Free Massachusetts Criminal & Arrest Record Lookup: Every MA County

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Free Massachusetts Arrest Records & Criminal Records Search

Access Massachusetts Records: background checks, warrants, probation and parole, court records, and all criminal and arrest records.

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Look up Massachusetts criminal and arrest records now by following the guide below or using free online resources; all you need is their first and last name.

Thanks to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), arrest and criminal records in Massachusetts are made available for the public to review and this resource streamlines this process by showing searchers exactly where and how to find an individual’s RAP sheet — also known as Records of Arrest and Prosecutions.

This guide will show anyone how to:

• Locate, review and request copies of criminal records that originated in Massachusetts
• Find recent arrests for every MA county
• Determine if expunging or sealing a specific criminal record is possible in the state of Massachusetts
• Find someone in an MA state or federal penitentiary (i.e., find prisoners)
• Perform or fun a Massachusetts background check for personal or professional purposes
• Look up and find if there are sex offenders in the area
• Review and interpret MA laws surrounding anti-discrimination and public records

Availability of Massachusetts Criminal & Arrest Records

The legislative branch of Massachusetts state government, the General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, outlines what is considered public record in General Laws, Part One, Title X, Chapters 66 and 66A. Massachusetts criminal records are considered public domain — with some exceptions — under this statute.

For example, juvenile records are automatically sealed from public view and can only be accessed by court order and to a very limited, need-to-know audience. Victim information is also exempt from disclosure to the public to protect their identity and safeguard them.

Records that have been sealed or expunged by the courts are also not considered a part of Massachusetts public records. Law enforcement can also withhold investigative reports until the case has been resolved in court to protect the integrity of the investigation.¹

Federal laws also provide access to public records through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). FOIA laws give access to any federal records that have been generated in the state of Massachusetts such as bankruptcies, federal criminal convictions, and federal prison incarceration records. There are many record types that are considered public information searchable by anyone in Massachusetts.

There are nine exemptions, including certain law enforcement investigative reports and federal warrants.²

Criminal Record Searches vs Arrest Record Lookups in Massachusetts

An important point to consider when searching criminal records and arrest records is what is included in each.

Arrest records in Massachusetts typically show a person was taken into police custody on a certain date, where they are housed, and the charges the person was arrested for.

This information is only part of an overall criminal record, though, and accessing these records is another story.

Criminal records in Massachusetts contain information about daily arrests or current arrests but also include disposition information on charges filed against the search subject. Name-based searches show all convictions in the state, and fingerprint-based searches show nationwide conviction history as well as arrest reports.³

Massachusetts criminal records have six levels of access established in the iCORI system used for record checks that determine what shows up on the report. The table below breaks down each level and what appears in a name-based search:

Access Level	What Appears on the Report	What is Excluded
Personal Use Access Level	All adult and youth (non-juvenile) convictions and non-convictions (including pending matters), civil cases, and infractions.	Sealed juvenile matters
Required Level 1 Access	All adult and youth convictions and pending charges	Sealed juvenile matters, civil cases, infractions, non-convictions
Required Level 2 Access	All adult and youth convictions and pending charges	Sealed juvenile matters, civil cases, infractions, non-convictions
Required Level 3 Access	All adult and youth convictions and pending charges, non-convictions	Sealed juvenile matters, civil cases, infractions
Required Level 4 Access	All adult and youth convictions and pending charges, non-convictions, and sealed case indicators.	Civil cases and infractions
Standard Level Access	Murder, manslaughter or sex offense convictions; misdemeanor convictions where disposition or release is less than five years before the record request; felony convictions where disposition or release is less than 10 years from the record request; and pending charges.	Non-convictions, misdemeanors older than 5 years from request, felonies older than 10 years from the request, sealed matters, juvenile cases and infractions.
Open Level Access	Murder, manslaughter or sex offense convictions; misdemeanor convictions where disposition or release is less than five years before the record request; felony convictions where disposition or release is less than 10 years from the record request; and pending charges.	Non-convictions, misdemeanors older than 5 years from request, felonies older than 10 years from the request, sealed matters, juvenile cases and infractions, pending charges.

There are four different types of fingerprint-based searches in Massachusetts. Fingerprint-based checks are processed through SAFIS, Statewide Applicant Fingerprint Identification Services, which can include an FBI rap sheet. The table below shows what shows up and what is excluded on each of these reports:

Access Level	What Appears on the Report	What is excluded
Department of Developmental Services Reports	Adult arrests (in and out of state), all adult and youth convictions and non-convictions, out-of-state convictions, non-convictions, pending charges (adult), federal and international charges.	Juvenile offenses, sealed in-state offenses, sealed out of state offenses if on fingerprint card, civil cases.
K-12 Education Employee Access Reports	Adult arrests (in and out of state), all adult and youth convictions and non-convictions, out-of-state convictions, non-convictions, pending charges (adult), federal and international charges.	Juvenile offenses, sealed in-state offenses, sealed out of state offenses if on fingerprint card, civil cases.
Department of Children and Family Access Reports	Arrests in and out of state, adult and juvenile convictions and non-convictions in and out of state, federal and international charges, civil matters in and out of state, sealed offenses in and out of state
Department of Early Education and Childcare Access Reports	Arrests in and out of state, adult and juvenile convictions and non-convictions in and out of state, federal and international charges, civil matters in and out of state, sealed offenses in and out of state	Specific sealed juvenile cases, civil matters or infractions that are ordered to be undisclosed by court order.

Knowing what is available helps determine what kind of record check to request, but it is important to know where and how to access records.

Learn How To Find Recent Arrests in Massachusetts or Why Someone Is in Jail (Free)

Many people are interested in why someone in their town was arrested or who is currently incarcerated in the local jail but don’t know how to find recent arrests or where to find recent arrests. The process of finding arrest records in Massachusetts for both city and county arrests is as easy as following the step-by-step instructions below.

To learn who is in the county jail and find out what a friend or family was arrested at no cost, use the links in the table below for each specific county.

Otherwise, searchers can follow the steps listed below to find the same information:

1. Using a search engine of choice, type “[name of the county or city] Massachusetts jail inmate search” in the search bar.
2. From the top 1-3 sites in the search returns, look for the official county jail website. This will be the local sheriff’s office and maybe a .net, .gov or .us website; however, it may also be a .com or .org.
3. Click the website link and look for a hyperlink on the page regarding inmate information. This is usually labeled inmate information or inmate data.
4. Look for inmate search, search current inmates or inmate roster and click on this link if available.
5. If no online directory link is published, look for the phone number of the sheriff’s office and call that number to ask if a person is being held in jail and why they are being held.

Most sheriff’s offices in Massachusetts do not publish online inmate rosters; therefore, it is necessary to call the sheriff’s office to learn if someone is in custody. The table below lists the phone number for each sheriff’s department with a jail and which counties are served by the jail in a neighboring county if they don’t have their own.

County Arrest Records Search in MA (Massachusetts Mugshots & Inmate Searches)

County jails are maintained by the sheriff’s office in Massachusetts and are how to find out someone’s charges or see who’s in jail. Below is a list of all county sheriff’s offices that operate a jail and host arrest records in Massachusetts:

County Jail Inmate Search*	Phone Number	Mugshots Available?
Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office Barnstable supports inmates from Nantucket County, too.	508-563-4300	X
Berkshire County Sheriff’s Office	413-443-7220	X
Bristol County Sheriff’s Office	508-995-6400 ext. 2535	X
Dukes County Sheriff’s Office	508-627-5173	X
Essex County Sheriff’s Office	978-750-1900	X
Franklin County Sheriff’s Office	413-774-4014	X
Hampden County Sheriff’s Office	413-858-0000	X
Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office	413-584-5911	X
Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office	978-667-1711	X
Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office	781-329-3705	X
Plymouth County Sheriff’s Office	508-830-6200	X
Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office	617-635-1100	X
Worcester County Sheriff’s Office**	508-854-1800	X

*Does not have an online search tool for current inmates; must call to inquire about incarcerated individuals.
**Has an online search portal to find current inmates with a name-based search.

County jails are the primary source of housing arrestees in Massachusetts. These facilities hold inmates arrested by city, state and county law enforcement agencies.

There is not a statewide mugshot database available to the public.

Find Anyone by Looking Up Recent Arrests in Massachusetts City Jails

Municipal or city police in Massachusetts use the nearest county jail to house individuals arrested in the police department jurisdiction.

Knowing how to find out if someone was arrested or how to find out if someone is in jail after a municipal arrest can be done by doing the following:

1. Open a search engine and type “Massachusetts [name of the city] jail phone number.”
2. Find the official website for that police department in the list and click it. For example, when searching for Boston Police Department, type Massachusetts Boston Police Department information phone number (this was the first website listed for this search).
3. Click the link and scroll through the page until you find the contact section. This will list a non-emergency phone number for the department.
4. Call the number listed and provide the name and date of birth (if known) to the department representative and ask where the person was transported for holding until trial or bond is posted.

How To Contact a Massachusetts Inmate in Jail & Bail Them Out (Steps To Post Bail in MA)

Knowing where someone is in jail is the first step in making contact or posting bail or bond in Massachusetts, and the next few paragraphs outline how to do this. Using the county sheriff’s office table above family and friends can find out bond information and learn about visitation or telephone contact with an inmate.

Additionally, for someone to find out how to post a bond or make a phone call or visit, follow the steps above:

1. From a search engine, type “[county name] Massachusetts jail contact an inmate.”
2. Find the official county jail website in the search results and click the link. For example, when searching Plymouth County inmates, the searcher would type Massachusetts Plymouth County jail inmate contact, then look for this link to the webpage.
3. Review the information provided on the page about how to contact an inmate, what is required for visitation and telephone calls, and what steps the person needs to take to visit, such as a visitation application or background check.

Each jail has its own visitation and contact policies and procedures, so it is important to study the information provided online before attempting to visit or call. When contact is made, the inmate can let the family member or friend know how much the bond is set or if a bond is being denied at this time.

Bonds or bail must be posted at the jail where the individual is being detained or the law enforcement agency or court where the arrestee is being processed. Massachusetts does not allow commercial bail bondsmen to operate within the state.

Bail is set by a bail commissioner at the time of arrest or by the court if the court is in session at the time of arrest, and bail for state charges must be paid in cash. An attorney can help arrestees and their family or friends navigate the bail process.⁴

How To Access Information on Criminal Records in MA

Massachusetts criminal records can also be requested through the state courts, but public access to information must be in person at the courthouse.

Searchers can find out how to look up criminal records at the local courthouse here. The table below outlines what information is available via public access terminals:

Court Type	Criminal Record Information Available
Municipal Court (Boston)	Order of Protection (Abuse Prevention) Bicycle Infractions Motor Vehicle Infractions Smoking Infractions Marijuana Infractions
District Courts	Order of Protection (Abuse Prevention) Bicycle Infractions Motor Vehicle Infractions Smoking Infractions Marijuana Infractions
Superior Courts	Bail Hearings Criminal complaint reports Any indictments Transfer of probation

The clerk of court in each county is responsible for maintaining records of all hearings in that county, also called jurisdiction.

Find Criminal Records in MA via County Court Searches

The table below lists the physical address and phone number of each county’s superior clerk of court. Each clerk’s office houses the court records for all matters resolved in that area, and public terminals are available to search records.

Using the information in the table, go to the courthouse and enter the person’s first and last name in the public terminal to complete the search.⁵

If a printed copy is required, the reception desk worker will be able to help process the request, but there may be a small fee to cover the printing costs, and this can be accessed at the courthouse listed below where the matter was tried:

County Criminal Court Records Repository	County Courthouse Address	Phone Number
Barnstable Superior Clerk of Court	3195 Main Street Barnstable Massachusetts 02630	508-375-6684
Berkshire Superior Clerk of Court	76 E Street Pittsfield Massachusetts 01201	413-499-7487
Bristol Superior Clerk of Court	9 Court Street Taunton Massachusetts 02780	508-823-6588
Dukes Superior Clerk of Court	81 Main Street Edgartown Massachusetts 02539	508-627-4668
Essex Superior Clerk of Court	56 Federal Street Salem Massachusetts 01970	978-744-5500
Franklin Superior Clerk of Court	43 Hope Street Greenfield Massachusetts 01301	413-775-7400
Hampden Superior Clerk of Court	50 State Street Springfield Massachusetts 01102	413-735-6016
Hampshire Superior Clerk of Court	15 Gothic Street Northampton Massachusetts 01061	413-584-5810
Middlesex Superior Clerk of Court	200 Trade Ctr, Floor 2 Woburn Massachusetts 01801	781-939-2700
Nantucket Superior Clerk of Court	16 Broad Street Nantucket Massachusetts 02544	508-228-2559
Norfolk Superior Clerk of Court	650 High Street Dedham Massachusetts 02026	781-326-1600
Plymouth Superior Clerk of Court	52 Obery Street Plymouth Massachusetts 02630	508-747-8400
Suffolk Superior Clerk of Court	3 Pembroke Sq Boston Massachusetts 02108	617-788-8175
Worcester Superior Clerk of Court	225 Main Street Worcester Massachusetts 01608	508-831-2300

The court system can provide records for that particular jurisdiction, but to get a complete statewide criminal history, the searcher will need to use the CORI system, which is also the way to get statewide arrest records.

How To Obtain a Copy of Criminal & Statewide Arrest Records in Massachusetts

A complete criminal history can be beneficial in making important decisions, and to obtain a statewide Massachusetts criminal records search, complete the following steps:

1. Go to iCORI, which is hosted by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services.
2. Register for an individual account or log in if an account already exists.
3. Review the training materials and agree to the terms and conditions.
4. Log into the account and click on the tab to add a record request.
5. Complete the form that opens, add the record request to the shopping cart, and then go to the cart to checkout and pay the $25 record fee.

Once the record is available, the account holder can view it in CORI. This system is updated by reports from law enforcement agencies and the state probation and parole records departments. Many people need to know if a person has an arrest record outside their local area, and the CORI results show arrest records in Massachusetts and a complete criminal history.⁶

How To Check if Someone Is on Probation or Parole in Massachusetts

Massachusetts does not release information about probation or parole status to the public without the written consent of the individual on supervision.

While CORI records can show disposition in cases that include probation, details are not included, and probation officers are prohibited from sharing information about individuals on supervision without the express written consent of the probationer.⁷

To illustrate just how many people are on probation and parole, the following image shows the combined total of probationers and parolees in Massachusetts, along with their ethnicities:

Persons wanting their own probation search for their own records can request it from their probation officer in writing.

Parole records can be requested through the Massachusetts Parole Board via mail by sending the request, along with the third-party authorization form, to the following address:

MA Parole Board
General Counsel Office
12 Mercer Rd
Natick Massachusetts 01760

Individuals wishing to obtain their own parole record can mail the written request to the address above or request it in person at the parole office where they check-in or report. There is not an online parolee database that can be accessed by the general public.⁸

Instructions on obtaining Massachusetts parole information can be helpful for searchers seeking parolee details; similarly, anyone can review the steps for finding MA probationer records to make for a quick and seamless lookup.

A Guide on How To Seal or Expunge a Criminal Record in Massachusetts

When records are sealed or expunged, they are shielded from public view or erased completely, and here, individuals can learn what they need to know about sealing or expunging a Massachusetts criminal record.

Since a criminal record can be a huge obstacle to employment or licensure, it’s important to know how to expunge or seal a record, and this can be done by doing the following:

1. Go to the official Massachusetts government website for expungements.
2. Click “Find out if you can expunge your criminal record” to see if you are eligible.
3. Review the section about expungement criteria.
4. If the matter meets the requirements for a time-based expungement, complete the petition to expunge the record and mail it to the address listed on the form.
5. For a non-time-based expungement, use the petition to expunge forms designed for those matters that are not time-sensitive.¹⁷ This petition must be filed with the clerk of the court’s office in the county where the charges were filed and heard in court. Refer to the table above that lists courthouse physical addresses.

Time based petitions are forwarded to the district attorney for review and a response or objection. When an objection by the DA is made, a hearing by a judge is held to determine if the record can be expunged.

If there is no objection, the record can be expunged without a hearing, but the judge can still request one if desired.

Non-time-based petitions are filed by the clerk of court and are set for a hearing by a judge to determine if all the criteria is met to erase the record.

The table below lists the criteria for time-based and non-time-based expungements:

Time-Based Expungements

Non-Time-Based Expungements

No more than 2 records Death or bodily injury did not occur due to the criminal offense The offense did not involve a weapon The offense wasn’t committed on a disabled or elderly victim The offense was not a sex offense Offense isn’t for Operating Under the Influence Doesn’t include a firearms violation Doesn’t include a violation of a protective order Isn’t a domestic violence offense Isn’t a felony crime against a person Seven years since the completion of sentencing has passed for felonies Three years since the completion of sentencing has passed for misdemeanors

Someone falsely used the defendant’s identification Someone used another’s identification without authorization The defendant is a victim of identity theft Offense has been removed from the list of criminal offenses (statute-making action a crime has been repealed) Law enforcement made an error on the report or arrest Witnesses or expert witnesses made an error when testifying Court employees made an error in the record Fraud on the court

Sealing a record in Massachusetts is not the same as expunging a record. A sealed record cannot be used for hiring or licensure decisions, and to seal a record, do the following:

1. Go to the Massachusetts government record sealing website.
2. Click on “Find out if you can seal your criminal record that’s at the top.
3. If the record meets eligibility, complete the petition to seal conviction records form or the petition to seal non-conviction records form, whichever applies to the situation.
4. Petitions must be submitted in person. Conviction petitions are submitted to the Massachusetts Probation Services office in the county where the matter was heard. Non-conviction petitions must be filed at the clerk of the court’s office where the charges were filed.
5. A hearing is held to determine if the records should be sealed. If the records are sealed, they will still be accessible to a limited audience but will not be available to the general public and will not appear on a background check.¹⁹

There are certain offenses that are not eligible to be sealed, including sex offenses, certain firearms violations, crimes against the public (such as helping an escapee or perjury in a case), and bribes to an official or other state ethics violations.⁹

How To Locate Someone in Federal or State Prisons in Massachusetts

The quickest way to locate an inmate in a Massachusetts prison searchers must use VINELink, and here, one can find out how to conduct an inmate search. This is the only state approved third-party vendor to obtain information about Massachusetts prison inmates and the state’s preferred method of locating inmates.

To search VINELink and find out if the person who committed a crime against the searcher or a friend or family member is still in custody, do the following:

1. Navigate to the Massachusetts government website.
2. Click on “Online” to find the link for VINELink.
3. Select Massachusetts from the drop down menu listing all the states that utilize VINELink.
4. Choose a name to do a name-based search.
5. Enter the person’s first and last name, confirm the person searching is not a robot and click submit to search the records.

Massachusetts has fifteen correctional facilities in the state. The table below lists the address and phone number for each.

MADOC Facility	Address	Phone Number
Boston Pre-Release Center	430 Canterbury Street Roslindale Massachusetts 02131	617-822-5000
Bridgewater State Hospital	20 Administration Road Bridgewater Massachusetts 02324	508-279-4500
Lemuel Shattuck Hospital Correctional Unit	180 Morton Street Jamaica Plain Massachusetts 02130	617-522-7585
MASAC at Plymouth	1 Bump Pond Road Plymouth Massachusetts 02360	508-291-2441
Massachusetts Treatment Center	30 Administration Road Bridgewater Massachusetts 02324	508-279-8100
MCI Cedar Junction	Rt A1 Main St South Walpole Massachusetts 02071	508-660-8000
MCI Concord	965 Elm Street Concord Massachusetts 01742	978-405-6100
MCI Framingham	99 Loring Drive Framington Massachusetts 01701	508-532-5100
MCI Norfolk	2 Clark Street Norfolk Massachusetts 02056	508-660-5900
MCI Shirley	104 Harvard Rd Shirley Massachusetts 01464	978-425-4341
North Central Correctional Institution	500 Colony Road Gardner Massachusetts 01742	978-371-7941
Old Colony Correctional Institution	1 Administration Road Bridgewater Massachusetts 02324	508-279-6000
Pondville Correctional Center	1 Industries Drive Norfolk Massachusetts 02056	508-660-3924
Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center	1671 Shirley Rd Lancaster Massachusetts 01523	978-514-6500

Inmate inquiries can be done either by calling the Department of Corrections inmate information line at 866-277-7477 or using VINELink, but the information is limited and does not include a complete criminal history for the inmate. Again, Massachusetts prefers individual searches for inmates using the VINELink system first.¹⁰

Massachusetts is home to one federal prison, and a search for inmates at this facility can be made through the United States Bureau of Prisons’ BOP online inmate search portal.

Searches can be completed by name or BOP registration number. Search results include those who are currently incarcerated and those who were previously in custody but have been released.

Those currently in custody will show the facility where they are located in blue on the list.¹¹

How To Check for Arrest Warrants in Massachusetts (MA Wanted Search)

Warrants are issued when a person fails to appear in court or may be considered a flight risk or particularly dangerous to the general public due to the nature of the crime, here you can find out how to look for active warrants in the state.

Warrants are not always readily available to the public in Massachusetts, and are not typically included in CORI background checks, but can show up in SAFIS checks.

Massachusetts law enforcement encourages those with an active warrant to turn themselves in and resolve the matter, and to see if someone has an active warrant out for their arrest in Massachusetts, do the following:

1. Open a search engine and type “[county name] county Massachusetts warrant search.”
2. Open the first official law enforcement website for that county that appears and see if there is a warrant list or the most wanted list on the website. For example, if searching ” Massachusetts Norfolk county warrant search,” the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office was at the top of the search results. A search of the Norfolk County sheriff’s office to see if warrants are published will show there is no link.
3. When an agency does not have a warrant list or link online, call the phone number listed on the website to inquire about active warrants.

It is important to know that law enforcement may or may not disclose if there is an active warrant. Some will publish a warrant list or reveal there is one as an encouragement to the alleged offender to turn themselves in and resolve the matter.

Again, warrants can appear on a fingerprint based or SAFIS background check and there are several times a SAFIS check will be requested. Review the Massachusetts warrant lookup resource for insight on finding any wanted person in the state.

A Glance at Background Checks in Massachusetts

Several government agencies or organizations require a background check for individuals. The table below lists the agency and what is covered in the background report:

Agency That Performs or Requires Background Checks	Screening Reasons
Department of Criminal Justice Information Services	Employment Screenings, name-based and fingerprint-based screenings Volunteers Licensing Housing
Department of Developmental Services (DDS)	Support center employees Family support service workers Behavioral technicians Self-directed assistance workers Deaf and hard-of-hearing aides Respite and in-home care workers
Office of Educator Licensure	K-12 teachers Teacher assistants Volunteers Administrators School support staff
Department of Children and Families	Social workers Foster care providers Adoptions Adult care facilities Volunteers
Department of Early Education and Care	Childcare workers Volunteers Pre-school workers
Professional Licensing and Permits	Architects Contractors Home inspectors CDL holders Rideshare providers Bus drivers Tow-truck drivers Pesticide workers Commercial fishermen Nursing Pharmacists Chiropractors Dietitians Hearing aid providers Physician assistants Drug control program providers Genetic counselors Respiratory care therapists Podiatrists Optometrists

When these agencies conduct or require a background check, it is mainly to make sure the candidate will not be a danger to others and can perform the essential duties of the position. Disqualifying offenses include things such as sex offenses, violent felonies or crimes that go against the public trust.

How To Check the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry for Nearby Predators

Sex offenders are those convicted of especially horrible crimes against individuals, and most are required to register in the state as a sex offender for a period of time up to the person’s natural life. how to search the registry is seen here.

To search the Massachusetts sex offender registry, which includes misdemeanor and felony registries for sex offenses, do these steps and learn if someone in your life has been convicted or if there are registered sex offenders in your neighborhood:

1. Go to the Massachusetts sex offender registry.
2. Click on “Search for sex offenders via public website” near the bottom.
3. Read the disclaimer and accept the terms and conditions.
4. Verify that the searcher is not a robot and click proceed.
5. Enter the offender’s last name followed by all or a partial first name and click search. Searches can also be conducted with just a last name.
6. Find the record that matches the subject of the search and click the subject’s name to see more details.

The information included on the Massachusetts sex offender registry includes:

• Offender’s name and aliases
• Year of birth
• Gender
• Physical description
• Mugshots
• Work and home address (or last known address)
• Level of offender registration
• Offenses the person was convicted of

The sex offender registry also shows those who are currently incarcerated and those who are in violation of the registry. Offenders listed are those who were convicted of a sex offense in Massachusetts and those convicted in other states that now reside in Massachusetts.¹²

Laws on Accessing Massachusetts Criminal & Arrest Records

Accessing criminal records in Massachusetts is subject to the laws regarding what can be disclosed and how it can be used.

Massachusetts Code General Laws, Part One, Title X, Chapters 66 and 66A makes criminal and arrest records in Massachusetts public record; however, there are limitations on the release of records.

Massachusetts was among the first states to enact a ban the box law prohibiting inquiring about criminal history on applications. Per Chapter 69 of the Massachusetts codes, in addition to banning the box during the application process, misdemeanors more than 3 years old cannot be used in making hiring or housing decisions, employers cannot ask about sealed or expunged cases.

Therefore, employers can only inquire about criminal history once an interview has been scheduled or completed.

Chapter 151B of the Massachusetts statutes protects workers from unlaw use of criminal records to disqualify applicants in a discriminatory manner. For example, criminal records cannot be used to make hiring decisions when it is used to disadvantage a protected class of people based on race, gender or other protected classification.

Federal laws that protect Massachusetts workers or those seeking to rent a home or apply for credit include the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), which limits credit history and non-conviction history to a seven-year lookback period, and enforcement of federal antidiscrimination laws through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

FCRA guidelines also limit how commercial people finder search sites can access and disclose records.

Searching records in Massachusetts can be a complex matter, but this guide can take the mystery out of the process. The information here can be used to search criminal records in Massachusetts to use in making informed decisions about a potential tenant, employee, loved one or friend.