Allston Neighborhood, Boston, Massachusetts Crime Index

Allston Neighborhood in Boston, Suffolk County, is under the administration of the Boston Police Department District D-14. In 2019, the Aliston neighborhood recorded 34% crime rates lower than the national average, property crimes were 37%, and violent crimes, 16% below the national average.

Suffolk Superior Court

The Suffolk Superior Court hears criminal and civil cases arising from the Allston neighborhood. The Court’s criminal jurisdiction includes all criminal cases. Its civil jurisdiction includes civil actions over $50,000, cases in which the plaintiff seeks injunctive reliefs, and cases in which the plaintiff seeks equitable remedies. The Court may also convene Medical Malpractice Tribunals.

The remote services available to court users include virtual hearings. Parties to the virtual hearings can join the hearings from any location either by video or phone. The Court informs parties to the proceedings of the hearing details. People may obtain information by phone or email and should inform the Court promptly where they will be unable to attend the proceedings.

In the 2020 fiscal year, 4,668 case entries were recorded by the Suffolk Superior Court. These cases included 3,346 civil cases and 1,322 criminal cases.

Suffolk Superior Court

3 Pemberton Square,

Boston, MA 02108

Email: Suffolkcivil.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us (Civil Clerk’s Office)

Email: Suffolkcriminal.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us (Criminal Clerk’s Office)

Court hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Boston Municipal court

The Boston Municipal Court, Brighton Division, has jurisdiction over Allston. The Court hears both criminal and civil cases. Cases heard by the Court include

• Felonies and misdemeanors not punishable with a state prison sentence
• Felonies punishable with an imprisonment term not more than five years
• Civil motor vehicle violations
• Mental health cases
• Cases concerning the violation of a Boston by law or ordinance
• Summary process (eviction) cases
• Supplementary process cases
• Small claims in which the recovery is not likely to be more than $7,000
• Tort and contract actions in which the recovery is not likely to be more than $50,000

The Brighton Division of the Boston Municipal Court recorded 3,674 case filings in the 2020 fiscal year. The records of cases determined by the Court are available on the Massachusetts Case Access search portal.

Boston Municipal Court, Brighton Division

52 Academy Hill Rd.,

Brighton, MA 02135

Phone: (617) 782-6540, Press 5 (Clerk’s Office)

Phone: (617) 782-6540, Press 6 (Probation Department)

Phone: (617) 789-4283 (TTY)

Fax: (617) 254-2127 (Clerk’s Office)

Fax: (617) 789-5345 (Probation Department)

Email: bmcbrighton@jud.state.ma.us

Court hours: Mondays to Fridays, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Eastern Housing Court

The Eastern Housing Court has jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters that concern residential houses. The Court grants search warrants and hears

• Small claims cases
• Summary process (eviction) cases
• Cases concerning discrimination, personal injury, property damage, or breach of contract
• Criminal cases where a person has been charged with violating a local ordinance or state code on residential housing

The Court has Housing Specialists to assist individuals in filing cases, they also provide information on housing laws.

The Court enables remote services that include virtual hearings and e-filing of some cases. Records of cases heard by the Court are publicly available on the Massachusetts Case Access search portal.

The Eastern Housing Court received 10,144 case entries in the 2020 fiscal year. These included 6,769 trial cases and 3,375 alternative dispute resolution cases. The Court completed 6,322 cases. Court hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., from Mondays to Fridays.

Eastern Housing Court,

24 New Chardon St.,

Boston, MA 02114

Phone: (617) 788-8485(Clerk’s Office)

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

Email: EasternHousingCourt@jud.state.ma.us

Suffolk County Juvenile Court

The Suffolk County Juvenile Court has jurisdiction over cases in which a juvenile is a subject. These juveniles are children between 12 and 18 years old. The Boston Session of the Suffolk County Juvenile Court serves Allston. Cases heard by the Court include

• Adoption
• Care and protection
• Children requiring assistance
• Contribution to the delinquency of a minor by an adult
• Delinquency
• Guardianship
• Proceedings for the termination of parental rights
• Youthful offenders

The Suffolk County Juvenile Court received 3,061 case entries in the 2020 fiscal year. The Court is open from Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Boston Juvenile Court

24 New Chardon St.,

P.O. Box 9663,

Boston, MA 02114

Phone: (617) 788-8525 (Clerk’s Office)

Phone: (617) 788-8571 (Probation Department)

Fax: (617) 788-8991 (Clerk’s Office)

Fax: (617) 788-8972 (Probation Department)

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

Massachusetts Land Court

The Massachusetts Land Court hears cases concerning real property. It has the exclusive jurisdiction to register real property and determine disputes arising from such registrations. It also has exclusive jurisdiction over foreclosure and redemption of real estate tax liens. The Land Court shares jurisdiction over other real property matters with other courts and furnishes access to records of cases to the general public. Court users may visit the virtual recorder’s office for information or assistance. The Court is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Mondays to Fridays.

The Massachusetts Land Court received 30,199 cases in the 2019 fiscal year. There were also 128 Condominium approvals and 1,871 deed approvals.

Massachusetts Land Court

3 Pemberton Square,

Boston, MA 02108

Phone: (617) 788-7470

Fax: (617) 788-8951

Suffolk Probate and Family Court

The Suffolk Probate and Family Court has jurisdiction over family and probate matters in Allston. The Court hears cases concerning

• Abuse prevention
• Adoption
• Change of name
• Child support
• Divorce
• Estates
• Guardianship
• Parenting time
• Paternity
• Termination of parental rights
• Trusts
• Wills

The Court provides virtual services that include virtual hearings, a virtual registry, and e-filing of some divorce cases, cases concerning an incapacitated person’s guardianship, and estate administration cases.

Parties may apply for certified copies of divorce records for divorce cases heard by the Court. The requester would be required to complete and submit the request for copies form and pay the applicable fees. The request may be made in person or by mail. The Court Clinic offers legal services to low-income earners who are citizens or legal permanent residents of the United States of America.

In the 2020 fiscal year, the Suffolk Probate and Family Court received 11,576 case entries.

Suffolk Probate and Family Court

24 New Chardon St.,

Boston, MA 02114

Phone: (617) 788-8301 (Registrar’s Office)

Phone: (617) 788-8210 (Probation Department)

Fax: (617) 788-8962 (Registrar’s Office)

Fax: (617) 788-8957 (Probation Department)

Email: Suffolkquestions@jud.state.ma.us

Court hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., from Monday to Friday

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court hears criminal and civil appeals from the Courts serving Allston. The Court has exclusive jurisdiction to hear appeals from first-degree murder convictions by the Superior Court. Seven justices of the Court sit to determine these appeal cases between September and May.

The Court has Single Justice Sessions. The Sessions run throughout the year and include

• Bail review
• Petitions for admission to the bar
• Bar discipline proceedings
• Bail review
• Other statutory proceedings

The Court records can be accessed through the Public Case Search portal. Users can search for cases either with the name of a party or with the docket number of the case.

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

1 Pemberton Square,

Boston, MA 02108

Phone: (617) 557-1000

Court hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Mondays to Fridays

Massachusetts Appeals Court

The Massachusetts Appeals Court is one of the two Appellate Courts serving Allston. The Court hears criminal and civil appeals. It also hears appeals from decisions of the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board, the Industrial Accident Board, and the Appellate Tax Board. Records of cases heard by the Court are available through the Public Case Search portal.

Massachusetts Appeals Court

1 Pemberton Square,

Boston, MA 02108

Phone: (617) 921-4443

Court hours: Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.