Massachusetts General Laws

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 6, § 172B (2026)

Children and families department; youth services department; available information

✓ current as of July 2026

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Section 172B. Notwithstanding any provision of section one hundred seventy-two of this chapter or of any other provision of law, the following information shall be available to the department of children and families and the department of youth services, upon request, for the purpose of evaluating any and all foster homes and adoptive homes, whether with public or private agencies, in order to further the protection of children: conviction data, arrest data, sealed record data, and juvenile arrest or conviction data. The department of children and families and the department of youth services shall not make, and shall prohibit, any dissemination of such information, for any purpose other than as set forth herein.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 6 cases, 1996–2020 · leading case: Adoption of Rico, 905 N.E.2d 552 (Mass. 2009).

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Adoption of Rico, 905 N.E.2d 552 (Mass. 2009). “See G. L. c. 6, § 172B, as amended by St. 2008, c.”

Globe Newspaper Co. v. Dist. Attorney for the Middle Dist., 788 N.E.2d 513 (Mass. 2003). “See G. L. c. 6, § 172B (Department of Social Services and Department of Youth Services may have access for purposes of evaluating foster and adoptive homes); § 172D (Department of Revenue may have access for purposes of establishing paternity or child support obligations); §…”

Bellin v. Kelley, 755 N.E.2d 1274 (Mass. 2001). “See G. L. c. 6, § 172B (Department of Youth Services and Department of Social Services have access to CORI in order to evaluate foster homes and adoptive homes); § 172C (mandating that home health agencies check CORI with regard to any employee or volunteer providing in home or…”

Adoption of Ilona, 923 N.E.2d 546 (Mass. App. Ct. 2010). “See G. L. c. 6, § 172B, as amended by St. 2008, c.”

Commonwealth v. Preston P., a Juv. (Mass. 2020). “8 "'[P]rior records or lack 8 Additionally, juvenile arrest and adjudication records can be accessed by the Department of Children and Families, G. L. c. 6, § 172B; specific agencies that establish, modify, or enforce child support payments, G.”

Souza v. Cochran, 5 Mass. L. Rptr. 483 (Mass. Super. Ct. 1996). “See G.L.c. 6, §172B. G.L.c. 6, §167 defines “criminal offender record information” as “records and data .”

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