Chinatown - Leather District Neighborhood, Massachusetts Crime Index
Chinatown - Leather District although considered jointly, are geographically separate communities in Boston City, Suffolk County. Chinatown is an ethnic Chinese community located in downtown Boston, while the Leather District is a sub-district situated east of Chinatown.
The Chinatown-Leather District neighborhood may not likely feature on the list of the safest neighborhoods in Boston but it is generally not considered one of the ten most dangerous neighborhoods in the city. The neighborhood recorded an estimated 691.3 violent crimes per 100,000 residents compared to 465 of the national figure and 1,962.3 incidents of property crimes per 100,000 people compared to 2,826.9 at the national level.
Boston Municipal Court - Central Division
The Boston Municipal Court adjudicates over a wide range of criminal and civil cases originating in Chinatown - Leather District. The Boston Municipal Court hears criminal cases with no potential state prison sentence and felonies punishable by up to 5 years of incarceration. Its civil jurisdiction encompasses
- Contract and tort claims not more than $50,000
- Small claims of $7,000 or less
- Small claims jury appeals
- Eviction cases
- Supplementary process cases
- Mental health matters
- Abuse prevention matters
- Civil motor vehicle violations
- Violations of particular municipal ordinances and bylaws
Trial court statistics for the 2020 fiscal year indicate that the court registered a total of 20,106 cases. 5,591 of those were criminal cases. The Boston Municipal Court records are accessible online or at the Court Clerk’s office.
The Boston Municipal Court and courts serving the Chinatown- Leather District neighborhood employ available virtual systems for delivering court services and responding to inquiries, following Covid 19 restrictions. To explore virtual alternatives like videoconference, phone, and mail, parties may contact the Trial Court Helpline or the Court’s Clerk.
Boston Municipal Court - Central Division
Edward W. Brooke Courthouse
24 New Chardon Street
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 788-8600
Phone: (617) 788-8426 (Probation Department)
Fax: (617) 788-8465
Fax: (617) 788-8432 (Probation Department)
Email: bmccentral@jud.state.ma.us
Suffolk County Superior Court
The Suffolk County Superior Court is authorized to hear civil and criminal cases originating in Chinatown but mostly hears matters beyond the jurisdiction of other trial courts that serve the neighborhood. The Court has original jurisdiction over civil matters involving $50,000, applications for equitable relief, and labor disputes requiring injunctive relief. Additionally, the court has exclusive jurisdiction to convene Medical Malpractice Tribunals, appellate jurisdiction over certain administrative proceedings, and exclusive original jurisdiction over first-degree murder cases. The court received a total of 1,322 criminal case entries during the 2020 fiscal year, and its case records are available on the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access System and the Office of the Court Clerk. The courthouse is located at
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)
Boston Juvenile Court
The Boston Juvenile Court is authorized to hear cases concerning minors, particularly cases on
- Care and protection
- Adoption
- Delinquency
- Adult contributing to the delinquency of a minor
- Children requiring assistance (CRA)
- Guardianship
- Youth offender
- Termination of parental rights
According to Trial Court Statistics for the 2020 fiscal year, the court registered a total of 3,061 case filings. The Boston Juvenile Court is located at
Boston Juvenile Court
24 New Chardon Street
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
Suffolk Probate and Family Court
The Suffolk Probate and Family Court. Matters relating to families and children originating in Chinatown are brought before the Suffolk Probate and Family Court, including
- Divorce
- Marriage affirmation or annulment
- Abuse prevention
- Child custody
- Paternity
- Child support
- Termination of parental rights
- Probate of wills
- Administration of estates
- Change of name
During the 2020 fiscal year, the court registered a total of 11,576 case filings. 64.8% of the total case entries were domestic matters. To obtain records of the court’s proceedings, interested parties are required to complete the Request for Copies form and submit it with applicable fees in person or by mail to the courthouse at
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
Eastern Housing Court
The Eastern Housing Court hears cases from Chinatown involving
- Safety of residential building
- Landlord-tenant disputes
- Violation of local building and sanitation codes
- Evictions, and other related matters
According to Trial Court Statistics, the Eastern Housing Court registered a total of 333 criminal case entries in the 2020 fiscal year, while also disposing of 50 criminal cases. Interested parties may contact the Eastern Housing Court at
Eastern Housing Court
24 New Chardon Street
Boston, MA 02114
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 adjudicates over title registration, zoning, real estate tax lien, and other real property cases originating in Chinatown. According to the Trial Court Statistics, the court recorded a caseload of 26,037 cases during the 2020 fiscal year.
The Land Court provides residents with free access to its case records online through the Electronic Case Access Portal, interested persons may also obtain these records from the courthouse located at
Massachusetts Land Court
3 Pemberton Square
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 788-7470
Fax: (617) 788-8951
Supreme Judicial Court (SJC)
The SJC has exclusive jurisdiction over appeals of first-degree murders, and appellate jurisdiction over all other cases from the Appeals Court. The SJC is also responsible for making or approving rules for the operations of all the courts. During the 2018 fiscal year, the SJC recorded 194 case entries and dismissed 14 cases.
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court - John Adams Courthouse
1 Pemberton Square
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 557-1000
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Appeals Court
The Appeals Court has authority over the appeals of all Chinatown cases excluding first-degree murder appeals. It also handles appeals from the Department of Industrial Accidents, the Appellate Tax Board, and the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board. Within the 2020 fiscal year, the Appeals Court heard a total of 736 criminal case appeals.
Massachusetts Appeals Court - John Adams Courthouse
1 Pemberton Square
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 921-4443
Hours: Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Tufts University
According to the Campus Safety Portal, in 2018 Tufts University registered 1 aggravated assault and 2 burglaries in its Health Sciences Campus located at
Tufts University - Health Sciences Campus
136 Harrison Avenue
Boston, MA 02111
Phone: (617) 636-7000
