Worcester City, Massachusetts Crime Index

Worcester City is the county seat for Worcester and the second-most populous city in Massachusetts. In 2019, it recorded a total of 10,887 crimes including 1,165 violent crimes, 3,792 property crimes, and 40 drunk driving offenses (OUI).

The violent crimes included

• 13 murders
• 40 rapes
• 229 robberies
• 883 aggravated assaults

Property crimes were

• 786 burglaries
• 2637 larcenies
• 369 motor vehicle thefts
• 6 arsons

Between 2015 and 2019, the city recorded a 16% decline in its crime rate. The rate of violent crimes dropped by 28%, property crimes by 30%, and OUI by 51%. Particularly, the rate of robbery dropped by 44%, aggravated assault by 26%, burglary by 35%, larceny by 30%, and motor vehicle theft by 7%. Within the same period, the rates of murder, rape, and arson increased by 63%, 54%, and 50% respectively.

Worcester District Court

Worcester District Court hears offenses punishable by up to five-year jail term, misdemeanor crimes, and violations of municipal ordinances committed within Worcester City. The Court also adjudicates over civil claims when the amount in dispute is $50,000 or less, and small claims not exceeding $7,000.

Additionally, the Worcester District Court handles specialized proceedings as well as housing, juvenile, and mental health cases emanating from Worcester City. During the 2020 fiscal year, it registered a total of 7,131 criminal defendants and 326 search warrants. Interested individuals may access the court’s case records online through the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access Portal.

Besides hearing cases and maintaining records, the court also provides residents with free services like the adult drug court, legal aid through the lawyer for the day initiative, and access to interpreter services. Nevertheless, there may be other fees associated with a case, such as the filing fees. Residents unable to afford court fees may apply for an exemption from payment under the Indigency Waiver program.

The Worcester District Court currently employs virtual hearing and other remote options as alternatives to in-person appearances in accordance with Covid-19 recommendations provided by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. The Court may handle the following operations in person

• Activities at the Clerk’s Office
• Meeting with a probation officer or staff person
• Petitions for substance use disorder commitments
• Petitions for mental health commitments
• Show Cause hearings (unless the clerk orders a virtual hearing)
• Warrant Removals
• Criminal Arraignments
• Criminal Evidentiary Hearing on motion or request
• Abuse Prevention Orders
• Harassment Prevention Orders
• Extreme Risk Protection Orders

For more information about the activities and services of the Worcester District Court, interested individuals can access the Virtual Service Center or contact the courthouse at

Worcester District Court

225 Main Street

Worcester, MA 01608

Phone: (508) 831-2010 (Clerk’s Office)

Phone: (508) 831-2000 (Probation Department)

Fax: (508) 797-0716 (Clerk's Office)

Email: cmworcesterdc@jud.state.ma.us

Worcester County Superior Court

The Worcester County Superior Court hears civil cases involving over $50,000, submissions for equitable reliefs, and labor disputes originating in Worcester City. It also has the authority to convene medical malpractice tribunals and to entertain appeals from certain administrative proceedings. The Court has broad criminal jurisdiction over Worcester City, but it mostly adjudicates over the most serious offenses like first-degree murders and handles it to the exclusion of other courts. To help parties settle their disputes without a trial, the Worcester County Superior Court provides the following alternate conflict resolution (ADR) to its litigants

• Mediation
• Conciliation
• Case evaluation
• Mini-trial
• Summary jury trial
• Arbitration
• Dispute intervention

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the court now limits activities inside its building. To determine whether or not to visit the courthouse for a specific reason, interested parties may visit the Virtual Service Center or contact the Clerk of the Court. The court will usually handle the following issues in person.

• Court proceedings (if ordered by the court)
• Activities at the clerk's office
• Meeting with a probation officer or probation staff person
• Activities at other courthouse offices that are open to the public

According to trial court statistics, the Court recorded a total of 675 criminal case entries in the 2020 fiscal year. The Worcester County Superior Court is located at

Worcester County Superior Court

225 Main Street

Worcester, MA 01608

Phone: (508) 831-2000 (Clerk's Office)

Phone: (508) 831-2370 (Probation Department)

Fax:(508) 798-3216 (Probation Department)

Email: worcester.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us

Worcester Juvenile Court

The Worcester Juvenile Court hears juvenile delinquency, child protection, adoption, termination of parental rights, guardianship, and other juvenile matters emanating from Worcester City. The proceedings and records of the Worcester Juvenile Court are accessible only to parties to the case and people with a court order. Trial Court Statistics indicate that the court received a total of 3,217 case filings in the 2020 fiscal year.

The Worcester Juvenile Court operates remotely to minimize physical visits to the courtroom because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Residents have access to the relevant information for participating in the court’s remote processes through the Guide to Virtual Hearing on the Court’s website. Interested parties may also contact the courthouse for further inquiries.

Worcester Juvenile Court

225 Main Street

Worcester, MA 01608

Phone: (508) 831-2000 (Clerk’s Office)

Phone:(508) 831-2440 (Probation Department)

Email: worcester-jccallctr@jud.state.ma.us

Worcester Probate and Family Court

The Worcester Probate and Family Court generally handles Worcester City cases bothering on

• 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

The Court also maintains and disseminate records of its cases including

• Certificate of Divorce Absolute
• Letters of Authority or Appointment; Personal Representatives/Guardians
• Docket Page
• Attested Copies of documents in a court file
• Unattested Copies of documents in a court file

Interested parties may obtain their Probate and Family Court records online via the Massachusetts Electronic Case Access System, or request them in-person or mail by completing the Request for Copies form and sending it along with applicable fees to the courthouse located at

Worcester Probate and Family Court

225 Main Street

Worcester, MA 01608

Phone: (508) 831-2200 (Register's Office and Probation Department)

Fax: (508) 752-6138 (Register's Office)

Email: wpfc@jud.state.ma.us

Central Housing Court - Worcester Session

The Central Housing Court adjudicates over housing matters in Worcester City including cases of housing code violation, eviction, lockout, housing discrimination, and receiverships. It also handles civil claims on physical injuries, breach of contract, damage to property, and Zoning Board appeals. The court also exercises concurrent jurisdiction over some housing matters with the District Court. When both are available for a case, the Housing Court is usually a preferable option over the District Court since the Housing Court provides Housing Specialists who are experts in landlord-tenant matters and offer valuable assistance to litigants. The court is also litigant-friendly, 63% of its litigants in 2020 were self-represented.

The Central Housing Court currently performs its operations virtually via videoconferencing, email, and telephone. The courthouse is located at

Central Housing Court - Worcester Session

225 Main Street

Worcester, MA 01608

Phone:(508) 831-2050 (Clerk’s Office and Housing Specialist Department)

Email: CentralHousingCourt@jud.state.ma.us

Massachusetts Land Court

The Land Court has authority over Worcester cases involving property title and property tax liens to the exclusion of other courts. It also shares jurisdiction with the Worcester Superior Court over certain cases including specific performance of real estate contracts, petitions for partitions of real estate, and processing of mortgage foreclosure.

The Land Court has concurrent appellate jurisdiction with the Superior Court and the Central Housing Court over Worcester cases instituted at the Local Planning Board and Zoning Board of Appeal. According to trial court statistics, the court reported a caseload of 26,037 cases in 2020.

To make further inquiries about the Land Court, interested individuals may contact the courthouse at

Massachusetts Land Court

3 Pemberton Square

Boston, MA 02108

Phone: (617) 788-7470

Fax: (617) 788-8951

Supreme Judicial Court (SJC)

SJC is the apex court serving Worcester. It hears appeals of all Worcester civil and criminal cases from the Appeals Court except first-degree murder cases which go from the Superior Court straight to the SJC. In 2018, the SJC recorded 194 case entries and dismissed 14 cases.

The SJC currently handles its proceedings through videoconference or a written decision. The courthouse is located at

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court - John Adams Courthouse

1 Pemberton Square

Boston, MA 02108

Phone: (617) 557-1000

Hours: Mon. - Fri., 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Appeals Court

The Appeals Court entertains Worcester civil and criminal case appeals from all trial court departments except for appeals of first-degree murder which are submitted directly to the SJC. It also hears appeals from certain administrative proceedings including the Appellate Tax Board, the Department of Industrial Accidents, and the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board. The Court heard a total of 736 criminal case appeals and disposed of 429 cases in 2020. Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the Appeals Court currently adopts alternatives to an in-person appearance.

Massachusetts Appeals Court - John Adams Courthouse

1 Pemberton Square

Boston, MA 02108

Phone: (617) 921-4443

Hours: Mon. - Fri., 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Assumption University

Assumption University is a private Roman Catholic university situated in Worcester City. According to the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), the institution recorded 5 violent crimes and 23 property crimes in 2019. The reported violent crimes included 5 cases of rape, while the property crimes were 5 burglaries, 17 larcenies, and a single case of motor vehicle theft. When compared to the statistics of the previous year, the school’s violent crime figures dropped by 50%, while the rate of property crimes rose by 5%. Assumption University is located at

Assumption University

500 Salisbury Street

Worcester, MA, 01609

Phone: (508) 767-7000

Becker College

Becker College is a private higher institution with its main campus in Worcester City. In 2019, the college recorded no violent crimes and a total of 10 property crimes consisting of one burglary and nine larcenies. Compared to 2018, the rate of violent crimes dropped by 100 %, and property crimes by 9%.

Becker College

61 Sever Street

Worcester, MA 01609

Phone: (508) 791-9241

Clark University

According to the 2019 UCR, Clark University recorded one incidence of rape, three burglaries, and nine larcenies. Between 2018 and 2019, violent crimes dropped by 50%, and property crimes by 59%.

Clark College

950 Main Street

Worcester, MA 01610

Phone: (508) 793-7711

College of the Holy Cross

College of the Holy Cross registered one violent crime and 33 property crimes in 2019. The violent crime was a rape case, the property crimes comprised of 9 burglaries and 24 larcenies. When compared to the reports of the previous year, violent crimes declined by 50%, and property crimes increased by 38%.

College of the Holy Cross

1 College Street

Worcester, MA 01610

Phone: (508) 793-2011

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is a private institution with a campus in Worcester City. According to the Campus Safety and Security portal of the US Department of Education, the Worcester campus documented one robbery case between 2016 and 2018. The institution is located at

Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences

Worcester Campus

19 Foster Street

Worcester, MA 01608

Phone: (508) 890-8855

Quinsigamond Community College

Quinsigamond Community College registered one violent crime and 14 property crimes in 2019. The violent crime was a case of aggravated assault, and the property crimes comprised of 2 burglaries and 12 larcenies. When compared to the reports of the previous year, violent crimes declined by 50%, while property crimes rose by 27%.

Quinsigamond Community College

670 West Boylston Street

Worcester, MA 01606

Phone: (508) 853-2300

University of Massachusetts Medical School

According to the 2019 UCR, the University of Massachusetts Medical School recorded 21 cases of aggravated assaults and 53 property crimes. A summary of the property crime figures shows a record of 52 larcenies and one motor vehicle theft. Compared to 2018, the rate of violent and property crimes rose by 16%, and 15% respectively.

University of Massachusetts Medical School

55 Lake Avenue North

Worcester, MA 01655

Phone: (508) 856-8989

Email: UMMScommunications@umassmed.edu

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

In 2019, the Worcester Polytechnic Institute recorded three violent crimes and 25 property crimes. The violent crimes were all cases of aggravated assault and the property crimes consisted of one burglary and 24 larcenies. Compared to statistics of the previous year, property crimes dropped by 64% while the rate of violent crimes did not change. The school is located at

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

100 Institute Road

Worcester, MA 01609-2280

Phone: (508) 831-5000

Worcester State University

Worcester State University is a public university in Worcester City. In 2019, the college recorded no violent crimes and a total of 10 property crimes consisting of one burglary and nine larcenies. Compared to 2018, the rate of violent crimes dropped by 100 %, and property crimes by 9%.

Worcester State University

486 Chandler Street

Worcester, MA 01602

Phone: (508) 929-8000

Bancroft School of Massage Therapy

Bancroft School of Massage Therapy registered one case of aggravated assault and two cases of motor vehicle theft in 2018, according to the Campus Safety and Security portal of the US Department of Education,

Bancroft School of Massage Therapy

333 Shrewsbury Street

Worcester, MA 01604

Phone: (508) 757-7923