Jamaica Plain Neighborhood, Massachusetts Crime Index

Jamaica Plain Neighborhood, Suffolk County, is one of the 24 neighborhoods in the City of Boston. The crime rate in Jamaica Plain in 2019 was 21% below the national average. The violent crime rate was 20% above the national average while the property crime rate was 29% below the national average.

Suffolk Superior Court

The Suffolk Superior Court has jurisdiction over the Jamaica Plain neighborhood. The Court hears cases concerning all crimes. It is also the only Court with the jurisdiction to hear cases concerning first-degree murder. The Court’s civil jurisdiction includes civil actions over $50,000, labor disputes in which injunctive reliefs are sought, and cases in which equitable remedies are sought. The Suffolk Superior Court has the authority to arrange a Medical Malpractice Tribunal.

Cases before the Superior court may be scheduled for a virtual hearing as the court hears certain cases virtually. Parties are pre-informed of the details and schedule for their hearing and may participate either by video or phone. Parties are required to notify the Court promptly if they will be unable to join the proceedings.

The Suffolk Superior Court recorded 4,668 case entries in the 2020 fiscal year. The entries included 1,322 criminal cases and 3,346 civil 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, West Roxbury Division includes a mental health session and hears civil and criminal cases from Jamaica Plain. The Court hears

• Felonies and misdemeanors not punishable with a state prison sentence
• Felonies punishable by an imprisonment term of five years or less
• Cases concerning civil motor vehicle violations
• Mental health cases
• Violations of ordinances or bylaws in the City
• Contract and tort actions in which the recovery is not likely to exceed $50,000
• Small claims in which the recovery is not likely to exceed $7,000
• Supplementary process cases
• Summary process (eviction) cases

The West Roxbury Division of the Boston Municipal Court recorded 8,468 case filings in the 2020 fiscal year. Records of cases heard by the Court are available online through the Massachusetts Case Access search portal.

Boston Municipal Court, West Roxbury Division

445 Arborway,

Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

Phone: (617) 971-1200 press 1 (Clerk’s Office)

Phone: (617) 971-1200 press 3 (Probation Department)

Phone: (617) 522-3778 (TTY)

Fax: (617) 983-0243 (Clerk’s Office)

Fax: (617) 524-6142 (Probation Department)

Email: bmcwestroxbury@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 hears both civil and criminal cases concerning residential buildings and

• Small claims cases
• Summary process (eviction) cases
• Cases concerning a claim for 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 may also grant search warrants.

The Housing Specialists within the court help individuals file cases and provide information on housing laws.

Parties may use e-filing for some cases and attend virtual hearings.

The Eastern Housing Court recorded 10,144 case entries in the 2020 fiscal year. The case entries included 6,769 trial cases and 3,375 alternative dispute resolution cases. The Court completed 6,322 cases in the fiscal year.

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

Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays to Fridays.

Suffolk County Juvenile Court

The Suffolk County Juvenile Court, Boston Session, hears criminal and civil cases in which juveniles are parties. Juveniles include children between 12 and 18 years old. The Court has jurisdiction over

• 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

In the 2020 fiscal year, there were 3,061 case entries at the Suffolk County Juvenile Court. The Boston location of 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 has jurisdiction over real property cases in all of Massachusetts, including Jamaica Plain. The Court solely hears cases concerning

• Real property title registration
• Disputes arising from such registration
• Foreclosure and redemption of real estate tax liens

The Land Court shares jurisdiction with other courts in other real property matters such as partition real estate.

The Massachusetts Land Court includes a Permit Session that may grant environmental permits and approve some uses of land. The Permit Session hears cases concerning either 25 dwelling units or the construction or alteration of 25,000 square feet of floor area.

Parties may access the virtual assistance services for guidance and information. Records of cases heard by the Massachusetts Land Court are also available to the public. Although the Court is located in the Downtown neighborhood, it may hold its session anywhere in Massachusetts including Jamaica Plain. 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 2020 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 determines probate and family matters arising from the neighborhood. The Court has jurisdiction over cases concerning

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

The Court Clinic provides legal services for low-income earners. To be eligible, the applicant must be a low-income earner and a citizen or legal permanent resident of the United States of America. Parties may inquire on available remote services offered by the court, such as the e-filing system that allows individuals to file cases concerning the guardianship of an incapacitated person, cases concerning an estate administration, and some divorce cases electronically. The virtual registry guides individuals through processes and provides information.

The Suffolk Probate and Family Court may issue certified copies of divorce records for divorce cases heard by the Court. Obtaining copies of the record would involve completing and submitting the request for copies form.

The Suffolk Probate and Family Court received 11,576 filed cases in the 2020 fiscal year. Court hours are between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from Monday to Friday.

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

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is Massachusetts’ highest Appellate Court. The Court has seven justices that sit to hear appeals from civil and criminal cases between September and May and has exclusive jurisdiction over appeals from first-degree murder convictions.

The Court also has Single Justice Sessions that run throughout the year. The cases heard in the Single Justice Sessions include

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

Records of cases heard by the Court are available to the public 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 hears appeals from the decisions of the criminal and civil courts serving Jamaica Plain. The Court also hears appeals from decisions of the Appellate Tax Board, the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board, and the Industrial Accident Board.

Parties before the Appeals Court may use e-filing for permitted cases. Records of cases determined by the Court are also available to the public 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 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.