Find Bristol County Police Records

Bristol County police records come from law enforcement agencies spread across southeastern Massachusetts. The county covers New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, and more than a dozen smaller towns. Each local police department keeps its own incident reports and arrest logs. You can search for Bristol County police records through several different channels, from in-person requests at a local station to online court case lookups. The Bristol County Sheriff's Office and District Attorney also hold records tied to criminal cases in the area. Getting the right file means knowing which agency has it.

Bristol County Sheriff's Office Records

The Bristol County Sheriff's Office is a key source for police records in this part of the state. The sheriff's office handles custody records, booking logs, and inmate data. It sits at 400 Faunce Corner Road in Dartmouth. You can call them at (508) 995-6400 to ask about a specific record or check if someone is in custody.

Booking records from the Bristol County jail show who was brought in, when they arrived, and what charges they face. These records are public under Massachusetts law. The sheriff also works with local police on warrant service and transport. If a person was held at the county facility after an arrest by a town police department, the sheriff's office will have that intake record. You can request copies by writing to the records division or by going to the Dartmouth office in person during business hours.

How to Search Bristol County Police Records

Start with the agency that made the record. If a New Bedford officer wrote the report, go to New Bedford PD. Fall River incidents go through Fall River PD. This is the fastest path. Each department has a records clerk who handles requests.

Under M.G.L. Chapter 66, Section 10, every person has the right to get public records from a government agency in Massachusetts. Police incident reports, arrest logs, and booking photos are generally public. You submit a written request to the records access officer at the department that made the record. The agency has 10 business days to respond. They can ask for more time in some situations, but they must tell you why. Fees are capped at $0.05 per page for copies, and the first two hours of staff search time are free under 950 CMR 32.08.

For court records tied to Bristol County criminal cases, use the MassCourts online system. It lets you look up case numbers, party names, charges, and docket entries. The system covers Bristol County Superior Court at 441 County Street in New Bedford, plus the district courts in Fall River, Taunton, New Bedford, and Attleboro.

Note: MassCourts shows case information but does not display the actual police report or arrest documents.

Bristol County Local Police Departments

Bristol County has three large city police departments and many smaller town forces. Each one generates its own police records. Here is where to go for the biggest departments in the county.

The New Bedford Police Department is located at 871 Rockdale Avenue in New Bedford. Call (508) 991-6300 for general info. New Bedford is the largest city in Bristol County with a busy police force that handles thousands of calls each year. Their records division processes requests for incident reports, accident reports, and arrest data. You can visit in person or send a written request by mail. The New Bedford Police website has contact info and some online resources for the public.

Fall River PD sits at 685 Pleasant Street. Their phone number is (508) 676-8511. Fall River is the second largest city in Bristol County and its police department keeps detailed records of all incidents in the city. For the Taunton Police Department, go to 23 Summer Street in Taunton or call (508) 823-5000. The Taunton Police website has details on how to request records from their office.

Bristol County Criminal Court Records

Criminal cases in Bristol County go through either Superior Court or one of the local district courts. The Bristol County Superior Court is at 441 County Street in New Bedford. You can call (508) 996-2051 for questions about cases filed there. Superior Court handles serious felonies, while district courts take misdemeanors and lesser charges.

When police arrest someone in Bristol County, the case gets filed at the court that has jurisdiction over where it happened. The District Attorney's office at 166 Main Street in Brockton reviews cases and decides what charges to bring. Their number is (508) 584-8120. Court records include the complaint, arraignment details, hearing dates, and final disposition. These are separate from the police report itself but they connect to the same case. If you need the police report and the court file, you will have to request them from two different places.

Note: Some records related to ongoing investigations or sealed cases are exempt from public access under M.G.L. Chapter 4, Section 7(26).

Bristol County Records Request Process

Getting a police record in Bristol County takes a few steps. Write a request that names the record you want. Be as specific as you can. Include dates, names, case numbers, or any other details that help the clerk find it fast. Send the request to the records access officer at the right agency.

Massachusetts law gives the agency 10 business days to get back to you. They will either give you the record, tell you it is exempt, or ask for more time. If they deny your request, you can appeal to the Supervisor of Records under M.G.L. Chapter 66, Section 10A. The Supervisor reviews the denial and issues a written decision. If you still don't get the record, you can take the matter to Superior Court. The 2016 reform of the public records law added the option for courts to award attorney fees to people who win these appeals.

For crash reports from Bristol County, the BuyCrash system lets you look up and buy motor vehicle accident reports online. Many Bristol County police departments use this system. You need the crash report number, a date, or a name to search.

Criminal History and CORI in Bristol County

The Criminal Offender Record Information system, known as CORI, is run by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS). CORI records cover the whole state, including Bristol County. They show adult criminal convictions, pending cases, and active warrants.

Anyone can check their own CORI through the iCORI online system. The cost is $25 for a name-based search. You need a government-issued ID to sign up. Results come back fast for online checks. M.G.L. Chapter 6, Sections 167 through 178 spell out who can see CORI data and what level of detail they get. Personal requests show the most detail. Public access is limited to certain conviction info only.

If you need to see your own record for any reason, the DCJIS office at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150 handles all CORI inquiries. Their phone number is (617) 660-4600.

Cities in Bristol County

These cities in Bristol County have their own police departments and handle their own incident reports. Click through for details on searching police records in each city.

Other Bristol County communities include Attleboro, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, Mansfield, North Attleborough, Rehoboth, Seekonk, Somerset, Swansea, and Westport. Each town has its own police department for local incident reports.

Nearby Counties

If you are not sure which county covers an area, check the town's location. Bristol County borders two other counties in southeastern Massachusetts.