Wharf District Neighborhood, Boston, Massachusetts Crime Index
The Wharf District is one of the officially recognized neighborhoods in Boston, Massachusetts. The District is a sparsely populated neighborhood and may be considered generally safe compared to other neighborhoods within the city. In 2019, law enforcement in the city of Boston reported a total of 16,537 crimes, 12,293 property crimes, and 4,244 violent crimes.
Boston Municipal Court - Central Division
The Boston Municipal Court - Central Division is a court of limited jurisdiction to hear criminal cases with less severe punishment than a state prison sentence. This includes felonies with a sentence of no more than 5 years of imprisonment, misdemeanors, as well as violations of city and town ordinances and by-laws. However, it may only impose a maximum punishment of two and a half years in the house of corrections.
By Massachusetts law, the Court may conduct preliminary hearings for every felony, including those outside its jurisdiction. The Boston Municipal Court also has jurisdiction to review certain government agency actions, such as firearms license appeals and victim of violent crime compensation appeals. The Boston Municipal Court provides
- Alternative Dispute Resolution to assist parties to settle disputes without a trial
- Section 35 petitions to involuntarily commit people with addictions to a treatment facility for up to 90 days
- Legal assistance for parties in search of legal guidance and professionals offering legal services
- Indigency (waiver of court fees) for those who cannot pay for court fees and costs
- Model Jury Instructions to explain the jury's role and what laws apply to the specific case
The Boston Municipal Court - Central Division is accessible to the public for limited purposes, including certain in-person court proceedings. The courthouse carries out most of its business over the phone or via videoconferencing. The Court may also provide a drop-box in a safe and convenient location at its entrance for attorneys and litigants to deliver documents or pleadings intended for filing.
Members of the public may follow ongoing Court events via a Public Access Telephone Line. For inquiries about other remote services, interested parties may contact the Court at
Central Division, Boston Municipal Court,
24 New Chardon Street,
Edward W. Brooke Courthouse,
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: (617) 788-8600, Probation Department (617) 788-8426
Fax: (617) 788-8465, Probation Department (617) 788-8432
Email: bmccentral@jud.state.ma.us
The Boston Municipal Court - Central Division received 5,591 criminal case entries, issued 147 criminal warrants, adjudicated 7,211 criminal show cause hearings in 2020.
Eastern Housing Court
The Eastern Housing Court is the court department with jurisdiction over all cases concerning residential housing in Wharf District. It entertains consumer protection cases, eviction matters, and other issues that involve the safety, health, or welfare of the residents or owners of residential housing. Additionally, the Eastern Housing Court has criminal jurisdiction to enforce local ordinances, as well as building, sanitary, and fire prevention codes.
The Court can also grant injunctions and restraining orders to enforce the rights of homeowners, landlords, and tenants under state laws and regulations for residential housing. In keeping with the necessary health safety precautions arising from the Covid-19 Pandemic, the Eastern Housing Court conducts most of its court hearings remotely. Court users may connect with court personnel to obtain information about a case via the Court’s virtual front counter.
Additionally, interested parties may file court documents online through the Court's eFiling option and may look up case files online using the Court Electronic Case Access. The Eastern Housing Court offers the following services:
- Emergency Rental & Mortgage Assistance for homeowners and renters who are struggling to make housing payments
- Lawyer for the Day Program where volunteer attorneys provide free legal advice to help unrepresented landlords and tenants
- Tenancy Preservation Program that assists tenants facing eviction as a result of behavior related to a disability
- Eastern Housing Specialist Department to provide the public with information about Massachusetts housing laws and assist parties to settle. The Department offers assistance on its virtual front counter
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
The Eastern Housing Court in 2020, received a total of 10,144 case entries, including 333 criminal cases.
Suffolk Juvenile Court - Boston
The Boston Juvenile Court is a court dedicated to adjudicating misdemeanor and felony crimes allegedly committed by minors, as well as other cases that relate to the care and treatment of juveniles. This includes:
- Adult contributing to the delinquency of a minor
- Adoption
- Youthful offender
- Delinquency
- Care and protection
- Child requiring assistance
- Termination of parental rights hearings
- Guardianship
The Court conducts most of its proceedings virtually. To find out more about the Court's remote 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 handled 3,061 cases, including 620 delinquency matters, 4 adult criminal matters, 72 adoption cases, and 29 youthful offender cases.
Suffolk Superior Court
The Suffolk Superior Court is a court of general jurisdiction and handles all criminal cases including felonies punishable by a sentence of over 5 years of imprisonment. It exercises exclusive original jurisdiction over first-degree murder cases. The Court has concurrent jurisdiction with the Boston Municipal Court to adjudicate felonies with a possible punishment below a state prison sentence.
The Suffolk Superior Court may review certain judgments of the lower courts, including bail status or a ruling on a motion. Due to COVID-19 health safety protocols, access to the courthouse is restricted to certain court users and court staff. Parties may request a teleconference or videoconference hearing and 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 received a total of 1,322 criminal case entries and heard 138 appeals.
Suffolk Probate and Family Court
The Suffolk Probate and Family Court is a trial court with jurisdiction over family-related matters in Wharf District such as divorce, child support, visitation, custody, paternity establishment, and adoption. It has exclusive jurisdiction to handle probate cases like conservatorships, guardianships, wills, etcetera.
The Suffolk Probate and Family Court also share jurisdiction with the Boston Municipal Court over certain paternity and support cases, as well as petitions for abuse prevention orders. Interested parties may connect with court personnel for details on how to use the Court’s remote services via the virtual registry and 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
In 2020, the Probate and Family Court received 4,075 probate-related matters and 7,501 family-related cases.
Massachusetts Land Court
The Land Court is a specialized court that hears a variety of cases involving real estate and land use. It oversees the State’s system for the registration of title to real property and handles all disputes resulting from such registration. Members of the public may access the Court’s proceedings and events in real-time by calling the public access telephone lines.
Other remote options and services are available from the Land Court Recorder’s Office virtual front counter which functions on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Interested parties may contact 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 Land Court had a total of 26,037 cases, including 7,325 new case entries and 18,669 matters carried over from 2019.
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
The Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) is the highest and final court in the courts of the State of Massachusetts. It hears appeals of the decisions of the Massachusetts Appeals Court and has original appellate jurisdiction to review any ruling that results in a judgment of death.
Due to COVID?19, the SJC conducts most of its business remotely, via emails, telephone, and videoconferencing. Regardless, the courthouse remains accessible to specific members of the public who may contact the Court 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
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, in 2018, received a total of 102 direct case entries.
Massachusetts Appeals Court
The Appeals Court is a general intermediate appellate court with statewide jurisdiction. It has jurisdiction to hear appeals from the Superior Courts apart from those that resulted in a death sentence. It may appraise the decisions of the lower courts and those of the Industrial Accident Board, the Appellate Tax Board, and the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board. The Court conducts its in-person business 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
In 2020, the court received 736 criminal appeals. 388 were appeals from the Superior Court, 303 from the Boston Municipal Courts/District Courts, and 30 were from the Juvenile Court.
