Beverly City, Essex County, Massachusetts Crime Index
With a total of 528 crimes in 2019, Beverly City recorded a 7% reduction in its crime rates from the previous year. The crime statistics included 47 violent crimes, 206 property crimes, and 17 OUI offenses.
violent crimes
- 4 rapes
- 2 robberies
- 41 aggravated assaults
The property crimes included
- 19 burglaries
- 177 larcenies
- 10 motor vehicle thefts
Between 2015 and 2019, the city recorded a 48% decline in total crimes. Rape incidences reduced by 50%, robbery by 71%, aggravated assault by 15%, and burglary by 58%. Similarly, the rate of larceny and motor vehicle theft both declined by 44%, while OUIs reduced by 50%. Within the same period, arson increased by 100%, while the murder rate remained the same.
Salem District Court
Salem District Court handles a wide range of criminal, civil, housing, juvenile, mental health, and other types of cases emanating from Beverly City. The court has authority over felonies with a potential penalty of a five-year sentence or more, as well as misdemeanors and violations of municipal ordinances. Trial court statistics for the 2020 fiscal year show that the court received a total of 2,286 criminal case filings and 108 search warrants.
The Salem District court also hears Beverly city’s civil cases involving claims for money damage not exceeding $50,000, as well as small claims below $7,000. Additionally, the court has civil jurisdiction over specialized proceedings including:
- Inquests
- Eviction proceedings
- Enforcement of money judgments
- Abuse prevention restraining orders
- Appeals from certain administrative agencies
- Civil motor vehicle infractions
- Equitable injunctions
- Miscellaneous civil matters
Most of the court’s activities are currently remote in compliance with Covid 19 protocols. For more information about the court’s virtual services, visit the court’s Virtual Service Center, or contact the Clerk’s Office. The following court activities may however require an in-person appearance
- 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
Like other courts serving the city, the Salem District Court maintains records of its proceedings. To access these records, residents may either use the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access Portal or contact the Court’s Clerk
Salem District Court
56 Federal Street
Salem, MA 01970
Phone: (978) 744-1167 (Clerk’s Office)
Phone: (978) 744-2056 (Probation Department)
Email: cmsalemdc@jud.state.ma.us
Essex County Superior Court
The Essex Superior Court has jurisdiction over a variety of Beverly city’s civil and criminal matters but typically handles matters that are beyond the jurisdiction of other courts that serve the city. The court hears civil claims of over $50,000 and submissions for equitable relief. It also has jurisdiction over labor disputes, medical malpractice tribunals, and naturalization proceedings.
The Essex County Superior Court has exclusive original jurisdiction over first-degree murder cases and original jurisdiction over other crimes. It also has appellate jurisdiction over certain administrative proceedings. According to trial court statistics, the court recorded a total of 1,116 criminal case entries during the 2020 fiscal year.
Records of the Superior Court’s proceedings are open to the public through the Electronic Case Access System of the Massachusetts Trial Court. For more information about obtaining court records, interested parties may contact the Court’s Clerk at the courthouse located at
Essex County Superior Court
56 Federal Street
Salem, MA 01970
Phone: (978) 744-5500 (Clerk's Office)
Phone: (978) 825-4880 (Probation Department)
Fax: (978) 741-0691 (Clerk's Office)
Fax: (978) 741-4368 (Probation Department)
Email: Essex.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us
To comply with Covid-19 protocols, the court currently adopts remote media like email, phone, and videoconference to perform many of its functions. The courthouse is open for in-person matters such as
- 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
Essex County Juvenile Court
The Essex County Juvenile Court has general jurisdiction over Beverly juvenile matters including juvenile delinquency, child protection, and certain adult criminal cases involving minors, adoption, termination of parental rights, and guardianship. Trial Court Statistics indicates that the court received a total of 3,473 case filings in the 2020 fiscal year.
Pursuant to Massachusetts state law, proceedings in the Essex Juvenile Court are precluded from public access, and the court’s case records and reports are confidential. Only representatives or appointees of parties to the case and persons authorized by the court may obtain these records.
Like other courts serving the city, the Essex Juvenile Court currently conducts most of its functions virtually in line with Covid-19 protocols.
Essex County Juvenile Court - Salem
56 Federal Street
Salem, MA 01970
Phone: (978) 745-9660 x1 (Clerk’s Office)
Phone:(978) 745-9601 x2 (Probation Department)
Email: essex-jccallctr@jud.state.ma.us
Essex Probate and Family Court
The Essex Probate and Family Court adjudicates Beverly city’s family and probate cases, such as:
- Custody
- Parenting time
- Adoption
- Divorce
- Paternity
- Child support
- Termination of parental rights
- Abuse prevention
The court also exercises jurisdiction over cases involving wills, estates, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, and change of name. In the 2020 fiscal year alone, the court recorded a total of 13,991 case filings.
Records maintained by the Essex Probate and Family Court include
- 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
Residents may obtain these court records by requesting them online, by mail, or in person. Interested parties may visit the online Electronic Case Access System of the Massachusetts Trial Court. In-person requesters are required to present a completed copy of the Request for Copies form along with the stipulated fees at the courthouse located at
Essex Probate and Family Court
36 Federal Street
Salem, MA 01970
Phone: (978) 744-1020
Email: Essexcorrespondences@jud.state.ma.us
The court presently conducts most of its activities virtually in line with Covid 19 regulations issued by the Supreme Judicial Council.
Northeast Housing Court
The Northeast Housing Court hears Beverly city’s civil and criminal cases relating to the health, safety, and welfare of the occupants of residences. The Court’s civil jurisdiction covers cases involving personal injury, breach of contract, property damage, and discrimination. It also has appellate jurisdiction over matters instituted at the local zoning board.
The Northeast Housing Court handles criminal cases that involve the violation of state and local building codes, sanitation codes, and other enactments regulating residential housing. According to Trial Court Statistics, the court recorded a total of 56 criminal case entries in the 2020 fiscal year, while also disposing of 50 criminal cases.
The court affords its litigants the option of mediation. These mediation proceedings are handled by Housing specialists. However, agreements reached during mediation require the approval of a judge to be binding on the parties. The court is generally considered litigant-friendly since 59 % of its litigants during the 2020 fiscal year were self-represented.
Northeast Housing Court - Salem Session
56 Federal Street
Salem, MA 01970
Phone:(978) 825-4920 (Clerk’s Office and Housing Specialist Department)
Email: NortheastHousingCourt@jud.state.ma.us
Massachusetts Land Court
The Massachusetts Land Court has authority over Beverly city real property cases, including registration of title, zoning, and real estate tax lien. Trial Court Statistics shows that the court recorded a caseload of 26,037 cases during the 2020 fiscal year.
To access records of the Land Court’s cases, interested parties may visit the Electronic Case Access Portal or 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)
The SJC is the highest appellate court serving the city. The court receives appeals of Beverly city cases from the Appeals Court. It is the only court that has appellate jurisdiction over first-degree murder cases instituted at the Superior Court. According to court statistics for the 2018 fiscal year, the SJC recorded 194 case entries and dismissed 14 cases.
Due to Covid 19 regulations, the SJC currently handles its proceedings either through videoconference or a decision on paper without oral submissions.
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 appeals of all Beverly city cases except for first-degree murder which goes straight to the SJC. The court also has appellate jurisdiction over certain administrative tribunals including the Appellate Tax Board, the Department of Industrial Accidents, and the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board. During the 2020 fiscal year, the court heard a total of 736 criminal case appeals. The Appeals Court currently executes its functions remotely in compliance with Covid 19 protocols.
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.
Endicott College
Endicott College is a private higher institution with a campus in Beverly. According to the UCR, the institution experienced one violent crime and 17 property crimes in 2019. The reported violent crime is a single case of aggravated assault, while the property crimes consisted of 17 larcenies. These figures show a considerable decline in crime rates from the previous year. Violent crimes declined by 75%, while the rate of property crimes also fell by 32%.
Endicott College
376 Hale Street
Beverly, MA 01915
Phone: (978) 927-0585
Montserrat College of Art
The Montserrat College of Art is a private residential college with a campus in Beverly. The college reported one case of aggravated assault within its campus between 2016 and 2018.
Montserrat College of Art
23 Essex Street
Beverly, MA 01915
Phone: (978) 921-4242
