Transparency Through Data

Middlesex County Case Data

District Attorney Marian Ryan is committed to increasing transparency by tracking and analyzing our data related to prosecutions in Middlesex County. Middlesex is the largest county in Massachusetts with 54 cities and towns and a population of 1.6 million. The first step in this process is to make data available and easily accessible to the public.

In January of 2018 we began focusing on improving our practices in District Court regarding bail. In doing so, we balance our core mission to protect public safety with a recognition that even a short period of incarceration can cause tremendous upheaval in a person's life, including the potential loss of custody of children, the loss of employment or the loss of housing. This is an evolving process and to ensure transparency, we will be reporting our case data here on a quarterly basis.

While this data is helpful, we understand that looking at this information without the inclusion of racial and socioeconomic factors does not present a complete picture. District Attorney Ryan has therefore given Northeastern University access to the raw data regarding our cases including demographic information. This will identify any disparate treatment of individuals charged with a crime based upon race, gender, ethnicity or the city or town in which the offense was committed. Their reports, as well as the underlying data, will also be made public on this site. By releasing this information we are holding ourselves accountable and also allowing the public to have a greater understanding of the work we do every day. 

Calendar Year 2019, Second Quarter

Between April 1, 2019 through June 30, 2019, we managed 14,459 active cases. This included 4,620 new cases that were arraigned in Middlesex County courts, in addition to cases that were ongoing prior to 2019. 

2019 2nd Quarter

Middlesex County Bail Data

The decision not to request cash bail in many District Court cases was informed by District Attorney Ryan's work on criminal justice reform with the Middlesex Chiefs of Police, the Massachusetts Legislature, members of the defense bar, community leaders and the public. It also reflects our larger focus on understanding the full impact that the criminal justice system has on people’s lives.

In the second quarter of 2019, 4,457 cases were arraigned in the District Courts of Middlesex County, of which 1,049 were disposed at arraignment so bail was not an issue.

Of the remaining 3,408 cases, the Commonwealth did not request bail in 2,497 or 73% of the cases. Of the remaining 911 cases, the Commonwealth requested that 166 individuals be held without bail. These cases involve instances where the defendant was charged with murder, charged with being a fugitive from justice or held pending a chapter 58A dangerousness determination. In the remaining 745 cases, which include a wide variety of misdemeanor and serious felony charges, the Commonwealth requested cash bail. 

Eighty-three (83) cases were arraigned in the Juvenile Courts of Middlesex County. Of those cases, 10 were disposed at arraignment so bail was not an issue.

Of the remaining 73 juvenile cases, the Commonwealth did not request bail in 65 or 89% of the cases. Cash bail was requested in 5 cases, including serious felonies such as home invasion or sexual assault. In the remaining 3 cases juveniles were held without bail pending a 58A dangerousness hearing.

Additional Data

Calendar Year 2019, First Quarter
Calendar Year 2018