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  1. Suffolk County Court
  2. Suffolk County Arrest Records

Suffolk County, Massachusetts Arrest Records

Suffolk County arrest records are official documents that show information about individuals arrested by law enforcement within the county. Under Chapter 276 of the Massachusetts General Laws, an arrest becomes necessary when a law enforcement officer witnesses an individual committing an arrestable offense or has a warrant for an individual's arrest. Officers may also arrest an individual implicated in a crime for further investigation, especially if there is a flight risk.

The Suffolk County Sheriff's Department, Massachusetts State Police, and other collaborating law enforcement agencies, such as the Boston Police Department and the Revere Police Department, maintain arrest records to account for arrests made, as required by law.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Suffolk, Massachusetts?

Yes. Under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 66, Section 10 (also called the Massachusetts Public Records Act), arrest records are considered public. The statute mandates that record custodians allow access to any public record to interested persons without delay, unless a specific law states otherwise.

Record seekers do not have to be residents of Suffolk County or the state of Massachusetts. However, they may be required to provide a photo ID, particularly for in-person requests.

What Do Public Suffolk County Arrest Records Contain?

The public has access to information available in an arrest record mainly, due to the fact that there are multiple agencies authorized to make arrests in the county. However, typically, arrest records contain the following information:

  • The arrestee's personal information, such as their full name, aliases, and physical description.
  • Details about the arrest, including the date, location, and the alleged offense
  • Name of the arresting officer
  • Booking details, including the date and time of booking
  • Bail information (if granted bail).

The blanket access to arrest records under Chapter 66, section 10 excludes arrest information about minors, sealed or expunged records, records related to victims, witnesses, or confidential informants, and records whose disclosure may pose a risk to public security. Residents may still access confidential records if they may provide legal clearance or judicial orders.

Suffolk County, Massachusetts Arrest Search

There are multiple avenues for interested parties seeking access to Suffolk County arrest records to obtain them. One way to search for arrest records in the county is to log in to the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access Portal.

Alternatively, record seekers may log in to the Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) Criminal Offender Record Information (C.O.R.I.) portal to request criminal records related to Suffolk County.

Suffolk County Inmate Locator

The Suffolk County Sheriff's Department manages operations at two jails within the county. These are the South Bay House of Correction and the Nashua Street Jail. For county-level arrest record information, the County Sheriff's Office provides an inmate lookup tool where interested parties may find information about arrests. Using the tool, searchers may search by parameters such as full name, booking number, and booking date.

Record seekers may call, email or make an in-person request at the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office located at:

Suffolk County Sheriff's Department

20 Bradston Street,

Boston, MA 02118

Phone: (617) 635-1000

Moreover, record seekers may find basic information about Suffolk County arrest records through criminal records kept by Suffolk County courts. They may visit any Superior or District Court branch to request access to criminal records. Arrest records are part of those criminal records, particularly when a warrant is issued to initiate the prosecution process.

Another way to access Suffolk County arrest records is to visit police departments in the county, such as the Revere Police Department, the Chelsea Police Department or the Winthrop Police Department. Record seekers may call, visit in person, or mail in a written request. The typical response time is 10 days, in line with MGL c. 66, Section 10.

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Suffolk County

There are multiple avenues to access Suffolk County arrest records for free. Interested parties may use the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access Portal to see basic information about arrests in Suffolk County. Also, some third-party aggregators provide access to arrest records.

Also, record seekers may access arrest records through county police departments. They may contact the records division of the police department where the arrest was made. They must provide background details, including the individual's name and date of arrest.

However, there are practical limitations to accessing court records using these free tools. Only basic information is available, and they do not provide older records. Some of these sources are not official; therefore, the records they offer may not be up to date. Additionally, redacted information is typically unavailable. No ID is required, except for in-person requests. However, requesters should have relevant information about the record they seek, such as the name, arrest date, and booking number.

Suffolk County Arrest Report

A Suffolk County arrest report is an official written narration prepared by the arresting law enforcement officer that records the details of an arrest. It is a chronological narration of what happened from the perspective of the arresting officer. Typically, it covers how the arrest was made, the officer's observations, and statements from people on the scene. It includes observations, statements, evidence collected that may signify probable cause, items recovered or seized, and actions taken by the officer.

This is different from the arrest record, which is a brief summary documenting the arrest event. The arrest record is created as an official document that covers basic details of the arrest event. It records the facts surrounding the arrest, including the date and location of the incident, but excludes the case outcome.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Suffolk County

Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 276, Section 100A, provides that eligible individuals may have their criminal records sealed or expunged. Sealing renders the record inaccessible to most employers and housing authorities. However, law enforcement and certain government agencies still retain access.

Under MGL c. 276, §§ 100E to 100U, expungement is available for first-time offenders who were young at the time of the offense. Also, victims of mistaken identity or of wrongful arrest are eligible for expungement. Expungement completely deletes the record, therefore, the terms for expungement are more stringent and therefore difficult to obtain.

Applicants seeking record sealing or expungement may file a petition with the local district court, such as the Chelsea District Court, Boston Municipal Court, or the Suffolk Superior Court. Following a review process, the court would decide whether to grant the individual record relief.

Individuals seeking record expungement in Suffolk County should follow these steps:

  • Ascertain their eligibility for expungement.
  • Get supporting documents that demonstrate that they were victims of mistaken identity, rehabilitation records, and any other records that may support their case.
  • Visit the Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice Information Services website to obtain the form required to apply for a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI).
  • Obtain the appropriate expungement petition form, depending on the nature and outcome of the incident.
  • Fill out the expungement form, including all supporting documents and a certified copy of the CORI, and file a petition with the court where the case was handled.
  • Send a copy of the petition to the Suffolk County District Attorney's office.

If the District Attorney objects, the court may schedule a hearing to decide whether it is in the interest of justice and public safety to grant the petition. The petitioner must convince the court with documentary evidence that the collateral consequences of their record are an undue additional burden in housing, education, or employment.

How Do You Remove Suffolk County Arrest Records From the Internet?

In Suffolk County, Massachusetts, eligible individuals may petition the court to have their arrest records sealed or expunged. These are the legal mechanisms to have arrest records removed officially. However, this does not automatically remove the records from the internet.

Having an official court order in place gives the record owner stronger grounds when requesting removal from third-party sites, data brokers, and aggregators. Individuals seeking to get their arrest records removed from the internet should do the following:

  • Conduct a thorough search for the offender's name, using terms such as "arrest," "mugshot," "booking," or "Suffolk County" or the state.
  • Provide the full name, the exact URL of the listing, date of birth, and other identifiers, and a clear written request for removal.
  • Attach supporting documents, such as a court dismissal order, expungement order, and any other supporting documents.
  • If there is no response, follow up in writing after waiting a couple of days to allow for processing.

Data brokers and mugshot sites frequently re-scrape and republish information. Therefore, periodically check for compliance.