City of Lawrence Crime Index
The City of Lawrence in Essex County is home to the Northern Essex Community College, Cambridge College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. According to the city's Police Department 2018 records, the city witnessed a 9.3% reduction in crime incidents over the past year, with 91 fewer offenses recorded. The Lawrence Police Department reported
75 Violent Crimes
- 4 murder cases were reported, 3 were recorded in 2018.
- 2 rape incidents reported, representing a 10% rise compared to 2018.
- 87 reported the incidence of robberies, indicating that armed theft increased by 24% from 2018.
- 419 aggravated assault cases. This figure represents a 6% increase in domestic and non-domestic aggravated assault cases compared to 2018.
344 Property Crimes
- Burglary - The city reported 68 residential and 45 commercial burglaries in 2019, as against 83 and 46 cases respectively, indicating a 12% reduction in burglary crimes in 2018.
- Larceny - Larceny crimes reduced by almost 50%, with only 67 cases reported, compared to 128 in the previous year.
- Arson - No cases of arson reported.
- Auto Theft - 164 motor vehicle theft cases were reported, a 26% reduction from 2018.
In Lawrence, the Crime Analysis Unit collects, maintains, and reports on official crime figures. This information is usually instrumental in isolating individual crimes and providing critical support for current criminal investigations. The Unit conducts criminal data records analysis, which helps to identify crime patterns and trends.
Lawrence City District Court
The Lawrence District Court's jurisdiction extends to criminal, civil, Housing, Juvenile, Mental Health, Drug-use, and Veterans' Treatment cases. It presides over all misdemeanors, violations of city and town regulations and by-laws, and crimes punishable by up to 5 years sentence or more. The courthouse is situated at:
City of Lawrence District Court
Fenton Judicial Center,
2 Appleton Street,
Lawrence, MA 01840
Phone: (978) 687-7184
Email: cmlawrencedc@jud.state.ma.us
Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The District Court Judges are appointed on the recommendation of the governor, assisted by a nominating commission, and subject to ratification by the Governor's Council in Massachusetts.
According to the Massachusetts Trial Court Statistics, the court presided over 14,675 cases including
6232 criminal cases made up of 5925 criminal defense cases and 307 search warrants.
- 5686 civil cases consisting of 1027 appeals of regular civil cases, 2,298 small claims, 191 supplementary processes, 125 summary processes, 1205 restraining orders, 362 mental health appeals, 156 Civil Motor Vehicle Infraction appeals, 291 admin warrants, and 31 admin appeals.
- 2757 scheduled magistrate hearings including 1244 scheduled Civil Motor Vehicle Infractions, 5 Non-Motor Vehicle Infractions, and 1508 show causes.
Consequent to the outbreak of COVID-19, most court sessions are held virtually, with only essential in-person services allowed in the courthouse. When physical presence at the courthouse is required, visitors must take the necessary safety measures.
Northeast Housing Court - Lawrence Session
The Northeast Housing Court presides over cases relating to all residential housing cases such as eviction, small claims, and civil actions involving physical injury, property damage, breach of contractual agreement, discrimination, and the local Zoning Board's decisions, which affect residential housing. Interested parties may contact the court at
Fenton Judicial Centre
2 Appleton Street, 2nd Floor
Lawrence, MA 01840
Phone: (978) 689-7833
Email: NortheastHousingCourt@jud.state.ma.us
Monday to Friday, from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
The Massachusetts Trial Court Statistics for 2019 recorded 7,171 total cases were filed in the court within the year and 7,196 were disposed of. The court also received 52 criminal cases,6,288 summary processes, 54 search warrants, 26 ticket entries, 326 civil lawsuits, and 258 probable causes. 268 civil lawsuits, 171 small claims, 55 search warrants, and 24 ticket entries were completed.
The records also revealed that the court received a total of 18,918 litigants, comprising 8,130 plaintiffs, with 28.2% of them being self-represented, while 71.8% had legal representation and 10,788 defendants, with 90.3% self-represented and 9.7% had legal representation.
In consideration of health concerns due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the courthouse conducts most of its activities virtually by email, video conferencing, or phone.
Essex County Juvenile Court - Lawrence Session
The Essex County Juvenile Court serves the city of Lawrence and generally presides over delinquency, guardianship, youthful offenders, and some adult cases involving juveniles. The court is open on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. a
Fenton Judicial Centre
2 Appleton Street, 2nd Floor
Lawrence, MA 01840
Phone: (978) 725-4900 x2
Email: essex-jccallctr@jud.state.ma.us
In 2019, the Essex County Juvenile Court recorded 85 adoptions, one adult criminal, 1,220 applications for complaint, 357 child care and protection cases, 773 children requiring assistance filings, 6 civil contempt cases,0 criminal contempt cases online, 1 contributing to delinquency filings, 932 delinquency cases, 0 equity cases, 10 failure to cause cases, 77 guardianship filings, 79 harassment filings, 0 mentally ill person cases, 3 name change filings, 43 paternity/support filings, 15 substance abuse cases, 71 young adult permanency hearings filings, 44 youthful offender cases.
In compliance with COVID-19 protocols, court activities are mostly conducted virtually, by email, video conferencing, or phone. Court visitors are required to follow strict Infection Prevention Guidelines.
Boston Land Court Department
The Land Court Department presides over cases that involve real property such as land title disputes, real estate tax, mortgage foreclosure, etcetera.
3 Pemberton Square,
Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 788-7470
Email: LandCourt.Emergency@jud.state.ma.us
Mondays to Fridays between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m
According to the Massachusetts Trial Court Statistics 2019, the Land Court Department recorded
3 registration/confirmation cases, 0 cases reopened, 913 after registration cases disposed of
1,825 tax lien foreclosure cases, 23 reopened, and 2533 disposed of
693 miscellaneous topics, 5 reopened, and 675 disposed of
3 permit cases, 0 reopened, and 3 disposed of
6865 service member cases, 6 reopened, and 7561 disposed of.
Total approval cases entered were 1,943, with 89 condominiums and 1,854 deed approvals. 73 condominiums and 1,855 deed approvals were disposed of respectively, within the same year.
In compliance with COVID-19 protocols, court activities are mostly conducted virtually, by email, video conferencing, or phone.
Essex Probate and Family Court
The Essex Probate and Family Court hears cases concerning a wide range of family issues, probate inquiry, wills, and general equity. As a measure to observe social distancing and reduce overcrowding, court users have access to virtual registries, to get assistance from court staff. The court's hours are from Monday to Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at
36 Federal Street
Salem, MA 01970
Phone:(978) 744-1020
Email: Essexcorrespondences@jud.state.ma.us
In 2019, the Essex Probate and Family Court recorded a total of 16,133 case entries and conducted most of its activities virtually in line with Covid-19 protocols.
Essex County Superior Court
The Essex County Superior Court presides over all felony cases, civil actions above $50,000, medical malpractice tribunals, and labor-related cases where equitable relief is sought. It serves all cities and towns in Essex County. The courthouse is open on weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
56 Federal Street
Salem, MA 01970
Phone:(978) 744-5500
Email: Essex.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us
According to the Massachusetts Trial Court Statistics 2019, the Essex County Superior Court recorded 3,366 total case entries consisting of 1,937 civil case entries and 1,429 criminal cases.
In response to the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Judicial Center in Salem permits limited in-person visits and conducts most of its activities virtually.
Northern Essex Community College - Lawrence Campus
The Annual Security Report 2020 recorded two reported incidents of fondling, on the Nothern Essex Community College’s campus in Lawrence, compared to only one reported off-campus incident case in 2018. The college reported one instance of non-campus aggravated assault as against 2, recorded in 2018.
John R. Dimitry Building
45 Franklin Street
Lawrence, MA 01840
Phone: (978) 738-7000
Email: info@necc.mass.edu
University of Massachusetts Amherst
According to the University of Massachusetts Amherst Annual Security Report for the 2020 fiscal year, there were 23 rape incidents. 19 on-campus and 4 off-campus, the same number recorded in 2018. The university reported 11 incidences of fondling, 9 cases were reported the previous year, 2 cases of aggravated assaults as against 4 the year before, 2 cases of robbery, compared to 3 cases in the previous year, 8 burglary incidents were reported in 2019, compared to 12 recorded in the previous year, 3 cases of arson 3 incidents of stalking, and 4 domestic violence cases with 2 and 9 cases reported in the previous year, respectively. No incidence of motor vehicle theft was recorded.
UMass Extension Nutrition Education Program (NEP)
Family Service Building
430 North Canal Street #2
Lawrence, MA 01840
Phone: 978-689-4744
Fax: 978-688-3456
Email: nepcontact@umext.umass.edu
Cambridge College - Lawrence
Cambridge College recorded only one incidence of burglary and larceny on campus as against two in the previous year.
Cambridge College Lawrence
280 Merrimack Street
5th floor
Lawrence, MA 01843
Phone: (978) 738-0502
Email: lawrenceinfo@cambridgecollege.edu
