You applied for an apartment and were turned down. The landlord ran a CORI check — a Criminal Offender Record Information report — and something from years ago came back. Massachusetts has a whole system governing exactly who can see what on your criminal record, under what circumstances, and what you can do to change it. Understanding the CORI system is the starting point for understanding your options. And those options may be better than you think — some records can already be sealed, and many people do not realize their record may already be eligible.
This guide explains how the law works in general terms. Whether you qualify depends on your specific record, and a judge makes the final call. If your situation is complicated — multiple convictions, charges in multiple states, or a previous denial — consulting a lawyer who handles expungement is worth the cost of a consultation.
What is CORI — and why it matters
CORI stands for Criminal Offender Record Information. It is Massachusetts's system for maintaining and governing access to criminal records. The Massachusetts Criminal History Systems Board (CHSB) administers the CORI database and controls who can access it and at what level.
Different requesters get different levels of CORI access. A background check from a large employer with a CORI agreement sees more than a small landlord who submits a manual request. Schools and childcare employers see records that smaller organizations cannot access. And under CORI reform, employers are limited in how they can use CORI information in hiring decisions.
When a Massachusetts record is sealed or expunged, the change happens in the CORI database — the centralized source that most background checks pull from. That is what makes sealing and expungement meaningful in Massachusetts: it affects what requesters actually see, not just what is on a piece of paper in a courthouse.
Sealing versus expungement in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has two distinct processes with different criteria and different outcomes. Understanding the difference matters before you decide how to proceed.
- SEALING: The record is restricted and most private CORI requesters will not see it, but courts and law enforcement can still access it.
- EXPUNGEMENT: The record-destruction path is narrower and only applies in limited circumstances.
- SEALING PATHS: Some eligible records may be handled through a separate sealing path instead of a petition path.
Most people will pursue sealing, not expungement. Expungement in Massachusetts is available in narrower circumstances than in most states. If you do not clearly qualify for expungement, sealing is the appropriate pathway.
Sealing — many people already qualify
This is the most important thing many Massachusettsans do not know: some records may be eligible for sealing once the waiting period is met and the case-specific conditions are satisfied.
If you have an older conviction and no newer disqualifying cases, your record may already be eligible for a sealing petition.
To find out, request your own CORI through Massachusetts iCORI at icori.chs.state.ma.us. A sealed record will show "sealed" rather than the underlying conviction details. If your record has not been sealed and the waiting period has passed, you can file a petition to ask for sealing.
Who qualifies for sealing — and who does not
- Many conviction records once the statutory sealing period has run
- Some eligible records may be available through a separate sealing path
- Arrests that did not result in conviction — generally sealable or already sealed
- Cases resolved without conviction through diversion or continuance without finding
- Some youth-related or misidentification-based cases on the narrower expungement path
- Sex offenses requiring registration as a sex offender
- New convictions that interrupt the required sealing path
- Cases with pending charges or active probation
- Certain violent offenses (review specific statute for exclusions)
Massachusetts uses separate sealing and expungement categories, so check the exact record type and court materials for the timing that applies.
Not legal advice. This guide explains how the law generally works. Your situation may be different. A lawyer who specializes in expungement can tell you how the law applies to your specific case.
Waiting periods
Massachusetts has more than one timing rule depending on whether you are looking at sealing or expungement. Check the exact category that matches your record before you count the clock.
The clock starts on the date shown below — not your arrest date.
Misdemeanor conviction
Clock starts: completion
From disposition or release from custody
Felony conviction
Clock starts: completion
From disposition or release from custody
Some eligible records
Clock starts: Varies by record type
Massachusetts uses separate sealing categories, so confirm the path that matches your record.
Other eligible records
Clock starts: See the qualifying category
Timing depends on the specific record category and whether you are on the sealing or expungement track.
Time-based expungement
Clock starts: See the qualifying category
Expungement is narrower than sealing and depends on a separate set of eligibility criteria.
The CORI reform and employer access limitations
Even before you seal your record, Massachusetts has rules that limit how employers can use CORI information. Under the CORI Reform Act, most employers cannot ask about criminal history on the initial job application (ban-the-box). They may ask later in the hiring process, but they must follow specific procedures.
Additionally, certain older convictions may not show up on employer CORI checks even before sealing. Older convictions may be limited in what employers with standard access can see even without a sealing order. The CORI reform limits the look-back period for many types of employers.
Sealing takes this further: after sealing, most CORI requesters see nothing. But it is worth knowing that CORI reform provides some protection even before you seal.
How to file in Massachusetts
How to file for sealing or expungement in Massachusetts
Understand whether you want sealing or expungement
1 day • FreeGet your CORI
1–3 days • State-set request feeConfirm whether your record is already sealed
1 hour after receiving CORI • FreeFile a petition for sealing (if not already sealed)
1 day • No routine filing feeFile for expungement (if you may be eligible)
1 day • No routine filing feeCourt review — no hearing for most sealings
Varies by court • NothingOrder granted — CORI updated
Administrative update period • Nothing- Your CORI from Massachusetts iCORI (icori.chs.state.ma.us)
- Court records showing conviction date, charge, and case number
- Completed sealing petition form (CORI-1, available at mass.gov/courts)
- Proof of identity
- If applying for expungement: documentation supporting qualification (pre-age-21 status or DNA/misidentification evidence)
- Two copies of all documents
The main out-of-pocket expense is usually the record-request step rather than the petition itself.
What sealing does and does not do in Massachusetts
- Law enforcement retains full access to sealed records.
- Courts can access sealed records in subsequent criminal proceedings.
- Some employers — including government employers, law enforcement, and those working with children — may retain access to sealed records.
- Federal records are not affected by Massachusetts sealing or expungement.
- Immigration consequences of the original conviction may remain.
- You may be required to disclose sealed records in certain contexts: federal employment, law enforcement applications, and some licensing applications.
After sealing, most private employers and landlords running standard CORI checks will not see the record. That is the practical outcome most people need.
Free and low-cost legal help in Massachusetts
- Greater Boston Legal Services — free civil legal help for income-eligible Boston-area residents. gbls.org or 617-603-1700.
- Massachusetts Legal Aid — statewide legal aid directory at masslegalaid.org.
- Massachusetts Legal Help — free legal information and referrals at masslegalhelp.org.
- Northeast Legal Aid — serving northeastern Massachusetts. northeastlegalaid.org.
- Prisoners' Legal Services — helps incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people with civil legal issues. plsma.org.
- Massachusetts Courts Self-Help Center — forms and information at mass.gov/courts/selfhelp.
- GBLS CORI Project — specific focus on criminal records and CORI issues. gbls.org/our-work/cori-project.
The GBLS CORI Project has specific expertise in Massachusetts record sealing and expungement. If you are in the greater Boston area, they are worth contacting directly.
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