Mission Hill Neighborhood, Boston, Massachusetts Crime Index
The Mission Hill neighborhood in Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts is considered relatively small but bordered by larger neighborhoods, such as the Roxbury neighborhood. As of the third quarter of 2020, the Mission Hill-Roxbury neighborhood witnessed a significant rise in criminal activities, compared to the third quarter of 2019. The Mission Hill-Roxbury neighborhood recorded 11 homicides, an 83% increase from 2019, a 61.5% increase in motor vehicle theft, and an 11.7% increase in domestic aggravated assault. However, the Mission Hill-Roxbury neighborhood also recorded a slight decline in robberies, rapes, and non-domestic aggravated assaults. Despite these figures, the Neighborhood is considered relatively safe.
Suffolk County Superior Court
The Suffolk County Superior Court has jurisdiction over civil and criminal cases, including civil cases in which a party seeks equitable relief, civil cases involving over $50,000, and all criminal cases. Also, the court has exclusive original jurisdiction over cases involving first-degree murder.
Suffolk County Superior Court
Suffolk County Courthouse
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)
Phone: (617) 788-8110, (617) 788-7769 (ADA Accessibility)
Fax: (617) 788-8137, (617) 788-7798 (ADA Accessibility)
Phone: 1-800-THE-JURY (843-5879) (Office of Jury Commissioner)
TTY: 1-800-328-3202 (Office of Jury Commissioner)
Email: JurorHelp@jud.state.ma.us (Office of Jury Commissioner)
Court’s Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday
The Suffolk County Superior Court is open for limited purposes and conducts most court business virtually. The court has categorized civil and criminal cases into virtual and in-person hearings. Unless otherwise stated, the court will conduct hearings based on the categorization.
Besides court personnel, the specific people allowed into the courthouse are
- Those attending an in-person hearing
- Those who have an in-person business in the Clerk’s Office
- Those meeting with the Probation Officer or staff of the Probation Department
- Those reporting for jury service
- Anyone who has an in-person business in any publicly accessible office in the courthouse.
The Suffolk County Superior Court recorded 1,451 criminal case entries in 2019, according to the Superior Court Department Records for the 2019 fiscal year.
West Roxbury Division, Boston Municipal Court
The West Roxbury Division of the Boston Municipal Court serves parts of the Mission Hill neighborhood. The court’s jurisdiction extends to both civil and criminal matters. This includes civil motor vehicle violations, small claims not exceeding a likely recovery of $7,000, contracts and tort actions not exceeding a recovery of $50,000, felonies, and misdemeanors that do not require imprisonment in state prison, among others.
West Roxbury Division, Boston Municipal Court
445 Arborway
Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130
Phone: (617) 971-1200 x1 (Clerk’s Office)
Phone: (617) 971-1200 x3 (Probation Department)
Fax: (617) 983-0243 (Clerk’s Office)
Fax: (617) 524-6142 (Probation Department)
Email: bmcwestroxbury@jud.state.ma.us
TTY: (617) 522-3778
Phone: (617) 971-1231 (ADA Accessibility)
Phone: 1-800-THE-JURY (843-5879) (Office of Jury Commissioner)
TTY: 1-800-328-3202 (Office of Jury Commissioner)
Email: JurorHelp@jud.state.ma.us (Office of Jury Commissioner)
Court’s Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday
The West Roxbury Division of the Boston Municipal Court currently conducts the majority of court business virtually. However, the court has classified specific cases for an in-person hearing, although presiding judges may require participants to participate virtually.
Eastern Housing Court
The Eastern Housing Court serves the Mission Hill neighborhood. The court hears cases relating to the welfare, safety, and health of the occupant or owner of a residential building. The jurisdiction covers both civil and criminal matters, including small claims cases, property damage matters, breach of contract, and other claims. In 2019, the Eastern Housing Court recorded 445 criminal case entries.
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
Phone: (617) 788-6547 (ADA Accessibility)
Phone: (800) 843-5879 (Office of Jury Commissioner)
Court’s Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday
The Eastern Housing Court is open for limited purposes and handles most cases virtually. To assist litigants with inquiries on case management and virtual processes, the Eastern Housing Court has virtual front counters for the Clerk’s Office and Housing Specialist Department.
Massachusetts Land Court
The Massachusetts Land Court handles matters on real estate. The court has exclusive original jurisdiction over certain matters, including the registration of title to real estate and disputes arising from registration of title to real estate. The court also has concurrent jurisdiction over certain matters, including the specific performance of contracts involving real estate.
Massachusetts Land Court is located at
3 Pemberton Square
Boston, MA, 02108
Phone: (617) 788-7470 (Recorder’s Office and Virtual Recorder’s Office)
Email: LandCourt.Title@jud.state.ma.us (Land Court Title Examination Department)
Email: LandCourt.Survey@jud.state.ma.us (Land Court Survey Department)
Email: LandCourt.Emergency@jud.state.ma.us (Land Court Emergency)
Phone: (617) 788-7474 (ADA Accessibility)
Fax: (617) 788-8953 (ADA Accessibility)
Court’s Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday
The Massachusetts Land Court is open for limited in-person business. The court has a Virtual Recorder’s Office (VRO) to assist with information on in-person visits and other court processes. The VRO is available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., except on legal holidays.
West Roxbury Juvenile Court
The Suffolk County Juvenile Court in West Roxbury hears harassment, delinquency, and criminal cases relating to juveniles. However, certain cases like care and protection cases are heard at the Suffolk County Juvenile Court in Boston.
Suffolk County Juvenile Court - West Roxbury
445 Arborway
Jamaica Plain, MA, 02130
Phone: (617) 971-1154 (Clerk’s Office)
Phone: (617) 971-1246 (Probation Department)
Fax: (617) 524-7335 (Probation Department)
Email: suffolk-jccallctr@jud.state.ma.us
Phone: (617) 971-1213 (ADA Accessibility)
Fax: (617) 983-0243 (ADA Accessibility)
Phone: 1-800-843-5879 (Office of Jury Commissioner)
Court’s Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday
The Suffolk County Juvenile Court in West Roxbury is open for limited purposes. The court handles cases virtually, except for youthful offenders and delinquency bench trials which are heard in-person. However, judges also have the discretion to hear some cases in-person where necessary.
Suffolk Probate and Family Court
The Suffolk Probate and Family Court sits over a wide range of matters, including divorce matters, child support, custody, guardianships, change of names, and more.
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 (Register’s Office)
Email: Suffolkquestions@jud.state.ma.us
Phone: (617) 788-8364 (ADA Accessibility)
Fax: (617) 788-8983 (ADA Accessibility)
Court’s Business Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday
The Suffolk Probate and Family Court handles the majority of court business virtually. All cases are heard virtually, except for trials and evidentiary hearings which are heard in-person. A judge may also decide to conduct a case in-person if a virtual hearing is no longer suitable for the particular case. Parties and counsels are advised to connect with the Virtual Registry for assistance. The court also has an eFiling option where parties can electronically file some listed cases. The Virtual Registry is available from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Massachusetts Appeals Court
The Massachusetts Appeals Court has appellate jurisdiction over the decisions of the trial courts on a wide range of civil and criminal cases. The court’s jurisdiction also extends to hearing appeals of the final decisions of three state agencies, the Industrial Accident Board, the Appellate Tax Board, and the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board. However, the Massachusetts Appeals Court does not have the jurisdiction to hear appeals of first-degree murder cases.
Massachusetts Appeals Court sits at
1 Pemberton Square
Boston, MA, 02108
Phone: (617) 921-4443 (Appeals Court)
Email: MacClerkMatter@Jud.State.Ma.Us (Clerk’s Office)
Phone: (617) 723-1533 (Human Resources Department)
Phone: (617) 725-8114 (Oral Argument Postponement or Cancellation Updates)
Phone: (617) 723-1502 (ADA Accessibility)
Fax: (617) 626-7906 (ADA Accessibility)
Court’s business hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday
The Massachusetts Appeals Court is open for limited purposes. The court advises parties to file their appeals through the eFiling option. However, a drop-box is available at the entryway of the courthouse for parties who may choose to hand-deliver their filings.
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court hears a wide range of appeals from other court decisions and has exclusive appellate jurisdiction over the appeals of first-murder cases.
Supreme Judicial Court sits at
1 Pemberton Square
Boston, MA, 02108
Phone: (617) 557-1000 (Supreme Judicial Court)
Phone: (617) 557-1140 (ADA Accessibility)
Fax: (617) 557-1052 (ADA Accessibility)
The Supreme Judicial Court currently conducts most court business virtually. Litigants are advised to electronically file permitted cases through the eFiling platform or by mail. For inquiries on court processes, case management, and the operation of the Supreme Judicial Court, individuals may contact the relevant Supreme Judicial Court Office.
