Suffolk County Arrest Records

Arrest records refer to law enforcement documents detailing information about persons taken into custody for arrestable offenses. Law enforcement can arrest an individual for several reasons. For instance, an arrest may become necessary if

• An individual commits an arrestable offense.
• The court issues an arrest warrant to law enforcement to arrest an individual.
• An individual is implicated in a crime or has information relating to a criminal investigation but refuses to cooperate with law enforcement investigations.
• There is evidence that an individual intends to commit a crime.

In Suffolk County, MA, the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department, Massachusetts State Police, Boston Police Department, and other state and federal law enforcement agencies generate arrest records to document arrestees in their custody. Depending on the type of crime and the length of incarceration, these individuals may be detained in local police departments holding cells, Suffolk County Jail (Nashua Street Jail), Suffolk County House of Correction (South Bay House of Correction), Massachusetts Department of Correction Facilities, or transferred to Federal Detention Facilities (if the arrest is for a federal offense).

Suffolk County arrest records are part of the broader Suffolk County court records. They provide vital information to law enforcement for protecting lives and properties within the county.

Are Arrest Records Public in Suffolk County?

Yes, Suffolk County arrest records are public. Per Chapter 66, Section 10 of the Massachusetts General Laws, public records officers are mandated to provide access to copies of government records in their possession to interested individuals at reasonable times and without delays unless the law states otherwise.

Notwithstanding the broad access to government records, Massachusetts laws prohibit the public from accessible Suffolk County arrest records relating to juveniles, sealed or expunged records, ongoing judicial or law enforcement investigations, informant, victim, or witness information. Also, the public can not scrutinize a Suffolk County arrest record if its availability poses security risks. Requesters must have legal clearance or judicial orders to access exempted arrest records.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The specific details of arrest records may vary depending on the law enforcement agency. However, most arrest records may contain the following information:

• Name, date of birth, gender, race, and description of the owners of the records
• Charges against the individuals
• Time, dates, and locations of arrest
• Case numbers, mugshots, and fingerprints
• Name of the arresting agencies and officers
• Bail or Bond information
• Court information (if the arrest proceeds to court hearings).

Suffolk County Crime Rate

The Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) 2023 data show a decline in Suffolk County crime incidents over the previous year. Various law enforcement agencies within the county reported a combined total of 445 incidents to the EOPSS in 2023. This figure is 11.24% lower than the 495 incidents for 2022.

However, there was a varying trend in the rate of individual crimes. The number of violent crimes declined from 31 to 19 incidents, but there was a significant increase in drug-related crimes (from 49 to 61 incidents). Within this period, DUI was the most consistent crime. The Suffolk State Police report to the EOPSS shows 424 DUI incidents between 2022 and 2023. In comparison, the same agency report shows 110 drug-related crime incidents for the same period.

Suffolk County Arrest Statistics

Arrest statistics from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security show an increase in the number of persons taken into custody by law enforcement in 2023 for various offenses in Suffolk County. In 2023, law enforcement within the county reported that they arrested 1,057 individuals. This figure is more than 76.00% higher than the numbers for 2022. The table shows the Suffolk State Police arrest reports for 2021, 2022, and 2023.

Suffolk State Police Arrest Statistics 2021 to 2023

Data Source: Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.

Find Suffolk County Arrest Records

There are several state resources for accessing Suffolk County arrest records. To access Suffolk County arrest records:

• Call, email, or visit the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office at

20 Bradston Street
Boston,
MA 02118
Phone: (617) 635-1000
Email: info@scsdma.org

• Log in to the City of Boston Public Records Request Page, create an account, and submit a request to access arrest records.
• Visit the Massachusetts State Police Public Records Request Portal, create an account, log in, and request access to arrest records of individuals taken into by Suffolk County law enforcement agencies.
• Search for Suffolk County arrest records through
• Visit local law enforcement agencies within Suffolk County and make formal requests to access the arrest records in their possession.
• Look for Suffolk County arrest records on related criminal records through the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access Portal.

Free Arrest Record Search in Suffolk County

According to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, custodians of the state's public records may charge reasonable amounts to permit public access to government records. However, for free access to Suffolk County arrest records, interested individuals should log in to the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access Portal and view basic arrest information on criminal cases originating from Suffolk County.

Also, record seekers can access Suffolk County arrest records through third-party online databases. Some private websites offer access to Massachusetts counties' law enforcement records.

Get Suffolk County Criminal Records

Criminal records refer to official documents relating to criminal cases and convictions. Suffolk County criminal records encompass arrests, prosecution, conviction, and incarceration records of individuals within the county. In Suffolk County and other parts of the United States, criminal records are public and accessible to interested persons.

Individuals seeking to access Suffolk County criminal records should

• Log in to the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access Portal:
  • Select BMC. the Superior Court, or District from the Court Department menu
  • Depending on the selection from the Court Department option, choose the appropriate Suffolk County court from the Court Division menu.
  • Enter the necessary information into the search tools and submit to access information relating to Suffolk criminal cases.
• Visit the City of Boston Public Records Request Page and submit an online request to access criminal records.
• Visit the Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Portal, create an account, log in, and request personal criminal records. Access to another person's criminal records requires permission or legal authorization.
• Visit the Suffolk County Superior or District Courts clerk offices and submit an official request to access criminal records.

In addition, if the criminal record relates to incarceration, it may also be accessible through the Suffolk County Sheriff's Department. Also, the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office may provide access to records relating to some specific criminal case prosecutions.

Suffolk County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest and criminal records are different types of documents. Although they are related to law enforcement, there are differences in their origin. Law enforcement agencies within Suffolk County create arrest records to document the instances they take individuals into custody. On the other hand, Suffolk County courts generate criminal records during criminal case prosecutions.

Also, Suffolk County arrest and criminal records differ in content, legal implications, and impact on the lives of the owners of the records. An arrest record contains details about an arrest and does not confirm the guilt or innocence of the arrestee. Contrariwise, a criminal record documents the process and outcome of the prosecution of the owner of the record under the criminal trial system; it is a legal confirmation that a person has been tried and found guilty by the court.

In addition, a criminal record has a greater impact on an individual than an arrest record. Although both records may impact employment, housing, and other opportunities, criminal records confer unwanted social stigma on their owners.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

An arrest information will remain on a record indefinitely if the owner does not petition the court and remove it. Chapter 276, Section 100A of the Massachusetts General Laws grants individuals the right to petition the court to seal or remove arrest records if they fulfill the eligibility requirements.

Expunge Suffolk County Arrest Records

Per Massachusetts laws, Suffolk County arrest records owners can approach the court to remove or seal their arrest information if they fulfill the criteria of Chapter 276, Section 100A of the Massachusetts General Laws. To seal or remove arrest information from a record in Suffolk County, the following conditions apply:

• The arrest must lead to a dismissal, acquittal, or non-prosecution
• The owner of the record must be a juvenile or below the age of 21 years at the time of the offense
• The petitioner must complete the sentence for the offense
• The arrest resulted from a misdemeanor, non-violent felony, or decriminalized offense
• The arrest was due to mistaken identity or clerical errors
• The petitioner must not have more than two misdemeanors or one felony and one misdemeanor conviction.

Also, there is a waiting period of 3 to 5 years for misdemeanors and 7 to 10 years for non-violent felony offenses. Arrestees do not need to file petitions for arrests that did not lead to convictions. They are sealed automatically.

The following steps may guide eligible individuals seeking to seal or remove arrest information from a record in Suffolk County:

• Gather documents that will support the petition for removal or sealing of the record (these may include disposition or rehabilitation records or evidence of clerical errors leading to mistaken identity)
• Log in to the Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) webpage, request and obtain a copy of personal criminal records
• Download the appropriate Expungement Petition Form from the Massachusetts court system’s website (there are several types)
• Complete the Expungement Petition Form, attach supporting documents, an affidavit explaining the event leading to the arrest, and the criminal record, and file a petition at the Suffolk County Superior or District Court that handled the case.
• Send notice of the petition to the Suffolk County District Attorney's Office (the DA’s office, law enforcement agencies, or other interested third parties have the right to object to the expungement)
• Wait for the court’s decision. If the petition is successful, the court will issue an order to the relevant agencies to seal or remove the record from their databases.
• Follow up to ensure that the record is sealed or removed. For confirmation, request a copy of the personal criminal record from the DCJIS and check if the record is publicly accessible.

Suffolk County Arrest Warrants

Suffolk County arrest warrants are court-issued documents that authorize law enforcement agencies to take individuals within its jurisdiction into custody. Law enforcement or prosecutors must approach the court to secure arrest warrants.

In Suffolk County, a magistrate/judge of the Superior, District, or Juvenile Courts may issue arrest warrants to law enforcement if they:

• Show probable cause that an individual committed an arrestable crime
• Provide an affidavit that a person is a risk to self or the public
• Provide evidence that the individual is complicit in a crime
• Show proof that an offender intends to flee the jurisdiction to avoid prosecution for a crime.

Also, the court may issue a bench warrant if a person disobeys court orders or violates the terms of probation or parole.

A legally valid Suffolk County arrest warrant must contain

• Legal name, aliases, and description of the subject/defendant
• Charges against the subject and the subject, and the Massachusetts law allegedly violated
• Date and location of issuance
• The signature of the issuing magistrate/judge, the official court seal or stamp
• Location of the crime
• Probably cause statement (or an affidavit from law enforcement or prosecutors)
• Instructions to law enforcement on how to execute and return the warrant.

Suffolk County Arrest Warrant Search

For information on active Suffolk County arrest warrants:

• Visit the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office website and search for News or updates relating to arrest warrants
• Log to the Boston Police Department Most Wanted Page and look for information relating to individuals wanted for crimes within Suffolk County.
• Visit law enforcement agency offices within Suffolk County for information and request information about active arrest warrants.
• Search for online third-party databases for active warrants originating from Suffolk County. Some private websites may offer access to Suffolk County law enforcement information.
• Visit the clerk offices of the Suffolk County Superior and District and request information on active court-issued arrest warrants.
• Tune in to local radio stations or TV channels. They may make announcements about wanted persons.
• Search for Suffolk County active arrest warrants on local New websites or notice boards.

Do Suffolk County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest records do not expire in Suffolk County or any other county in Massachusetts until law enforcement apprehends the wanted persons. However, they become inactive if the subjects/defendants die or the court recalls them.