The Town of Franklin, Norfolk County, Massachusetts Crime Index
The Town of Franklin is one of the cities in Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Although the city has been granted a city form of government and operates as such, it continues to retain “The Town of Franklin” as an official name.
The city has experienced an inconsistent rise and fall in crime rate within the past 5 years. However, in 2019, there were a total of 212 reported crimes, which is slightly lesser than the 229 crimes reported the previous year. This difference accounts for a 7.42% decline in reported crimes. The 212 reported crimes in 2019 include 2 incidents of violent crimes, 103 cases of property crimes, and 23 cases of drunk-driving cases (OUIs).
A breakdown of the violent crimes reveals
- No murders
- No reported rapes
- 1 robbery
- 1 aggravated assault
Also, the 103 property crimes represent
- 16 burglaries
- 81 larcenies
- No reported arson
- 6 motor vehicle thefts
With a total of 212 reported crimes, the Town of Franklin has a crime rate of 640 crimes per 100,000 persons. The ratio indicates that the city is comparatively safer than some cities in Massachusetts.
Norfolk County Superior Court
The Norfolk County Superior Court is a trial court that serves the Town of Franklin. The court has jurisdiction over civil actions up valued at $50,000 and more, medical malpractice tribunals, labor disputes where injunctive reliefs are being claimed, and all felony matters. The court is located at
Norfolk County Superior Court
650 High Street
Dedham, MA, 02026
Phone: (781) 326-1600 (Clerk’s Office)
Email: Norfolk.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us (Clerk’s Office)
Phone: (781) 326-1600 x354 (ADA Accessibility)
Fax: (781) 326-3871 (ADA Accessibility)
Phone: 1-800-THE-JURY (843-5879) (Office of Jury Commissioner)
Email: JurorHelp@jud.state.ma.us (Office of Jury Commissioner)
Court’s Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday
The Norfolk County Superior Court is currently open, but conducts most hearings virtually except for specified cases, like evidentiary hearings. Besides court personnel, the court is open to limited people including people
- Who have in-person business with the Clerk’s Office
- Attending an in-person hearing
- Who have a meeting with the probation officer
- Who are reporting for jury service
- Who have business in any publicly accessible office in the courthouse
According to the 2019 Superior Court records, there were 817 criminal case filings from Norfolk County. The category for criminal cases was expanded, in 2019, to include Grand Jury matters, youthful offenders, criminal complaints, bail petitions, and Sexually Dangerous Persons (SDP) appeals.
Wrentham District Court
The Wrentham District Court is a trial court that serves the Town of Franklin. The court hears cases classified as civil, criminal, juvenile, housing, and other cases. The District Court also has jurisdiction over all misdemeanors, violations of cities and town ordinances and by-laws, and all felonies with a potential sentence of up to five-year imprisonment.
Wrentham District Court
60 East Street
Wrentham, MA, 02093
Phone: (508) 384-3106
Email: cmwrenthamdc@jud.state.ma.us
Phone: (508) 384-3106 x229 (ADA Accessibility)
Fax: (508) 384-1978 (ADA Accessibility)
Phone: 1-800-THE-JURY (843-5879) (Office of Jury Commissioner)
Email: JurorHelp@jud.state.ma.us (Office of Jury Commissioner)
Court’s Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday
The court is currently open for limited purposes and to limited persons. It conducts most cases virtually, except for specified cases. Everyone granted access to the courthouse is also required to wear a face mask.
Dedham Juvenile Court
The Norfolk County Juvenile Court in Dedham is a trial court that hears matters regarding youthful offenders, delinquency, guardianship matters, adoption, care and protection, etcetera. The court is located in Dedham and serves the Town of Franklin.
Norfolk County Juvenile Court
55 Allied Drive
Dedham, MA, 02026
Phone: (781) 329-1500 (Clerk’s Office and Probation Department)
TTY: (781) 329-6984 (Clerk’s Office and Probation Department)
Email: norfolk-jccallctr@jud.state.ma.us
Phone: (781) 329-1500 and (617) 376-7505 (ADA Accessibility)
Fax: (781) 329-1649 and (617) 376-2115 (ADA Accessibility)
Phone: 1-800-THE-JURY (843-5879) (Office of Jury Commissioner)
TTY: 1-800-328-3202 (Office of Jury Commissioner)
Email: JurorHelp@jud.state.ma.us (Office of Jury Commissioner)
Court’s Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday
The Norfolk County Juvenile Court is open to the public for limited purposes. The court handles most cases virtually except for cases that require an in-person hearing, like youthful offender and delinquency bench trials, unless the parties and the trial judge agreed to a virtual trial. The court classifies certain cases as emergency matters and prioritizes hearing those matters over non-emergency ones. Parties may contact the Clerk’s Office for assistance on case filings and virtual hearings.
According to the 2019 Juvenile Court Department records, Norfolk County Juvenile Court had 274 cases of delinquency, 12 cases of substance abuse, and 7 cases involving a youthful offender.
Metro South Housing Court
The Metro South Housing Court - Canton Session is a trial court that handles matters relating to the use of residential property in the Town of Franklin. The court hears both civil and criminal cases and also has jurisdiction over actions that involve the safety, health, and welfare of residential occupants or owners. The court is located at
Metro South Housing Court - Canton Session
215 Main Street
Suite 160
Brockton, MA, 02301
Phone: (508) 894-4170 (Clerk’s Office and Housing Specialist)
Fax: (508) 894-4168 (Clerk’s Office and Housing Specialist)
Email: MetroSouthHousingCourt@jud.state.ma.us
Phone: (508) 897-2910 (ADA Accessibility)
Phone: 1-800-THE-JURY (1-800-843-5879) (Office of Jury Commissioner)
Court’s Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday
The Metro South Housing Court - Canton Session is open to the public for limited purposes. The Virtual Court Service Center gives assistance to litigants regarding some cases conducted virtually. The Court Service Centers are available from Mondays to Fridays, between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
The Metro South Housing Court still hears certain cases in person. The court clerk will provide interested parties with information on virtual hearings and cases categorized for a mandatory in-person hearing.
In 2019, the Metro South Division of the Massachusetts Housing Court had a total of 14 criminal cases in its case entries.
Massachusetts Land Court
The Massachusetts Land Court is a trial court with original and exclusive jurisdiction over title registration of real property or legal actions relating to such registration. The court handles most matters pertaining to real property, including the foreclosure and redemption of real estate tax liens. It also has exclusive and original jurisdiction over most property matters. However, it has concurrent jurisdiction with other courts on matters relating to a petition for the partition of real estate. The Land Court is situated in Boston and it has statewide jurisdiction.
Massachusetts Land Court
3 Pemberton Square
Boston, MA, 02108
Phone: (617) 788-7470 (Recorder’s Office)
Email: LandCourt.Title@jud.state.ma.us (Land Court Title Examination Department)
Email: LandCourt.Survey@jud.state.ma.us (Land Court Survey Department)
Email: LandCourt.Emergency@jud.state.ma.us (Land Court Emergency)
Phone: (617) 788-7474 (ADA Accessibility)
Fax: (617) 788-8953 (ADA Accessibility)
Court’s Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday
The Land Court is partly open to the public due to COVID-19. The court also adheres to COVID-19 precautionary guidelines like social distancing and mask-wearing. In-person hearings are limited and most cases are conducted virtually. The Land Court currently discourages in-person visits to the Recorder’s Office, except in cases of emergency or a pre-scheduled meeting. If an in-person visit is made for non-emergency purposes, the visitor will be required to wait until emergency visitors and pre-scheduled visitors have been attended to.
Norfolk Probate and Family Court
The Norfolk Probate and Family Court is a trial court with jurisdiction over probate and family-related matters, including paternity, adoption, custody, termination of parental rights, guardianships, trusts, etcetera. The court serves the Town of Franklin.
Norfolk Probate and Family Court
35 Shawmut Road
Canton, MA, 02021
Phone: (781) 830-1200 (Register’s Office)
Fax: (781) 830-4310 (Register’s Office)
Phone: (781) 830-1249 (Probation Office)
Fax: (781) 830-4320 (Probation Office)
Email: norfolkprobate@jud.state.ma.us
Phone: (781) 830-1281 (ADA Accessibility)
Fax: (781) 830-4350 (ADA Accessibility)
Court’s Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday
The Norfolk Probate and Family Court is currently open for limited purposes. The court handles all of its cases virtually, except trials and evidentiary hearings or proceedings that involve witness testimony. Also, the courthouse is only open to specific people with specified businesses.
According to the Probate and Family Court Department records, the Norfolk Probate and Family Court recorded 1,466 cases of contempt in 2019.
Massachusetts Appeals Court
The Massachusetts Appeals Court, housed in the John Adams Courthouse, hears all appeals from civil and criminal cases decided by the trial courts, with the exception of cases involving first-degree murder. This jurisdiction also extends to appeals from the decision of the Commonwealth Employment Relations Board, the Appellate Tax Board, and the Industrial Accident Board.
Massachusetts Appeals Court
1 Pemberton Square
Boston, MA, 02108
Phone: (617) 921-4443
Phone: (617) 723-1502 (ADA Accessibility)
Fax: (617) 626-7906 (ADA Accessibility)
Court’s Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday
The Appeals Court currently handles most matters virtually, to the extent practicable, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All documents may be filed electronically. Although the Court discourages physical case filings, it still makes provision for paper filing through a physical drop-box.
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court is Massachusetts’ highest appellate court. The court also has exclusive appellate jurisdiction over cases involving first-degree murder and hears both civil and criminal appeals from September through May. It also conducts single Justice sessions every week. The single Justice sessions are administered throughout the year for certain motions.
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
1 Pemberton Square
Boston, MA, 02108
Phone: (617) 557-1000
Phone: (617) 557-1140 (ADA Accessibility)
Fax: (617) 557-1052 (ADA Accessibility)
Court’s Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday
The Supreme Judicial Court is currently open for limited purposes and handles most cases virtually. Interested parties may contact the relevant Supreme Judicial Court Office for guidance or relevant information..
Dean College
Dean College is the only college in the Town of Franklin, Massachusetts, and located at
Dean College
99 Main Street
Franklin, MA, 02038
Phone: 1-877-TRY-DEAN
The overall crime statistics for the college include crimes reported in the on-campus student housing facilities. In 2018, there were a total of 47 reported crimes. 24 of those crimes occurred on the college’s main campus, while 23 of them occurred within the on-campus student housing facilities. The crime records reveal a slight increase in the crime rate by 2 additional cases compared with 45 reported crimes in the previous year.
- No murders
- 6 reported rapes
- 2 robberies
- No aggravated assaults
- 8 cases of fondling
- 31 burglaries
