Mistakes on CORIs

What if there is a mistake on my CORI? How can I fix it?

Two kinds of mistakes often show up on CORI reports. The information about one of your cases may be wrong (for example, a case that should be closed is still listed as open). Or, there may be cases on the CORI that do not belong to you. Here are suggestions for fixing both types of mistakes.

Fixing mistakes on your own CORI

If a case on your record is listed as open but should be closed, call the probation office at the court where the case was heard, and explain that you want to talk to someone about fixing a mistake on your CORI. The probation office may also be able to fix other small mistakes. You can also call the Office of the Commissioner of Probation at 617-727-5300 about mistakes on your CORI.

Sometimes, a case might be listed as open because the court thinks you have defaulted (because you did not pay a fine, finish probation, etc.). There might be a default warrant issued for you. If you think that you have a default warrant, you should seek legal help before going to court on your own. If there is a warrant, you might be arrested if you appear in court.

Removing someone else's cases from your CORI

Sometimes, one person’s criminal record can show up on another person's CORI. This can happen if two people have similar names and dates of birth, or if a person gave a false name when arrested.

If this has happened to you, start by getting a copy of your own CORI. After you get a copy of your own CORI, look at it carefully and mark which cases are not yours. There are several things you can do to get your record fixed:

1. Call the probation office at the court where the cases were heard and ask for help fixing your record; or
2. Call the Office of the Commissioner of Probation at 617-727-5300 and explain that you want to talk to someone about correcting mistakes on your CORI.
3. Try to find information that identifies the correct defendant, to show that the charges do not belong on your CORI. You could begin by looking in the police records for fingerprints and mug shots. You can get police records from the police who made the arrest, or sometimes from the court that heard the case. If there is a photo of the person who was arrested for the crime, then you can show the probation officer that it was not you. If there are fingerprints, you can have your own fingerprints taken, to prove that you did not commit the crimes on your record. A local police station may take your fingerprints, and compare them to those in the police file for the case.

In some cases, the probation office might not make the changes and you will need to file a petition with the court to ask that your CORI be corrected. A list of courts and their phone numbers is available online at the Massachusetts Courts website.

You may contact the Legal Advocacy and Resource Center (LARC) for help, at 617-603-1700.