Bristol County Recent Arrests

Bristol County recent arrests are tracked through the sheriff's office, local police departments, and the state court system. Located in southeastern Massachusetts, Bristol County is home to about 570,000 people across cities like New Bedford, Fall River, Taunton, and Attleboro. The county recorded 10,018 total arrests in 2024, with an arrest rate of 421.4 per 100,000 residents. The Bristol County Sheriff's Office operates multiple facilities with a combined capacity of about 1,100 to 1,200 inmates. If you need to search for someone who was recently arrested in Bristol County, there are online and phone options to check.

Bristol County Sheriff's Office

The Bristol County Sheriff's Office is headquartered at 400 Faunce Corner Road in North Dartmouth. Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson oversees all operations, including the House of Correction, the county jail, the Women's Center, the Ash Street Jail in New Bedford, and an immigration detention facility. The main phone number is (508) 995-6400.

The Bristol County Sheriff's Office website provides information about facilities, inmate lookup tools, and how to contact the department about recent arrests. The screenshot below shows the main page of their site.

The House of Correction is a medium-security facility that holds male inmates serving sentences of up to 2.5 years. The jail section holds pre-trial detainees who are waiting for court after their arrest. The Women's Center handles female inmates with gender-responsive programs. The Ash Street Jail at 226 Ash Street in New Bedford is one of the oldest operating correctional facilities in the United States.

Bristol County Inmate Search

To check if someone is in custody after a recent arrest in Bristol County, start with the sheriff's office website. Navigate to the inmate information section and enter the person's name, date of birth, or inmate ID. The search is free and shows current custody status, facility location, booking date, primary charges, and expected release date.

The sheriff's office website is the best tool for finding current inmates in Bristol County facilities.

You can also call (508) 995-6400 at any time to ask about an inmate. Give the person's full name and date of birth. Staff can tell you if someone is currently held in a Bristol County facility. The VINELink system at (866) 277-7477 can also track custody status and send free notifications.

Note: New bookings may take 24 to 48 hours to appear in the online system.

Bristol County Arrest Records Access

Arrest records in Bristol County are public under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, Section 10. You can request records by visiting the sheriff's office during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM), sending a written request citing M.G.L. c. 66 Section 10, mailing your request to the Records Access Officer at 400 Faunce Corner Road, or calling (508) 995-6400 for basic information.

You can request arrest records directly from the Bristol County Sheriff's Office or the arresting police department.

Public records from Bristol County arrests include the inmate roster, basic booking data (name, age, gender), primary charges, custody status, expected release date, and facility location. Medical records, disciplinary reports, classification documents, and social security numbers are restricted and not available to the public. The office has 10 business days to respond to your request.

Bristol County Courts and Arrest Cases

After a recent arrest in Bristol County, cases go through the local court system. The Bristol County Superior Court at 138 Taunton Green in Taunton handles serious felonies. Call (508) 822-6200 for court records. District courts process most other criminal cases from recent arrests.

Bristol County has four district courts. Fall River District Court is at 186 South Main Street. New Bedford District Court sits at 75 N. 6th Street. Taunton District Court is at 120 Cohannet Street. Attleboro District Court is at 88 North Main Street. Each court maintains its own case files and dockets.

The MassCourts portal lets you search criminal cases from all Bristol County courts by name or case number. Basic searches are free. You can check case status, see docket entries, and find hearing dates.

Sealing Arrest Records in Bristol County

If you have an arrest record from Bristol County, you can petition to seal it under M.G.L. c. 276, Section 100A. Misdemeanor convictions can be sealed after 3 years. Felony convictions require a 7-year wait. Cases dismissed or resulting in not guilty findings can be sealed without waiting. The 2023 Commonwealth v. J.F. decision made not guilty findings automatically sealed.

Expungement for Bristol County records is possible for offenses committed before age 21 under M.G.L. c. 276, Sections 100E through 100U. Marijuana convictions may also qualify. Visit the state sealing portal or call the Massachusetts Probation Service at (617) 727-5300 for help. The expungement portal has separate forms for that process.

Bristol County Arrest Statistics

In 2024, Bristol County law enforcement made 10,018 total arrests. Adult arrests accounted for 9,468 of those, while 548 were juvenile arrests. The arrest rate was 421.4 per 100,000 people. Group A crimes (more serious offenses) occurred at a rate of 763.0 per 100,000 residents. These numbers come from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security and the FBI's NIBRS data.

Major police departments that handle arrests in Bristol County include New Bedford Police at (508) 991-6300, Fall River Police at (508) 676-8511, Taunton Police at (508) 823-5000, Attleboro Police at (508) 222-1212, and Dartmouth Police at (508) 910-1700. Each department keeps its own arrest records for incidents within city or town limits.

Cities in Bristol County

Bristol County includes several cities with their own police forces. These departments handle local arrests and maintain records for incidents in their areas.

Other Bristol County communities include Attleboro, Dartmouth, Easton, Mansfield, Norton, Rehoboth, Somerset, Swansea, and Westport.

Nearby Counties

Bristol County borders Plymouth and Norfolk counties. For arrests near the county line, check with the local police department to find out which county has jurisdiction.