Peabody District Court

The Massachusetts Public Records Act is a series of laws designed to guarantee that the public has access to public records of government bodies at all levels. Public records are defined as all books, papers, maps, photographs, recorded tapes, financial statements, statistical tabulations, or other documentary materials or data, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received by any officer or employee of any agency.

Anyone can request public records and no statement of purpose is required. Also, the Massachusetts Public Records Act places no restrictions on the use of records. Massachusetts’ law allows 10 days for record responses.