Amesbury City, Essex County, Massachusetts Crime Index

Amesbury city is a largely residential city in Essex County, Massachusetts. According to the Massachusetts Crime Statistics, in 2019, the city recorded its lowest number of reported crimes in five years. There were a total of 388 reported crimes, including 23 violent crimes, over 100 property crimes, and 54 drunk-driving cases (OUIs).

A further breakdown of the recorded violent crimes reveals

• 0 cases of murder
• 1 rape case
• 3 robberies
• 19 aggravated assaults

property crimes include

• 18 burglaries
• 114 larcenies
• 0 cases of arson
• 7 motor vehicle thefts

Overall, there was a 13.20% decline in recorded crimes, compared to the previous year with 447 reported crimes.

Essex County Superior Court

The Essex County Superior Court serves Amesbury city. The court has jurisdiction over all felony matters, civil actions with over $50,000 in value, medical malpractice tribunals, cases with a claim for equitable reliefs, and more. The court also has exclusive original jurisdiction over first-degree murder cases.

Essex County Superior Court

56 Federal Street

Salem, MA, 01970

Phone: (978) 744-5500 (Clerk’s Office)

Fax: (978) 741-0691 (Clerk’s Office)

Email: Essex.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us (Clerk’s Office)

Phone: (978) 825-4880 (Probation Department)

Fax: (978) 741-4368 (Probation Department)

TTY: (978) 744-5880 (Probation Department)

Phones: (978) 825-4813, (978) 825-4823, and (978) 825-4830 (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)

The Essex County Superior Court is open for limited purposes and hears most cases virtually. The court has also categorized some civil and criminal matters for virtual hearings and in-person hearings. Court visitors are required to follow COVID-19 guidelines.

The court holds hearing sessions on Mondays to Fridays, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

According to the Superior Court record for the 2019 fiscal year, Essex County Superior Court had 1,429 criminal case entries. As of 2019, criminal cases have been expanded to include criminal complaints, grand jury matters, youthful offenders cases, Sexually Dangerous Persons (SDP) appeals, and bail petitions.

Newburyport District Court

The Newburyport District Court serves Amesbury city. The court hears civil and criminal matters, all misdemeanors, felonies with a maximum five-year sentence, cases valued below $50,000, housing cases, and more. The court conducts in-person hearings when deciding cases under its jurisdiction.

Newburyport District Court

188 State Street

Newburyport, MA, 01950

Phone: (978) 462-2652 (Clerk’s Office)

Phone: (978) 465-8373 (Probation Department)

Fax: (978) 465-6471 (Probation Department)

Email: cmnewburyportdc@jud.state.ma.us (Newburyport District Court)

Phone: (978) 499-6828 (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: Mondays to Fridays, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Newburyport District Court has resumed in-person hearings after a brief pause. The court continues to hear most cases virtually but hears the listed cases in-person, with exceptions as determined by the court. Court visitors are required to follow COVID-19 guidelines.

According to the District Court reports for 2019, Newburyport District Court had a total of 1,757 criminal defendants in 2019.

Northeast Housing Court

The Northeast Housing Court - Lawrence Session has jurisdiction over matters pertaining to residential housing in Amesbury. Such matters range from breach of contract to eviction cases. The court conducts in-person hearings to decide cases under its jurisdiction.

Northeast Housing Court - Lawrence Session

Fenton Judicial Center

2 Appleton Street

2nd Floor

Lawrence, MA, 01840

Phone: (978) 689-7833 (Clerk’s Office and Housing Specialist Department)

Email: NortheastHousingCourt@jud.state.ma.us (Northeast Housing Court)

Phone: (978) 689-7833 (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)

Clerk’s Office: 9:00 a.m. to 12 p.m. Monday to Friday for inquiries

Court’s Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., on Monday to Friday.

While the Northeast Housing Court is open to the public, the majority of cases are heard virtually. Litigants are also advised to visit the Virtual Court Service Center (VCSC). The VCSC has a list of cases that may be conducted remotely and the available centers.

According to the Housing Court Department yearly records, the Northeast Housing Court recorded 52 criminal case entries in 2019.

Massachusetts Land Court

The Massachusetts Land Court serves Amesbury city. The court has statewide jurisdiction and original and exclusive jurisdiction over the registration of title of real property and matters associated with the registration. The court also has original and exclusive jurisdiction over other matters like the redemption of real estate tax liens. However, the Massachusetts Land Court shares jurisdiction with other court departments over certain matters, such as the specific performance of contracts relating to real estate.

Massachusetts Land Court

3 Pemberton Square

Boston, MA, 02108

Phone: (617) 788-7470 (Recorder’s Office and Virtual Recorder 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: Mondays to Fridays, between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Massachusetts Land Court is currently open for limited in-person business. The court conducts the majority of its business virtually and urges people to do the same, rather than visiting the court in-person. The court discourages drop-in or in-person visits at the Recorder’s Office, unless in cases of emergency. Individuals may contact the Virtual Recorder’s Office for assistance on court processes. The Virtual Recorder’s Office is available on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Newburyport Juvenile Court

The Newburyport Juvenile Court has jurisdiction over guardianship matters, delinquency, youthful offenders, adoption, etcetera.

188 State Street

Route 1, Traffic Circle

Newburyport, MA, 01950

Phone: (978) 462-0617 x5 (Clerk’s Office and Probation Department)

Email: essex-jccallctr@jud.state.ma.us (Newburyport Juvenile Court

Phone: (978) 725-4900 and 978-462-2652 (ADA Accessibility)

Fax: (978) 725-3878 and 978-463-0438 (ADA Accessibility)

Court’s business hours: Mondays to Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The Newburyport Juvenile Court conducts most of its sessions virtually except for specified cases that require an in-person hearing. However, Judges have the discretion to determine the mode of hearing. For example, a judge has the discretion to hear a care and protection bench trial remotely or in-person. Also, the court may switch to in-person hearings if a virtual hearing has become impractical.

According to the 2019 report of the Juvenile Court which classified case filings by counties, Essex Couty recorded 1 adult criminal case, 15 substance abuse cases, 44 youthful offenders, and 932 delinquency cases.

Essex Probate and Family Court

The Essex Probate and Family Court serves Amesbury city and has jurisdiction over divorce proceedings, custody, child support, adoption, and most family-related issues.

Essex Probate and Family Court

36 Federal Street

Salem, MA, 01970

Phone: (978) 744-1020 (Essex Probate and Family Court)

TTY: (978) 745-0350 (Essex Probate and Family Court)

Email: Essexcorrespondences@jud.state.ma.us (Essex Probate and Family Court)

Phone: 978 744-1020 (ADA Accessibility)

Fax: 978-741-2957 (ADA Accessibility)

Court’s business hours: Mondays to Fridays 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

In consideration of global health concerns, the court currently conducts the majority of its business virtually. However, trials and evidentiary hearings may be conducted in person, depending on the facts of the case and the judge’s discretion. Parties may access some court services through its Virtual Registry. The Virtual Registry operates from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., on Mondays to Fridays.

According to the 2019 Probate and Family Court report, the Essex Probate and Family Court administered 2,193 cases of contempt in 2019.

Massachusetts Appeals Court

The Massachusetts Appeals Court has appellate jurisdiction over a wide range of appeals trial court decisions, except first-degree murder cases and some others. The court also has appellate jurisdiction over final decisions from the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board, Industrial Actions Board, and the Appellate Tax Board.

Massachusetts Appeals Court

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: Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The court conducts most of its business virtually and encourages electronic filing of cases. However, there is also a drop-box at the entryway of the courthouse for individuals who may prefer to hand-deliver documents.

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is the highest court in Massachusetts. The court hears a broad range of appeals, civil or criminal, and has exclusive appellate jurisdiction over appeals involving first-degree murder.

Supreme Judicial Court

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)

Although open to the public, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court conducts the majority of its business virtually. For inquiries, parties may contact the Supreme Judicial Court Office.