Find Norfolk County Recent Arrests

Norfolk County recent arrests are processed through local police departments, the county sheriff's office, and state courts. The county sits south of Boston and has about 728,000 residents across communities like Quincy, Brookline, Dedham, Weymouth, and Braintree. Sheriff Patrick W. McDermott runs the Norfolk County Sheriff's Office, which operates the county jail and runs a range of community programs. If you need to find arrest records, check on an inmate, or look up a case in Norfolk County, there are online tools and phone lines that can help you get started.

Norfolk County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Patrick W. McDermott leads the Norfolk County Sheriff's Office. The office runs the county jail and house of correction, handles civil process, and operates community outreach programs across Norfolk County. The sheriff's office website provides contact information and details about programs and services.

For questions about recent arrests or inmate status in Norfolk County, reach out through the website's contact form or call the office directly. The sheriff's office has earned recognition for 100% compliance in successive audits and has received Excellence in Corrections Awards for its staff. Multiple classes of new correctional officers have been sworn in during 2024 and 2025, along with promotions of 14 captains, lieutenants, and sergeants.

Below is a screenshot of the Norfolk County Sheriff's Office homepage, which you can use to find information about arrests, inmates, and county programs.

The office also received a $30,000 grant for substance use disorder treatment programs in recent years, showing their focus on recovery alongside law enforcement duties.

Search Norfolk County Arrest Records

You have several options for looking up recent arrests in Norfolk County. The MassCourts portal is free and lets you search criminal cases by name or case number. It covers all Norfolk County courts, including Quincy District Court, Dedham District Court, and Brookline District Court. You can see case status, docket entries, and hearing dates.

The iCORI system from the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services lets you run a criminal record check on any person for $25. Open access requests cost $50. You need a Massachusetts ID to register. Results show convictions and pending charges from Massachusetts courts only.

For inmate lookups, the VINELink system can show custody status for some Massachusetts facilities. You can search by name or offender ID and register for free alerts when someone's status changes. The toll-free number for VINELink is (866) 277-7477.

Local police departments in Norfolk County also maintain their own arrest records. Contact the police department in the town where the arrest happened for the most direct information. Quincy, Brookline, Weymouth, and Braintree all have their own records divisions.

Note: Court records may take a day or two to appear in the online system after an arrest.

Norfolk County Public Records Access

Massachusetts Public Records Law under M.G.L. c. 66, Section 10 gives you the right to request government records, including arrest records. Agencies must respond within 10 business days. For Norfolk County sheriff's office records, use the website contact form at norfolksheriff.com or send a written request to the office.

There are limits on what is public. Records tied to ongoing investigations, sealed cases, juvenile matters, and victim or witness information are protected under M.G.L. c. 4, Section 7(26). The CORI system also controls what criminal record data can be shared and with whom.

For court records, you can visit the Norfolk County Superior Court in Dedham or use the MassCourts online portal. Basic case searches are free online. Copies of documents may have a small fee attached.

Norfolk County Programs and Resources

The HOPE Center in Braintree is one of the sheriff's office flagship programs. It provides substance use disorder treatment, community services, and recovery support. The center has expanded its services in recent years and sponsors the Norfolk County Recovery Fest each year, a day of live music and community gathering focused on hope and recovery.

The House to House for Heroes program is a veterans outreach effort that rotates through Norfolk County towns including Canton, Foxborough, Stoughton, Walpole, Weymouth, and Norfolk. The "Are You OK?" program does wellness checks for vulnerable residents, working with local first responders to help people in crisis. The sheriff's office also runs safety and scam prevention education, warning residents about common fraud schemes.

The Shapchef Foundation partnership supports a Re-Entry Workforce Development Grant that helps justice-involved people prepare for work. These programs aim to reduce repeat arrests across Norfolk County.

Sealing Norfolk County Arrest Records

People with arrest records in Norfolk County can seek to have those records sealed under M.G.L. c. 276, Section 100A. Misdemeanors can be sealed 3 years after the case closes. Felonies take 7 years. These waiting periods were shortened in 2018. Cases that ended in dismissal or a not guilty verdict can be sealed right away, and since the 2023 Commonwealth v. J.F. ruling, not guilty findings are automatically sealed.

For Norfolk County cases, file the sealing petition with the court that handled your case, or use the administrative process through the Commissioner of Probation. The state sealing portal walks you through each step and has all the needed forms. Greater Boston Legal Services at (617) 371-1234 offers free clinics for CORI issues.

State Databases for Norfolk County

The DCJIS at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150 handles all statewide criminal records. Their phone is (617) 660-4600. The Sex Offender Registry Board at (978) 740-6400 tracks registered offenders. Level 3 offenders are searchable online.

Cities in Norfolk County

Norfolk County has 28 cities and towns. The following major communities have their own police departments and handle local recent arrests within their boundaries.

Other Norfolk County communities include Braintree, Dedham (the county seat), Franklin, Randolph, Canton, Foxborough, Stoughton, Walpole, Milton, and Needham. All handle arrests through their local police departments.

Nearby Counties

Norfolk County borders several other counties in eastern Massachusetts. Check the town where the arrest took place to determine which county's courts have jurisdiction over the case.