Search Massachusetts Public Records

How to Look Up Criminal Records in Massachusetts

MA provides two ways to search for someone’s arrest records. The first is a name-based search using an online system. The other is a fingerprint-based search. The fingerprint records are kept by local law enforcement. Individuals can schedule an appointment to have fingerprints taken. The state, online CORI portal does contain Massachusetts criminal records including arrests, but they do not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.

Victims & Offenders by Gender and Race

What Information Does Massachusetts Criminal Records Report Include?

Massachusetts arrest records are pretty comprehensive, and along with general information like name, address, phone, email, height, weight, gender, race, scars, tattoos, fingerprints and mugshots, they will also contain details of their crimes. Also included will be arrests, date of arrests, the location of arrests, charges, sentencing, dispositions, pleas, fines, bail, bond, and the arresting officer’s information. Typically, they also show what agency arrested them, if they ever spent any time in prison, and if their crime involved vehicles, that information will be on there too.

Massachusetts Police Report and Mugshots

Are Massachusetts Police Reports Public Record?

Yes, police reports are public records in Massachusetts. The Mass.gov website has a special section regarding public records requests. They allow the general public to obtain records by phone, in person, and online. They do mention that any information which is private or sensitive will be redacted from the documents before they provide them to you. They also provide an email address to contact the records request officer directly.

The first four hours required to satisfy a records request are free, but after that, they charge $25/hour. The State Police also urges you to be detailed in your description of the records you need.

The type of information contained in a typical police report is:

• Name and ages of people involved.
• Date, time, and location of the incident.
• A detailed description of the event.
• What actions police took (if an arrest took place).
• The charges brought against the suspect.
• Any vehicles involved.
• Crime photos, mugshots, and fingerprints.

Massachusetts Mugshots

The first mugshots were used in the mid-late 1800s when photography was being perfected. French policeman Alphonse Bertillon made it a regular part of the booking process, and other countries soon adopted this procedure. A mugshot consists of two photos: a front shot and a side shot. The composite is collectively called a mugshot (“mug” being a slang term for your face).

Mugshots in Massachusetts are pretty easy to come by. According to Massachusetts’s freedom of information laws, anyone can obtain a copy of someone’s mugshots, after they are arrested. It includes access to mugshots even if the person is later found not guilty or the charges are dropped. The state of Mass uses these mugshots on a “most wanted” website so the public can help identify and catch the bad guys. News and media outlets obtain mugshots and use them to report on news of crimes in the area.

Massachusetts Arrest Booking Process

In Massachusetts, police must have probable cause, reasonable suspicion, or a warrant to arrest you. Police transport detained persons to the local police station for booking and processing. The booking procedure includes:

• Police may question you, but you have the right to remain silent.
• They will ask basic information such as your name, date of birth, and address.
• You will be thoroughly searched, and any personal items will be inventoried and held for you.
• You may receive a medical exam.
• Police will fingerprint you and photograph you (mugshots).
• You may or may not be given jail clothes and placed in a jail cell.

Depending on the time of the arrest, a judge may set bail immediately or later. You will, within a day or two, attend a hearing to address your fate.

Violent Crime Rates for the last 10 years

The crime rate has decreased over the past decade in Massachusetts, going from 24,201 crimes in 2006 to 23,393 by 31% lower than it was back in 2006. The largest percentage of violent crimes falls into the Aggravated Assault category, with Revised Rape being the least popular crime in the state.

Arrest Law

Any law officer employed by MA can arrest someone with a valid arrest warrant. They can also arrest someone who they witness stealing property, regardless of how much the property is worth. They can even arrest someone if they know them to have violated parole, probation or other sentencing limitations. An officer can arrest someone they have probable cause to believe has committed a misdemeanor, assault, and battery or an act of domestic abuse against a family member.

The Arrest Rate in Massachusetts

For the last year tallied (2014), MA recorded 140,057 arrests for the year. Of that total, 19,467 were property crimes. Another 9,129 were for aggravated assault, 15,648 were for larceny-theft, 3,039 were for burglary, 1,537 were for robbery, and 21,570 were for other assault crimes. A good percentage of them (12,013) were for drug offenses, 9,789 were for DUIs, 7,549 were for drunkenness, and 6,194 were for disorderly conduct.

State Offender and Victim Age Group Statistics

Most of the violent crime offenders in Massachusetts were 20-29 and the largest percentage of violent crime victims were 20-29.

Crime Victim Demographics

Residence Home is the place where the majority of crimes in Massachusetts were committed, in most of the crime cases the offender was a stranger.

Massachusetts Arrest Records by Type of Crime

The popular arrests for 2017 in Massachusetts was for All Other Offenses (except traffic) - 38,985, the same popularity of the arrest type was seen in Alabama, Alaska, and Arizona. The least popularity had Curfew and Loitering Law Violations arrests - with only 4 crimes a year.