Chelsea City, Suffolk County, Massachusetts Crime Index
With a total of 2,192 reported crimes reported in 2019, Chelsea City recorded its lowest levels of crime in the last five years. The city’s 2019 crime records itemized 270 violent crimes, 594 property crimes, and 27 drunk driving cases (OUI).
The violent crimes were broken down to
- 27 rapes
- 65 robberies
- 178 aggravated assaults
The property crimes were made up of
- 105 burglaries
- 406 larcenies
- 83 motor vehicle thefts
- 2 arsons
Compared to the reports for 2015, Chelsea recorded a 37% decline in its total levels of crimes. Violent crimes dropped by 37%, property crimes by 35%, and OUI by 10%.
Chelsea District Court
Chelsea District Court has limited jurisdiction over criminal, civil, housing, juvenile, mental health, and other matters emanating from Chelsea City. It handles offenses with a penalty of five-year imprisonment, as well as misdemeanors, and ordinance violations.
The court’s civil jurisdiction extends to cases involving claims for money damage below $50,000, small claims below $7,000, and specialized proceedings including
- Inquests
- Eviction proceedings
- Enforcement of money judgments
- Abuse prevention restraining orders
- Appeals from certain administrative agencies
- Civil motor vehicle infractions
- Equitable injunctions
- Miscellaneous civil matters
Trial court statistics for the 2020 fiscal year show that the Chelsea District Court received a total of 2,153 criminal case filings and 111 search warrants. Records of the court are available for public access on the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access Portal. Residents may also contact the Office of the Court’s Clerk for more information on obtaining case records.
Currently, most of the court’s operations are remote in line with Covid 19 procedures, with the exception of the following court activities that the court may handle in person
- Activities at the Clerk’s Office
- Meeting with a probation officer or staff person
- Petitions for substance use disorder commitments
- Petitions for mental health commitments
- Show Cause hearings (unless the clerk orders a virtual hearing)
- Warrant Removals
- Criminal Arraignments
- Criminal Evidentiary Hearing on motion or request
- Abuse Prevention Orders
- Harassment Prevention Orders
- Extreme Risk Protection Orders
The Chelsea District Court is located at
Chelsea District Court
120 Broadway
Chelsea, MA 02150
Phone: (617) 660-9200 (Clerk’s Office)
Phone: (617) 660-9300 (Probation Department)
Fax: (617) 660-9215 (Clerk’s Office)
Fax: (617) 660-9308 (Probation Department)
Email: cmchelseadc@jud.state.ma.us
Suffolk County Superior Court
The Suffolk County Superior Court has jurisdiction over all crimes in Chelsea City and has exclusive jurisdiction over first-degree murder cases in the city. The court also handles civil matters including claims of over $50,000, requests for equitable relief, labor disputes, and naturalization proceedings. It also has authority over certain administrative proceedings and over Medical Malpractice Tribunals. During the 2020 fiscal year, the court recorded a total of 1,322 criminal case entries.
The Suffolk County Superior Court provides public access to its case records through the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access System. People may also contact the Court’s Clerk for inquiries about the court’s activities.
Suffolk County Superior Court
3 Pemberton Square
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 788-8175
Email: Suffolkcivil.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us (Civil Business)
Email: Suffolkcriminal.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us (Criminal Business)
The court offers remote options such as email, telephone, and video conferencing for accessing its services in compliance with Covid-19 guidelines but the following court matters may require in-person visits.
- Court proceedings (if ordered by the court)
- Activities at the clerk's office
- Meeting with a probation officer or probation staff person
- Activities at other courthouse offices that are open to the public
Chelsea Juvenile Court
The Chelsea Juvenile Court adjudicates a wide range of Chelsea City cases involving
- Care and protection
- Adoption
- Delinquency
- Adult contributing to the delinquency of a minor
- Children requiring assistance (CRA)
- Guardianship
- Youth offender
- Termination of parental rights
Trial Court Statistics indicates that the court received a total of 3,061 case filings in the 2020 fiscal year.
The Chelsea Juvenile Court's hearings and records are private and are available only to the parties to the case and to individuals approved by the court. Currently, the Juvenile Court attends to parties remotely in accordance with the Covid-19 regulations of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. The Chelsea Juvenile Court is located at
Chelsea Juvenile Court
120 Broadway
Chelsea, MA 02150
Phone: (617) 660-9225 (Clerk’s Office)
Phone:(617) 660-9241 (Probation Department)
Fax:(617) 660-9222 (Probation Department)
Email: suffolk-jccallctr@jud.state.ma.us
Suffolk Probate and Family Court
The Suffolk Probate and Family Court has jurisdiction over Chelsea city’s family and probate cases, such as:
- Custody
- Parenting time
- Adoption
- Divorce
- Paternity
- Child support
- Termination of parental rights
- Abuse prevention
The court also handles cases on wills, estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and change of name. The Suffolk Probate and Family Court recorded a total of 11,576 case filings during the 2020 fiscal year.
Suffolk Probate and Family Court
24 New Chardon Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 788-8301 (Register’s Office)
Phone: (617) 788-8210 (Probation Department)
Fax: (617) 788-8962 (Register’s Office)
Fax: (617) 788-8957 (Probation Department)
Email: Suffolkquestions@jud.state.ma.us
The court currently offers remote services in accordance with the Covid 19 guidelines provided by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.
Eastern Housing Court - Chelsea Session
The Eastern Housing Court is a trial court in charge of matters pertaining to the health and safety of residential buildings in Chelsea City. It has authority over violations of local building codes, sanitation codes, and other laws on the safety of residences. According to Trial Court Statistics, the court registered a total of 333 criminal case entries in the 2020 fiscal year and disposed of 50 criminal cases. The Eastern Housing Court is located at
Eastern Housing Court - Chelsea Session
120 Broadway
Chelsea, MA 02150
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 is a trial court department in charge of adjudicating real property cases originating in Chelsea City. It has exclusive jurisdiction over cases on the registration of title and real estate tax lien. The Land court recorded a caseload of 26,037 cases during the 2020 fiscal year. Massachusetts Land Court
3 Pemberton Square
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 788-7470
Fax: (617) 788-8951
Supreme Judicial Court (SJC)
The SJC is the City’s apex court. It has appellate jurisdiction over appeals of all Chelsea City cases handled by the Appeals Court, and it is the only court that can receive appeals of first-degree murder cases. During the 2018 fiscal year, the SJC recorded 194 case entries and dismissed 14 cases.
The SJC currently hears its cases through videoconference or written verdict due to public health concerns caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
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.
Appeals Court
The Appeals Court entertains appeals from cases instituted in any of the trial court departments except for cases of first-degree murder. The court also has appellate jurisdiction over certain administrative tribunals including the Department of Industrial Accidents, the Appellate Tax Board, and the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board. Within the 2020 fiscal year, the court heard a total of 736 criminal case appeals. The Appeals Court currently executes its functions remotely in order to minimize physical visits at the courthouse located at
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.
Bunker Hill Community College
Bunker Hill Community College is a public higher institution with a campus in Chelsea. The college recorded a total of seven violent crimes comprising of a sole rape case, three robberies, and three aggravated assaults within its Chelsea campus in 2018.
Bunker Hill Community College - Chelsea Campus
70 Everett Avenue
Chelsea, MA 02150
Phone: (617) 228-2101
