Criminal Offender Record Information Form

Q: What does CORI stand for?

CORI means Criminal Offender Record Information. Massachusetts DCJIS operates the iCORI system used for many name-based Massachusetts criminal record checks.

Q: Which form do I use to get my own CORI?

Use the Personal CORI Request process. Individuals with a valid Massachusetts driver's license or state identification card can generally use iCORI online; otherwise they should use the paper Personal Request Form.

Q: Does the paper Personal CORI Request Form need to be notarized?

Current Massachusetts guidance describes a mailed Personal CORI Request Form as requiring notarization. Requesters should follow the instructions printed on the current official form.

Q: Is the employer CORI form the same as my personal CORI form?

No. Employers and licensing organizations generally use a CORI Acknowledgement Form signed by the subject and then submit the authorized CORI request through their organization account.

Q: Can an employer make me order my own CORI?

Massachusetts guidance states that employers cannot require applicants to provide their own personal CORI or arrest record. Employers should use their authorized screening process.

Q: How do I request CORI on another person?

The Personal Request Form is not the correct route for an unrelated third-party request. Massachusetts provides Open Access and other specific request procedures depending on the requester and purpose.

Q: What does a CORI Self-Audit show?

A CORI Self-Audit lists qualifying inquiries made by non-criminal-justice entities. It does not include law-enforcement or other criminal-justice agency queries.

Q: How long does a CORI request take?

DCJIS states that a CORI request may take up to 10 business days, although many requests are processed sooner.

Q: Is CORI a nationwide criminal background check?

No. CORI is a Massachusetts name-based criminal record system. Fingerprint-supported checks are different and can include broader information when authorized by law.

Massachusetts criminal-record form guide

Which Massachusetts CORI form do you actually need?

Massachusetts uses the term Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) for its name-based criminal-record system. There is not one universal CORI form. The right form depends on whether you are requesting your own record, authorizing an employer or licensing agency to run a check, requesting limited Open Access information about someone else, checking who has searched your CORI, or acting for a client or another authorized person.

Jurisdiction: Massachusetts Agency: Department of Criminal Justice Information Services Information checked: September 2026

Fast answer: If you want your own Massachusetts criminal record, use the Personal CORI Request route. If an employer, landlord, licensing board or volunteer organization is checking you, the form you sign is usually a CORI Acknowledgement Form. If you want limited public CORI about another person, use the Open Access process rather than the Personal Request Form.

I want my own CORI Personal CORI online through iCORI or by paper request.

Personal request →

An employer gave me a CORI form Understand the acknowledgement and identity-verification process.

Acknowledgement →

I want to check another person Use Open Access when Massachusetts law permits public access.

Open Access →

I want to see who checked me Request a CORI Self-Audit of non-criminal-justice inquiries.

Self-Audit →

Massachusetts has several different CORI forms

The Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) publishes separate forms because different requesters receive different levels of access under state law.

Form / route	Who uses it?	Main purpose	Typical fee
Personal CORI Request	The subject of the record	Obtain your own Massachusetts CORI	$25, unless fee waiver applies
CORI Acknowledgement	Applicant / employee / volunteer / licensee	Authorize a registered organization to perform a CORI check	No separate applicant filing fee
Open Access Request	Eligible member of the public	Request limited publicly accessible CORI about another individual	$50
Self-Audit	The subject or authorized representative	See which non-criminal-justice entities requested your CORI	One free every 90 days
Attorney Request	Attorney	Request CORI for a client under the applicable authorization procedure	Depends on request type
Advocate / Designated Representative	Authorized representative	Request CORI on behalf of the record subject	Depends on request type
Child Care Provider Request	Parent / legal guardian	Screen a prospective child-care provider under the specific CORI process	Check current form
Home Health Aide Request	Eligible elderly or disabled person	Screen a prospective home-health aide	Check current form
Deceased Individual Request	Requester meeting form requirements	Request eligible CORI on a deceased individual with proof of death	Check current form

Open the official CORI forms library

Use the Personal CORI Request Form to get your own record

A Personal CORI gives you access to your own Massachusetts criminal-offender record information. This is the right route if you want to review what appears before applying for a job, housing, professional license or another opportunity.

Massachusetts currently offers two ways to request it:

Online

iCORI

Individuals with a valid Massachusetts driver’s license or Massachusetts identification card can register as an individual and request their personal CORI online.

Mail

Paper Personal Request Form

If you do not have a Massachusetts driver’s license or state ID, DCJIS directs you to use the paper Personal CORI Request Form.

Official personal CORI instructions

How to request your own CORI through iCORI

Open the Massachusetts CORI service

Start from the DCJIS criminal-record page and choose the option to register as an individual.

Choose a personal request

When the system offers Personal Self and Open Access options, select Personal Self when requesting your own CORI.

Verify your Massachusetts identification

Online individual registration requires a valid Massachusetts driver’s license or Massachusetts identification card.

Enter your identifying information carefully

Make sure your name, date of birth and other information match your identification. Include former names when the system asks and they are relevant.

Submit payment

The current fee for a Personal CORI request is $25 unless you qualify for an approved fee waiver.

Check the CORI Results area

DCJIS says requests can take up to 10 business days, although many personal online requests are completed substantially sooner.

Do not choose Open Access for your own record. DCJIS specifically distinguishes Personal Self, which provides the access applicable to your own record, from Open Access, which is the limited public-access route for another person.

Go to Massachusetts CORI / iCORI

How to complete the paper Personal CORI Request Form

Use the paper form when you cannot use the online individual-registration process, including when you do not have a valid Massachusetts driver’s license or Massachusetts ID.

Information commonly required on the personal form

first and last name
middle initial when applicable
date of birth
last six digits of Social Security number, when applicable
former last names
current mailing address
contact information
PCF number if known

The paper personal form must be authenticated properly. Current Massachusetts guidance describes the mailed Personal CORI Request Form as a notarized request. Do not sign it in advance if the notary needs to witness or authenticate your signature.

Paper payment

Current Massachusetts guidance lists the Personal CORI fee at $25. For mailed personal requests, follow the form’s current payment instructions and make payment payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Mailing address

Department of Criminal Justice Information Services
200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200
Chelsea, MA 02150

Download current Personal CORI form

Personal CORI fees and the Affidavit of Indigency

Request	Current fee	Important note
Personal CORI	$25	Used to obtain your own CORI.
Open Access CORI	$50	Limited public request about another person.
Qualified indigency waiver	$0	Submit the Affidavit of Indigency with the personal request when eligible.
Self-Audit	Free once every 90 days	Additional self-audits during the 90-day period currently cost $25.

If the $25 personal fee is a problem: do not simply leave payment out. Use the official Affidavit of Indigency process and submit it with the Personal Request Form as directed by DCJIS.

A CORI Acknowledgement Form is not the same as your personal request form

This distinction causes a lot of confusion.

A CORI Acknowledgement Form is generally used when an employer, volunteer organization, housing provider, licensing body or another registered organization is authorized to conduct a CORI check.

You complete the acknowledgement so the organization can verify your identity and submit the appropriate CORI request through its own registered iCORI account.

Do not mail an employer’s acknowledgement form to DCJIS unless its instructions specifically tell you to. In the normal employment/licensing workflow, the organization obtains the signed acknowledgement, verifies identity and submits the CORI request itself.

Information commonly included on an acknowledgement

legal first and last name
middle name and suffix
former or maiden names
date and place of birth
specified portion of Social Security number when required
driver’s license or identification information
current or former addresses where requested
subject signature and identity verification

Official acknowledgement forms

How an employer or licensing organization uses the CORI form

Organizations generally must be registered with DCJIS for the type of CORI access they are legally entitled to receive.

DCJIS currently charges organizations $25 per CORI request, subject to the rules and exemptions applicable to particular requester types.

1 Organization registers The employer or agency establishes the appropriate iCORI organization account.

2 Applicant signs The subject completes the appropriate CORI Acknowledgement Form.

3 Identity is verified The organization follows DCJIS identity-verification requirements.

4 Organization requests CORI The authorized account receives only the level of CORI permitted for that purpose.

Access level depends on the requester. Massachusetts does not give every employer, licensing body or organization the same CORI. DCJIS uses different access categories depending on statutory authority and the purpose of the check.

Organizations should also be aware that CORI results in an iCORI account are currently removed from the online results area after 6 months, even though separate legal record-retention rules can apply to CORI already obtained by the organization.

Organization CORI instructions

Housing providers use a specific CORI acknowledgement process

DCJIS publishes separate housing acknowledgement language for organizations using CORI to screen applicants for the rental or lease of housing.

The housing workflow should not be confused with the ordinary employment acknowledgement. DCJIS provides both a full Housing Acknowledgement Form and an abbreviated version through its forms library.

Repeat housing checks are treated differently. DCJIS model policy says a housing acknowledgement should be completed for each subsequent CORI check rather than assuming one acknowledgement covers every future housing search.

Consumer reporting agencies have their own acknowledgement form

Massachusetts publishes a separate CRA Acknowledgement Form for organizations using a consumer reporting agency to conduct CORI-related screening for purposes such as employment, volunteering, subcontracting, licensing or housing.

DCJIS also publishes an abbreviated CRA acknowledgement form.

CORI rules and federal consumer-reporting rules can overlap. Using a consumer reporting agency may create requirements beyond the Massachusetts CORI process, including obligations under the Fair Credit Reporting Act depending on the purpose of the report.

Use Open Access when requesting public CORI about someone else

Massachusetts permits a limited category of CORI to be requested through Open Access.

The current Open Access request fee is $50 per request. Open Access does not provide the same information that a person receives when requesting their own CORI, and it does not give the general public unrestricted access to all Massachusetts criminal records.

Do not use the Personal CORI Request Form to get another living person’s record. Personal access is for the subject of the CORI or an appropriately authorized representative. Use the Open Access or another legally applicable request route instead.

Open Access instructions and form

A CORI Self-Audit shows who has requested your record

A Self-Audit is different from your personal CORI.

Your personal CORI shows criminal-record information associated with you. A Self-Audit shows CORI inquiries made by non-criminal-justice entities such as employers, hospitals, schools, housing authorities and other eligible organizations.

Included

Non-criminal-justice inquiries

Eligible iCORI searches made by organizations and requesters outside criminal-justice agencies.

Not included

Law-enforcement queries

Self-Audit results do not include requests made by criminal-justice or law-enforcement agencies.

Massachusetts currently allows one free Self-Audit every 90 days. An additional request made during that 90-day period currently costs $25.

Paper self-audit requests must be notarized. The current DCJIS Self-Audit form specifically requires authentication of the requester’s signature.

If a Self-Audit lists a CORI request you did not authorize, DCJIS says you may submit a CORI regulatory-violations complaint.

Request a CORI Self-Audit

Attorneys, advocates and designated representatives use separate forms

Massachusetts allows properly authorized people to request CORI on behalf of someone else in specified circumstances.

Attorney

Attorney Request Form

Used by an attorney requesting CORI on behalf of a client under the applicable DCJIS procedure.

Representative

Advocate / Designated Representative Form

Used when an authorized advocate or designated representative requests CORI for the subject.

Pending litigation can involve another procedure. An attorney seeking CORI in connection with a pending civil or criminal court matter may need a signed court order meeting DCJIS requirements rather than relying on an ordinary personal-request form.

Other Massachusetts CORI forms serve specific situations

The DCJIS forms library also includes forms for narrower use cases that should not be replaced with a generic Personal Request Form.

Child care

Child Care Provider Request

Available for parents or legal guardians seeking to screen certain prospective child-care providers.

Home care

Home Health Aide Request

Available for qualifying elderly or disabled persons seeking to screen a prospective home-health aide.

Deceased individual

Deceased Individual Request

Used for eligible requests involving a deceased person and requires proof of death.

Use the form written for your situation. The fact that several forms all mention “CORI” does not mean they are interchangeable. Using the wrong one can delay processing or result in the request being returned.

What information can a Massachusetts CORI contain?

CORI is a name-based Massachusetts criminal-record check. The information returned depends heavily on who is requesting the record and the requester’s legal access level.

Requester	General access concept	Important limitation
Record subject	Personal access to adult/youthful-offender convictions, non-convictions, pending matters and certain other records	Sealed and juvenile records are generally excluded from ordinary personal CORI access.
Ordinary eligible organization	Level depends on statutory requester category	Organizations do not automatically receive everything available to the record subject.
Open Access requester	Limited public-access information	Not equivalent to a complete criminal-history report.
Criminal-justice agency	Access governed by criminal-justice authority	Different from public iCORI access.

CORI is based on Massachusetts arraignment/court information. It is not automatically a nationwide criminal-history report and is not the same thing as an FBI fingerprint check.

CORI and fingerprint-supported background checks are different

DCJIS distinguishes two broad types of criminal-record checks: name-based CORI and fingerprint-supported checks.

Name based

CORI / iCORI

Uses identifying information such as name and date of birth and returns Massachusetts information according to the requester’s access level.

Fingerprint based

SAFIS / authorized checks

Uses fingerprints and may include Massachusetts, other-state, federal or other information depending on the legal authority for the check.

A clean CORI does not necessarily mean there is no criminal history anywhere in the United States. CORI is a Massachusetts name-based system. Fingerprint-based checks and criminal records from other jurisdictions follow different access rules.

Massachusetts criminal-record check types

What to do if your CORI contains a mistake

If a Massachusetts CORI entry appears wrong or incomplete, do not simply submit a new request and hope the result changes. Identify which part of the criminal-history chain is incorrect.

1 Get your personal CORI Review the exact information DCJIS is reporting.

2 Identify the case Note the court, docket number, charge and disposition that appear wrong.

3 Get court documentation Obtain the official docket or certified disposition when the court result is the issue.

4 Follow correction procedure Use the DCJIS/MSP correction instructions for the type of error involved.

Massachusetts publishes a current guide for correcting state or national criminal-history records. In some cases, a missing disposition requires a certified court docket and an update through the Massachusetts State Police State Identification Section.

CORI correction resources

Sealed or expunged cases may not appear like ordinary CORI records

Massachusetts law provides procedures for sealing and, in narrower circumstances, expunging qualifying criminal records.

Whether information is returned in CORI depends on the requester’s access level and the legal status of the case.

Do not assume a missing case never existed. A record can be absent from an ordinary CORI response because of sealing, expungement, requester-access limits or another legal restriction.

Massachusetts sealing and expungement resources

Important rights when an employer uses CORI

Massachusetts places restrictions on how employers obtain and use criminal-record information.

Most employers are generally prohibited from asking about criminal history on the initial written job application, subject to specific statutory exceptions.

An employer cannot require you to obtain your own personal CORI and hand it over. Massachusetts guidance specifically states that employers are not permitted to demand a copy of an applicant’s personal CORI or arrest record. The employer should use its own lawful CORI/background-check procedure.

Before adverse action based on CORI

DCJIS rules require employers and other covered organizations to provide the subject with the criminal-history information and identify its source before questioning the person about the record or making an adverse decision based on it.

The subject should have an opportunity to dispute inaccurate information.

Employment and housing CORI rights

How long can an organization keep CORI?

CORI is confidential and must be stored securely.

Massachusetts CORI regulations generally restrict organizations from retaining CORI and acknowledgement forms for longer than seven years from the applicable employment, volunteer-service or final decision date specified in the regulations.

Paper CORI

Secure physical storage

Hard copies must be kept in a locked, secure location with access limited to people authorized to view CORI.

Electronic CORI

Protected electronic storage

Electronically stored CORI must be appropriately password protected and handled under applicable DCJIS security requirements.

Massachusetts DCJIS CORI contact information

CORI questions

Civil Background Screening Services Unit

Phone: (617) 660-4640

Current published hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

Email: icori.info@mass.gov

Main DCJIS office

Department of Criminal Justice Information Services

200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200
Chelsea, MA 02150

Main phone: (617) 660-4600
TTY: (617) 660-4606
Fax: (617) 660-4613

DCJIS office location in Chelsea

Paper CORI requests and other DCJIS correspondence use the department’s Chelsea address. Follow the specific form instructions because some requests require an attention line or additional documentation.

Before submitting any CORI form, check these five things

Correct form

Personal, Open Access, acknowledgement and Self-Audit forms serve different purposes.

Names match

Use your legal name and include former names where the form calls for them.

Required fields complete

Missing DOB, required identifiers or contact details can delay processing.

Notary requirement checked

Paper personal and Self-Audit requests can require notarized signatures.

Payment method correct

Follow the current official form instructions rather than assuming every request accepts the same payment type.

Mailing destination verified

Use the address and attention line printed on the current DCJIS form.

Common questions about Massachusetts CORI forms

1. What does CORI stand for?

CORI means Criminal Offender Record Information. In Massachusetts, DCJIS manages the iCORI system used for many name-based criminal-record checks.

2. Which form do I use to get my own CORI?

Use the Personal CORI Request process. If you have a valid Massachusetts driver’s license or state ID, you can generally register for iCORI online. Otherwise, use the paper Personal Request Form.

3. How much does a personal CORI request cost?

Massachusetts currently lists the Personal CORI request fee at $25. A qualifying applicant may submit an Affidavit of Indigency to request a fee waiver.

4. Does the paper Personal CORI Request Form need to be notarized?

Current Massachusetts guidance describes the mailed Personal CORI Request Form as requiring notarization. Follow the instructions printed on the current form before signing and mailing it.

5. Is the employer CORI form the same as my personal CORI form?

No. An employer or licensing organization generally gives the subject a CORI Acknowledgement Form. The organization then uses its authorized iCORI account to request the record.

6. Can an employer make me order my own CORI?

Massachusetts guidance says employers cannot require applicants to provide a copy of their own personal CORI or arrest record. Employers should follow their authorized CORI/background-check procedure.

7. How do I request CORI on another person?

The Personal Request Form is not the correct form for an unrelated third-party search. Massachusetts provides Open Access and other specific request routes depending on the requester and purpose. Open Access currently costs $50 per request.

8. What does a CORI Self-Audit show?

It shows CORI requests made by non-criminal-justice entities through the DCJIS system. It does not show inquiries made by law-enforcement or criminal-justice agencies.

9. How long does a CORI request take?

DCJIS says CORI requests can take up to 10 business days, although many requests are processed sooner.

10. Is CORI a nationwide criminal background check?

No. CORI is Massachusetts’ name-based criminal-record system. Fingerprint-supported checks are different and may contain broader state, federal or out-of-state information when authorized by law.