams Courthouse,
1 Pemberton Square,
Boston, MA 02108
Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Telephone: (617) 557-1000
In 2018, the Supreme Judicial Court had a total of 102 direct case entries.
Appeals Court
The Appeals Court is the State's intermediate appellate court of general jurisdiction. Justices of the Court review the decisions of the trial judges in various cases. The Appeals Court also has jurisdiction to hear appeals from final rulings of the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board, the Appellate Tax Board, and the Industrial Accident Board.
The court holds virtual sessions but parties may contact the court for information at
Appeals Court
John Adams Courthouse,
1 Pemberton Square, Room 1200,
Boston, MA 02108
Judges' Lobby: (617) 725-8085
Clerk's Office: (617) 921-4443
Oral Argument Postponement or Cancellation Updates Line: (617) 725-8114
Human Resources Department: (617) 723-1533
There were 736 criminal appeals in the Appeals Court in 2020. 303 were appeals from the District Courts, 388 from the Superior Court, and 30 were from the Juvenile Court.
Bentley University
Bentley University is a private business school located in Waltham city, Massachusetts. It has a Campus Police Department that patrols the campus 24 hours every day. Interested parties may contact the University at
Bentley University,
175 Forest Street,
Waltham, MA 02452
Phone: (781) 891-2000
Registrar's Office: (781) 891-2177
Financial Assistance: (781) 891-3441
Health Services: (781) 891-2222
Residential Services: (781) 891-2148
Campus Police (non-Emergency): (781) 891-2201
Campus Police (Emergency): (781) 891-3131
In 2019, law enforcement reported a total of 37 crimes at Bentley University. Property crimes were the most frequently committed, accounting for over 81% of the total reported offenses including 27 larcenies and 3 burglaries. Violent crimes accounted for only 18% of the total offenses with 7 reported incidents. 2 of these incidents were rape cases while the remaining 5 were cases of aggravated assaults.
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is a medium-sized private research institute located in Waltham, Massachusetts. The University’s Department of Public Safety is responsible for protecting lives and properties on campus. In 2019, Brandeis University had a total of 26 reported crimes. 24 of these offenses were larcenies, 1 case of burglary, and 1 case of aggravated assault.
Brandeis University
415 South Street
Waltham, MA 02453
Phone Number: (781) 736-2000
Student Financial Services: (781) 736-3700
Registrar: (781) 736-2010
Admissions: (781) 736-3500
