Massachusetts Booking Reports
Massachusetts booking reports are public records that document arrests made by law enforcement across the state. These records are held by county sheriff offices, local police departments, and the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services. You can search for Massachusetts booking reports through online portals like the iCORI system, the MassCourts case search tool, or by filing a public records request with the agency that made the arrest. Each of the 14 counties in Massachusetts has its own sheriff's office that keeps booking logs and arrest data for people held in county jail facilities. Police departments in cities and towns also keep their own arrest logs, which are public under state law.
Massachusetts Booking Reports Overview
Where to Find Massachusetts Booking Reports
Booking reports in Massachusetts come from three main sources. County sheriff offices keep records for people booked into county jails and houses of correction. Local police departments hold arrest logs and booking data for arrests they make. The state manages a central system called CORI through the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services in Chelsea. DCJIS is the main state hub for criminal record data in Massachusetts. It runs the iCORI portal, which lets you look up criminal history from any part of the state.
Each source has its own process. Sheriff offices require you to send a written request to their Records Access Officer. Police departments take walk-in requests at their records desks during work hours. The state iCORI system lets you search from home at any time. The type of record you need will tell you where to look. A booking report from a county jail comes from the sheriff. An arrest log from a city comes from that city's police. A full criminal history comes from DCJIS. Knowing which agency holds the record saves you time and helps you get what you need fast.
The iCORI online portal is one of the most used tools for finding booking reports and criminal records in Massachusetts. You can run a personal CORI check for $25 or an open access check for $50. The system needs a name and date of birth to search. Results come back in up to 10 business days. You must sign up with a valid ID to use the site.
Note: The iCORI system shows criminal history statewide, but for a specific booking report from one arrest, you should contact the arresting agency directly.
Massachusetts Booking Reports and Public Records Law
Massachusetts booking reports are public records under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, the state's Public Records Law. This law says that all government records are presumed public unless a specific exemption applies. Booking logs, arrest reports, and police daily logs all fall under this rule. Any person can ask to see these records. You do not need to give a reason for your request. The law requires every agency to have a Records Access Officer who handles public records requests. State agencies must give you the first 4 hours of search time free. Cities and towns with more than 20,000 people must give the first 2 hours free. After that, fees cap at $25 per hour. Paper copies cost $0.05 per page.
M.G.L. c. 41, § 98F is the law that deals with police daily logs. It says every police department in Massachusetts must keep a daily log. These logs must show all responses to complaints, crimes reported, and arrest data. The law makes these logs public and says they must be available at no charge. This is the basis for the arrest log pages that many police departments in Massachusetts put on their sites. If a department does not post its log, you can still ask for it under this statute. The Open Government Guide for Massachusetts has more on how these laws work in practice.
How to Request Booking Reports in Massachusetts
Getting a booking report starts with knowing which agency has it. For arrests made by city or town police, go to that department's records desk. For people booked into a county jail, contact the county sheriff's office. For a full criminal history check, use the state iCORI system run by DCJIS at the iCORI portal.
When you send a request for booking reports, you need to give as much detail as you can. Most agencies ask for the full name of the person, their date of birth, the date of the arrest, and the location where it took place. If you know the arresting agency or a case number, add that too. Written requests work best. You can send them by mail, email, or drop them off in person. Some agencies have online forms. Under the law, agencies must respond within 10 business days. If they can't meet that deadline, they must tell you why in writing and give a new date.
Booking reports in Massachusetts typically list the person's full name and any aliases, date of birth, a physical description, the arrest date and time, the arresting officer, all charges filed with M.G.L. citations, bail or bond details, and the booking number. Mugshots and fingerprints are also part of the booking file. Personal property taken at the time of booking is logged too.
Note: Juvenile records, sealed records, and active investigation files are not available to the public under M.G.L. c. 4, § 7(26) and M.G.L. c. 119, § 60A.
Massachusetts CORI and Booking Records
CORI stands for Criminal Offender Record Information. It is the state system that tracks criminal histories in Massachusetts. Booking reports feed into the CORI database. When someone is arrested and booked, that data goes to DCJIS and becomes part of their CORI file. M.G.L. c. 6, §§ 167-178B governs how CORI works and who can see it. The system uses a tiered access model. Some people get more detail than others based on their role.
A personal CORI request costs $25. This lets you check your own record. An open access CORI check costs $50 and lets you look at someone else's record with their written consent. Both types go through the iCORI portal. You need to register with a government-issued ID. Results come by mail or online within 10 business days. CORI is more complete than a single booking report because it shows all arrests and court outcomes across the state. But if you only need info from one arrest, a direct request to the arresting agency is faster and cheaper.
The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security tracks crime data across Massachusetts. In 2024, the state saw 91,645 total arrests. Adults made up 94.2% of those at 86,289. There were 5,342 juvenile arrests. Crimes against persons led to 24,867 arrests. Property crimes brought 14,166. Crimes against society made up 7,009. Group B offenses totaled 45,892 arrests across the state.
How Long Massachusetts Keeps Booking Reports
Massachusetts has set rules for how long agencies must keep booking reports and arrest records. Under M.G.L. c. 66, § 8, arrest logs and police blotters must be kept forever. Arrest reports stay on file for at least 10 years. Booking sheets also last 10 years at minimum. Fingerprint cards are permanent. Electronic booking data stays in the system for good. Booking photos must be kept for at least 10 years, but most agencies keep digital copies much longer. These rules mean that older booking reports from Massachusetts are still out there and can be found.
Records can also be sealed or expunged under certain conditions. M.G.L. c. 276, §§ 100A-100U lets people ask to seal conviction records after a waiting period. Misdemeanors can be sealed after 3 years. Felonies take 7 years. Expungement is also possible for cases of mistaken identity, offenses that have been decriminalized, or errors made by law enforcement or courts. Once a record is sealed or expunged, it no longer shows up in standard booking report searches.
Massachusetts Court Records and Booking Reports
Court records tie directly to booking reports in Massachusetts. When someone is arrested and booked, their case goes to court. The Massachusetts State Police handle some of these arrests at the state level. Local police handle the rest. Either way, court records show what happened after the booking. The Massachusetts Trial Court runs an electronic case access system where you can look up criminal cases by name. It shows charges, hearing dates, and case outcomes. No sign-up is needed for basic searches.
The Secretary of the Commonwealth's Public Records Division oversees public records law across the state. If an agency denies your request for booking reports, you can appeal to the Supervisor of Records at this office. They handle disputes between the public and agencies that refuse to release records. The office is at One Ashburton Place, Room 1719, Boston, MA 02108. You can call them at (617) 727-2832 or email pre@sec.state.ma.us.
Browse Massachusetts Booking Reports by County
Each county in Massachusetts has a sheriff's office that keeps booking reports for people held in county facilities. Pick a county below to find local contact info, request procedures, and resources for booking reports in that area.
Booking Reports in Major Massachusetts Cities
City and town police departments handle arrests within their borders. Pick a city below to find out how to get booking reports from local law enforcement in Massachusetts.