Massachusetts Background Check

Choose CORI or a fingerprint-supported check based on the purpose

A Massachusetts background check is not one universal product. Massachusetts distinguishes a name-based Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) check from a fingerprint-supported criminal record check. CORI searches name and date of birth against available Massachusetts court information; fingerprint-supported checks are a separate authorized process that can reach fingerprint records and, in some settings, information from other states.

Request your own CORI online only if you meet the iCORI identity requirement

Massachusetts says an individual registering online for iCORI must have a valid Massachusetts driver’s license or identification card. If you do not have one, the personal request can be submitted by mail using the official form. The current fee for a personal CORI request is $25; an open-access CORI request is $50.

DCJIS states that a CORI request may take up to 10 business days to process. Build that official processing window into any deadline rather than assuming an online submission produces an instant result.

Understand what a name-based CORI does and does not cover

CORI is name based and contains Massachusetts information derived from Massachusetts court records under the applicable access level. It is not fingerprint supported. Because name and date of birth are the matching inputs, verify spelling and identifiers carefully and avoid treating a possible name match as a biometric identity match.

The requesting organization’s access level can change what it receives

Massachusetts CORI access is purpose- and authorization-dependent. An individual’s own CORI, an open-access request and an organization’s legally authorized CORI can expose different information. Ask what result the recipient is authorized to obtain and whether it requires the result to be sent through its own account or process.

For employment or licensing, do not substitute a personal copy when the agency’s law or policy requires its own CORI or fingerprint submission.

Use the court for a certified disposition or docket correction

A CORI result summarizes record information; it is not the same as a certified court disposition. If a recipient needs proof of how a specific charge ended, identify the court and request the relevant docket or certified disposition there. If a closed case is incorrectly shown as open or a disposition is wrong, Mass.gov guidance directs users to the court/Office of the Commissioner of Probation channels that maintain the case information.

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  Exact name and date of birth used in CORI
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  Court and case number for disputed entry
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  Copy of the CORI showing the issue
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  Certified docket/disposition if needed to prove the correction
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  Recipient’s required document format

Use DCJIS for incorrect CORI or improper-access complaints

DCJIS accepts complaints alleging inaccurate CORI, improper access/dissemination, or regulatory violations. Its complaint process asks for documentation supporting the issue and a legible government-issued ID. If the error originates in the underlying court data, correcting the court source may be necessary as well as notifying DCJIS.

For a state or national fingerprint record error, Massachusetts also publishes a separate correction route that can require a certified docket sheet and record-correction materials. Match the correction process to the source of the error.

Interpret “no record” and sealed information within the product’s access rules

A CORI response is limited by the identifiers submitted, Massachusetts scope, the requester’s legally authorized access level, and sealing/expungement rules. A no-hit or absence therefore should not be expanded into “no criminal record anywhere.” For consequential decisions, document the product, date, identity fields, and scope so the result is not overstated later.