Lynn City, Massachusetts Crime Index

The City of Lynn, Essex County, is one of the largest cities in Massachusetts. In 2019, the city recorded a 9% decrease in crime rate, compared to 2018. The crime statistics for 2019, disclosed the city registered 465 violent crimes, 1,348 property crimes, and 127 OUI offenses.

The violent crimes included

• 8 homicides
• 33 rapes
• 103 robberies
• 321 aggravated assaults

The property crimes included

• 302 burglaries
• 908 larcenies
• 137 motor vehicle thefts
• 1 case of arson

The official records indicate there was a 35% decrease in reported cases of rape, robbery cases by 24%, aggravated assault cases by 13%, larceny by 5%, motor vehicle theft by 37%, arson by 80%, and OUI offenses by 1%. There was an increase in homicide by 167% and burglary by 61%.

Essex Superior Court

The Essex Superior Court serves Lynn City. The Court hears civil actions over $50,000, labor disputes where parties seek injunctive relief, felony matters, and cases from the medical malpractice tribunals. The Court has exclusive original jurisdiction over first-degree murder cases.

The Essex Superior Court is open for limited purposes and conducts remote hearings. Parties may join remote hearings by phone or video and inform the court in advance if they have difficulty participating in remote court proceedings.

The Court recorded 2,554 cases in the 2020 fiscal year, including 1,438 civil cases and 1,116 criminal cases. Court hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Mondays to Fridays.

Essex County Superior Court

56 Federal St.,

Salem, MA 01970

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

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

Phone: (978) 744-5880 (TTY)

Fax: (978) 741-0691 (Clerk’s Office)

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

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

Lynn District Court

The Lynn District Court hears both criminal and civil cases in Lynn City. The Court’s jurisdiction includes all misdemeanors, felonies punishable with an imprisonment term up to five years, some specific felonies with imprisonment terms above five years, and violations of city and town ordinances and bylaws. Where the case involves a felony outside the Lynn District Court’s jurisdiction, the Court holds probable cause hearings to determine if the case should be sent to the Essex Superior Court. The Court also has an Adult Drug Court. The Court hears specialized proceedings such as

• Summary process (evictions)
• Inquests
• Supplementary process (enforcement of money judgments)
• Restraining orders to prevent abuse
• Mental health cases
• Appeals from the decisions of some administrative agencies, such as matters involving unemployment compensation or firearms licenses
• Appeals from a magistrate’s decision in civil motor vehicle infractions
• Equitable injunctions
• Other civil matters

The Court also issues

• Administrative search warrants
• Criminal search warrants
• Criminal complaints
• Arrest warrants

The Court has the authority to determine if there is probable cause to detain a person without an arrest warrant.

Members of the public may file civil claims, small claims, and supplementary processes electronically.

In the 2020 fiscal year, there were 11,306 case filings before the Lynn District Court. This included 3,535 criminal defendants and 125 search warrants. The Court is open from Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Lynn District Court

580 Essex St.,

Lynn, MA 01901

Phone: (781) 598-5200 (Clerk’s Office)

Phone: (781) 598-6400 (Probation Department)

Phone: (781) 581-2707 (TTY)

Fax: (781) 598-4350 (Clerk’s Office)

Fax: (781) 592-5521 (Probation Department)

Email: cmlynndc@jud.state.ma.us

Northeast Housing Court - Lynn Session

The Northeast Housing Court, Lynn Session, hears criminal and civil matters in Lynn concerning residential buildings. The Court has jurisdiction over cases on the welfare, health, and safety of owners and occupants of residential buildings. The Court does not exercise jurisdiction over commercial buildings. It may also grant search warrants. Cases often brought before the Court include

• Summary process (eviction)
• Small claims
• Criminal matters where the subject matter concerns the violation of a state code or local ordinance on residential housing

The Housing Court provides a Housing Specialist to guide individuals who may require help filing their cases. The Court also offers virtual services and eFiling services for cases.

In the 2020 fiscal year, the Northeast Housing Court received 9,057 case filings. These included 5,492 trial filings and 3,565 alternative dispute resolution filings. 5,480 cases were completed.

Northeast Housing Court, Lynn Session

56 Federal St.,

Salem, MA 01970

Phone: (978) 825-4920

Email: NortheastHousingCourt@jud.state.ma.us

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

Essex County Juvenile Court - Lynn Session

The Essex County Juvenile Court, Lynn Session, has criminal and civil jurisdiction over cases concerning children between 12 and 18 years of age in Lynn. The Court’s jurisdiction includes

• Adoption
• Care and protection
• Children requiring assistance
• Contribution to the delinquency of a minor by an adult
• Delinquency
• Guardianship
• Proceedings for the termination of parental rights
• Youthful offenders

The Essex County Juvenile Court received 3,473 case filings in the 2020 fiscal year. The Court is open from Monday to Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Lynn Juvenile Court

139 Central Ave.,

Lynn, MA 01901

Phone: (781) 586-0415 x4 (Clerk’s Office)

Phone: (781) 586-0695 x5 (Probation Department)

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

Massachusetts Land Court

The Massachusetts Land Court has statewide jurisdiction over matters concerning real property. The Court has exclusive jurisdiction over

• Registration of titles to real property
• Disputes that arise from the registration of titles
• Foreclosure
• Redemption of real property tax liens

The Court shares original jurisdiction with other courts over other property matters and may hold its session anywhere in Massachusetts. It also has a Permit Session for cases involving some particular uses of land. Parties may access the court’s virtual assistance services for information and inquiries. The Massachusetts Land Court received 30,199 cases in the 2019 fiscal year.

Massachusetts Land Court

3 Pemberton Square,

Boston, MA 02108

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

Essex Probate and Family Court

The Essex Probate and Family Court serves Lynn City and has jurisdiction over cases of

• Abuse prevention
• Adoption
• Change of name
• Child support
• Divorce
• Estates
• Guardianship
• Parenting time
• Paternity
• Termination of parental rights
• Trusts
• Wills

The Court offers remote services such as e-filing of cases concerning estate and administration, cases concerning the guardianship of an incapacitated person, and some divorce cases. The Court also has a virtual registry to inform and guide individuals.

The Essex Probate and Family Court received 13,991 case filings in the 2020 fiscal year.

Essex Probate and Family Court

36 Federal St.,

Salem, MA 01970

Phone: (978) 744-1020

Phone: (978) 745-0350 (TTY)

Email: Essexcorrespondences@jud.state.ma.us

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

Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is the highest appellate court in Massachusetts. The Court serves Lynn City and has exclusive original jurisdiction over first-degree murder appeals. Seven justices of the Court sit between September and May to hear appeals of criminal and civil matters. However, the Court holds Single Justice Sessions throughout the year. The cases heard in the Single Justice Sessions concern

• Bail reviews
• Some motions from cases that are on trial or appeal
• Petitions for admission to the bar
• Bar discipline proceedings
• Other statutory proceedings

1 Pemberton Square,

Boston, MA 02108

Phone: (617) 557-1000

The Court opens Mondays to Fridays, between 8:30 a.m to 4:30 p.m.

Massachusetts Appeals Court

The Massachusetts Appeals Court hears appeals from the decisions of trial courts in Massachusetts, including appeals from Lynn. The Court reviews decisions in both civil and criminal cases and also hears appeals from the final decisions of the Commonwealth Employment Relations, the Industrial Accident Board, and the Appellate Tax Board. It only reviews on questions of law and does not review on questions of fact. The Court also does not hear all appeal cases, such as appeals from the Superior Court concerning first-degree murder convictions.

Parties and court users may utilize e-filing services for specified cases. The Court hours are from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays and Fridays.

Massachusetts Appeals Court

1 Pemberton Square,

Boston, MA 02108

Phone: (617) 921-4443