Massachusetts 72 Hour Booking
Massachusetts 72 hour booking records are kept by sheriff offices and police departments in all 14 counties. These records track criminal arrest bookings at county jails and mental health holds filed under state law. You can search for 72 hour booking records through online tools like VINELink and iCORI, or by phone and written request. Some counties have free web search tools that show booking dates, charges, and bond info. Others still need a call or form sent by mail. Each county runs its own process for looking up 72 hour booking records in Massachusetts. This page breaks down every way to find them.
Massachusetts 72 Hour Booking Overview
72 Hour Booking Records in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, "72 hour booking" can mean two things. The first is a criminal arrest booking. When someone gets picked up by police, they are brought to a county jail for processing. The sheriff's office logs their name, date of birth, charges, and bond amount. That data goes into the booking record. Most county jails in Massachusetts hold this info and some put it on the web. The second type falls under M.G.L. c. 123, § 12, which allows a 72 hour mental health hold. A doctor or psychologist can place someone in a facility if they pose a risk of harm. These Section 12 holds last up to three business days. The person must be seen at a place like Bridgewater State Hospital or a local psychiatric unit. Mental health hold records are not public. They are kept private under M.G.L. c. 123, § 36 and federal HIPAA rules.
Criminal 72 hour booking records are a different story. They are public in most cases. Under M.G.L. c. 41, § 98F, police must keep a weekly log of all arrests. This log shows the name of the person, the date and time, charges, and the place of the arrest. You can ask to see it at any police station in Massachusetts. The log does not show juvenile or domestic violence arrests.
The VINELink system lets you search for people held in Massachusetts state prisons and in Essex County. It shows custody status, release dates, and court dates. You can sign up for free alerts by email, text, or phone.
VINELink does not cover all 14 counties. It only tracks state DOC inmates and Essex County. For other counties, you must call the sheriff's office or use a county search tool if one exists.
Search Massachusetts 72 Hour Booking Online
Massachusetts has a few online systems for finding 72 hour booking records. The Department of Correction inmate locator covers state prisons only. It does not show county jail bookings. For county level data, two counties stand out. Essex County runs a full online inmate lookup at eccorrections.org. You can search by name, date of birth, booking number, or state ID. Results show charges, bond, and housing unit. Worcester County also has an online tool at inmatesearch.wcsoma.org with full English and Spanish support. The other 12 counties need a phone call for 72 hour booking info.
The Massachusetts Trial Court website can help with case search too. You can look up a person by name or case number to find court dates, charges, and case outcomes. This system covers all courts in the state. It will not show the booking record itself, but it links to the charges filed after an arrest. If someone was booked and then arraigned, the case will show up here.
The iCORI system run by the Criminal History Systems Board gives access to criminal records. A personal CORI check costs $25 online. It shows Massachusetts convictions and pending cases. It does not show sealed records or out of state offenses.
Massachusetts Public Records and 72 Hour Booking
The state public records law gives you the right to ask for 72 hour booking records from any government office. Under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, each agency must have a Records Access Officer. You send your request in writing. The RAO has 10 business days to respond. They can take up to 10 or 20 more days with a written reason. The Public Records Law Guide from the Secretary of the Commonwealth spells out all the rules.
The law sets clear limits on what they can charge you. The first four hours of search time are free. That resets every 30 days. Black and white copies cost five cents per page. If they need to pull records from a database or redact private info, they can charge $25 to $50 an hour for that work. You can ask for a fee waiver if your request serves the public interest. Media, researchers, and nonprofits often get this waiver. If your request is denied, you can appeal to the Supervisor of Records at 617-727-2832. That office reviews denials and can order an agency to hand over records.
Not all records are open. M.G.L. c. 4, § 7(26) lists exemptions. These include medical and mental health files, personnel records, and some criminal investigation materials. Mental health commitment records from 72 hour holds are always private under state and federal law. Criminal booking data is generally public unless a judge has sealed the case.
72 Hour Booking Search by County
Each of the 14 Massachusetts counties handles 72 hour booking records through its sheriff's office. Only Essex and Worcester have full online inmate search tools. The other 12 counties take requests by phone, email, or mail. Here is what you need to know about reaching the right office.
For Middlesex County, the Records Access Officer is Megan McLatchey at 781-960-2830. Suffolk County takes requests through the Assistant General Counsel at 617-635-1100, ext. 3120. Norfolk County uses its main line at 781-329-3705. Bristol County runs two facilities in Dartmouth and New Bedford. Call 508-995-6800 to reach them. Plymouth County is at 508-830-6200. Hampden County handles requests at 413-547-8000. Barnstable County is at 508-563-4000. Hampshire County is at 413-584-5911 in Northampton. Franklin County is at 413-774-4011 in Greenfield. Berkshire County is at 413-442-5541 in Pittsfield. Dukes County on Martha's Vineyard has a small jail and can be reached at 508-627-5171. Nantucket County has no long term jail. Inmates go to Barnstable County, so call 508-228-7263 or 508-563-4000 for 72 hour booking info there.
When you call, have the full name and date of birth of the person you are looking for. A booking number or case number helps too. Most offices are open Monday through Friday during business hours.
Note: The Massachusetts Sheriffs' Association also accepts public records requests through its own online form.
Massachusetts 72 Hour Booking Costs
Getting 72 hour booking records in Massachusetts costs less than you might think. Under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, the first four hours of search and retrieval time are free. You get that free window once every 30 days. Copies are five cents per page for black and white. If you want records sent on a CD or USB, you just pay the cost of the media. The state sets the rate for labor beyond four hours at $25 to $50 an hour based on the pay grade of the person doing the work.
A personal CORI check through iCORI costs $25 online. By mail, it takes three to five business days. Some police departments charge a small fee for individual reports. The Lowell Police Department, for instance, charges $1 per report. The Massachusetts State Police handle requests at 508-820-2121 and follow the same fee rules as county agencies.
Fee waivers are available. Ask for one if your request is for a public interest purpose and not for a commercial use.
Legal Help for 72 Hour Booking in Massachusetts
If you or someone you know has been placed on a 72 hour hold under M.G.L. c. 123, § 12, the Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee can help. They provide free legal representation to people facing mental health commitment. Call them at 1-800-342-9092. Under the law, anyone placed on a Section 12 hold has the right to make two phone calls right away, get legal counsel, and receive written notice of their rights. A doctor at the facility can release the person early if they no longer meet the hold criteria.
The Committee for Public Counsel Services gives free legal help to people who cannot pay for a lawyer. The Disability Law Center at 1-800-872-9992 helps with disability rights cases. NAMI Massachusetts at 617-580-8541 offers support and education for families dealing with mental health issues. The Massachusetts Law Reform Institute at 617-357-0700 can help with civil legal questions. For low income residents who need legal aid, call 1-800-548-5249 to find a local office.
Under M.G.L. c. 263, § 5, anyone placed under arrest has the right to counsel. If you cannot afford a lawyer, the court will appoint one. This applies to all criminal bookings in Massachusetts.
Browse Massachusetts 72 Hour Booking by County
Each county in Massachusetts keeps its own 72 hour booking records at the sheriff's office. Pick a county below to find contact info, search tools, and local resources.
72 Hour Booking in Massachusetts Cities
City police departments handle the initial arrest and booking. Pick a city below to find out how to search 72 hour booking records in that area.