Mattapan Neighborhood, Boston, Massachusetts Crime Index
Mattapan is a neighborhood south of Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts. Based on demographic data such as population density, income per capita, and other similar factors, the estimated overall crime rate for Mattapan is 3,408 per 100,000 residents.
According to these estimates, residents of the neighborhood have a 1 in 30 chance of becoming a victim of a crime. Mattapan has an estimated property crime rate of 2,502 for every 100,000 people and a violent crime rate of 906 per 100,000 residents.
These crime statistics show that Mattapan is not a very safe neighborhood. Mattapan has been reported to be one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Boston.
Boston Municipal Court - West Roxbury Division
The Boston Municipal Court - West Roxbury Division is a trial court with original jurisdiction over most criminal matters in Mattapan, including all misdemeanors and contraventions of town and city ordinances and by-laws. The Court equally adjudicates felonies that carry a sentence of up to 5 years of imprisonment.
The Boston Municipal Court - West Roxbury Division only has the authority to sentence a person to a maximum of two and a half years in the house of corrections. People charged with felonies outside the Court’s jurisdiction may also appear before it for preliminary hearings.
In such matters, the Court determines if the prosecution has enough evidence to suggest that the defendant committed the offense. If there is probable cause, the Boston Municipal Court transfers the case to the Suffolk Superior Court. The Court offers the following services:
- Legal assistance for litigants in need of legal guidance and professionals offering legal services
- Alternative Dispute Resolution to help parties to settle cases without conducting a trial
- Indigency (waiver of court fees) for parties who cannot afford court fees and costs
- Section 35 petitions to involuntarily commit people with addictions to a treatment facility for up to 90 days
- Model Jury Instructions to explain the role of the jury and the laws that apply to the particular case
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Boston Municipal Court - West Roxbury Division conducts most of its business remotely. Members of the public may choose to listen to ongoing Court events via a public access telephone line. The Court may also provide a drop-box in an accessible and secure place at the courthouse entrance to deliver documents or pleadings for filing.
Although the courthouse remains accessible to the public, only parties, court personnel, attorneys, witnesses, and other persons that the presiding judge considers necessary can be physically present in the courtroom during proceedings. To opt for a virtual appearance at an arranged in-person court hearing, the opting party may contact the Court at:
West Roxbury Division, Boston Municipal Court
445 Arborway,
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Court Clerk: (617) 971-1200, fax: (617) 983-0243
Email: bmcwestroxbury@jud.state.ma.us
Probation Department: (617) 971-1200, fax: (617) 524-6142
In 2020, the Boston Municipal Court - West Roxbury Division presided over 1,437 criminal cases, 2,043 criminal show cause hearings, and heard 4 appeals.
Eastern Housing Court
The Eastern Housing Court handles all cases involving residential housing within Mattapan. It has jurisdiction over criminal and civil matters that involve the safety, health, or welfare of the occupants or owners of residential housing. The Court also has jurisdiction over code enforcement matters and appeals of local zoning board resolutions that concern residential housing.
The Eastern Housing Court also handles criminal matters related to enforcing local ordinances or state-building, sanitary, and fire prevention codes that govern residential housing. The courthouse carries out most of its business virtually through the phone, by email, or via a videoconference.
The Court Clerk's Office and Eastern Housing Specialist Department provide a virtual front counter so that court users can get face-to-face assistance from court staff without being physically present at the courthouse. At this virtual front counter, court users can receive information on available court resources and make inquiries. Parties and attorneys may also use the Court's eFiling option to file court documents. Interested parties may contact the Court at
Eastern Housing Court,
24 New Chardon Street,
Boston, MA 02114
Telephone: Clerk's Office (617) 788-8485, Housing Specialist Department (617) 788-6233
Email: EasternHousingCourt@jud.state.ma.us
In 2020, the Eastern Housing Court received over 300 criminal case entries and completed 328 cases.
Suffolk Superior Court
The Suffolk Superior Court serves the city of Boston, including Mattapan, and handles felonies that are punishable by incarceration of up to 5 years and above. It has exclusive jurisdiction over first-degree murder trials but shares jurisdiction with the Boston Municipal Court on felonies with a possible punishment that is below a state prison sentence.
To ensure the safety of members of the public during the COVID-19 pandemic, access to the courthouse is restricted to court staff and specific court users. It conducts most of its proceedings virtually, except for the following criminal cases
- Evidentiary proceedings on motions
- Guilty pleas
- Arraignments if the accused is not in custody
- Evidentiary hearings on contested probation violations
- Dangerousness hearings, if either party informs the court before the proceeding that such party plans to call one or more witnesses
- Bench trials
Members of the public may use the Court's ePay System to make court payments online. Interested parties may contact the Court at
Suffolk County Courthouse,
3 Pemberton Square,
Boston, MA 02108
Email Address for Criminal Clerk’s Office (for Criminal Business): Suffolkcriminal.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us
Email Address for Civil Clerk’s Office (for Civil Business): Suffolkcivil.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us
The Suffolk Superior Court in 2020 adjudicated a total of 4,668 case entries. 1,322 of these case entries were criminal matters.
Suffolk Juvenile Court - Boston
The Boston Juvenile Court is the court department that handles several types of cases that are related to the care and treatment of juveniles in Mattapan. This includes the following kinds of cases:
- Care and protection
- Adoption
- Youthful offender
- Adult contributing to the delinquency of a minor
- Guardianship
- Delinquency
- Children requiring assistance
- Termination of parental rights proceedings
For inquiries on how to access the Court's virtual options and services, interested parties may contact the Court at
Boston Juvenile Court,
Edward W. Brooke Courthouse
24 New Chardon Street,
P.O. Box 9663, Boston, MA 02114
Phone: Clerk’s Office (617) 788-8525, Probation Department (617) 788-8571
Fax: Clerk’s Office (617) 788-8991, Probation Department (617) 788-8972
Email: suffolk-jccallctr@jud.state.ma.us
In 2020, the Suffolk County Juvenile Court received 3,061 cases, including 29 youthful offender cases, 4 adult criminal matters, 72 adoption cases, and 620 delinquency matters.
Suffolk Probate and Family Court
The Suffolk Probate and Family Court have exclusive jurisdiction over Mattapan probate cases such as wills, conservatorships, guardianships, and trusts. It also handles family-related matters like elderly abuse protection, adoption, divorce, paternity establishment, support, family abuse protection, disabled person's abuse protection, and custody.
The Suffolk Probate and Family Court provide a virtual registry to help parties ease into utilizing the court’s remote services. Attorneys and self-represented litigants may also access the Court's e-filing option to file the following court documents
- Petition for Late and Limited Formal
- Complaint for a Divorce 1B
- Petition for Formal Probate
- Petition for Informal Probate
- Joint Petition for Divorce 1A
- Petition for Guardianship of Incapacitated Person
- Voluntary Administration Statement
Interested parties may contact the court at:
Suffolk Probate and Family Court,
24 New Chardon Street,
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: Register's Office (617) 788-8301, Probation Department (617) 788-8210
Fax: Register's Office (617) 788-8962, Probation Department (617) 788-8957
Email: Suffolkquestions@jud.state.ma.us
The Court presided over 11,576 cases in 2020. Over 35% of these trials were probate matters while 64.8% were family-related matters.
Massachusetts Land Court
The Massachusetts Land Court specializes in disputes pertaining to real property. It handles matters relating to the registration of title to real property, as well as the redemption and foreclosure of real estate tax liens. The Land Court does not conduct jury trials and generally sits in Boston.
Using the Court's Recorder’s Office virtual front counter, court users have access to the Court's remote options and services. The virtual counter is open only on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Interested parties may visit the court at
Land Court,
3 Pemberton Square,
Boston, MA 02108
Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
In 2020, the Massachusetts Land Court adjudicated 7,325 new case entries and presided over a total number of 26,037 cases containing those carried over from 2019 and those that were reopened.
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
The Supreme Judicial Court is the State's apex court and the administrative head of the bar and judiciary in Massachusetts. It has the jurisdiction to hear appeals of criminal and civil cases and may issue advisory opinions on the request of the governor or state legislature. The Court carries out its business at
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court,
John Adams Courthouse,
1 Pemberton Square,
Boston, MA 02108
Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Telephone: (617) 557-1000
In 2018, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court received 102 direct case entries.
Massachusetts Appeals Court
The Appeals Court entertains civil and criminal appeals arising from the lower trial courts serving Mattapan. It has the jurisdiction to review the resolutions of the Appellate Tax Board, the Industrial Accident Board, and the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board. However, the Appeals Court cannot adjudicate appeals of first-degree murder trials.
Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the Massachusetts Appeals Court conducts most of its proceedings remotely, via emails, telephone, and videoconferencing. Interested parties may contact the Court at
Appeals Court
John Adams Courthouse,
1 Pemberton Square, Room 1200,
Boston, MA 02108
Judges' Lobby: (617) 725-8085
Clerk's Office: (617) 921-4443
Oral Argument Postponement or Cancellation Updates Line: (617) 725-8114
Human Resources Department: (617) 723-1533
The Massachusetts Appeals Court received 736 criminal appeals in 2020, including 388 appeals from the Superior Court, 30 from the Juvenile Court, and 303 from the various District Courts.
Universities in Mattapan Neighborhood, Boston
There are no universities or colleges in the Mattapan neighborhood.
