Find Cambridge 72 Hour Booking

Cambridge 72 hour booking records are managed by the Cambridge Police Department and the Middlesex County Sheriff's Office. An arrest in Cambridge produces a booking record that includes the person's name, charges, date of arrest, and bail amount. Cambridge sits right across the Charles River from Boston and is part of Middlesex County, the most populous county in the state. You can request booking records in person, by phone, by email, or through a formal public records request. This page covers each method and the laws that apply to 72 hour booking searches in Cambridge.

Cambridge 72 Hour Booking Process

When Cambridge Police arrest someone, the person is taken to the station at 125 Sixth Street for booking. The booking officer logs the name, date of birth, home address, and the charges. A photo and fingerprints are collected. This is the standard process across Massachusetts, and Cambridge follows it closely. Under M.G.L. c. 276, § 12, the person must be arraigned within 72 hours. That hearing takes place at Cambridge District Court, where a judge reviews the charges and sets bail or conditions for release.

The booking record stays with the Cambridge Police Department. It is separate from any court records that come after the arraignment. If bail is set and the person cannot post it, they are transferred to a Middlesex County facility. At that point, the county sheriff creates a new booking entry in the jail system. So a single arrest in Cambridge can generate records in two places.

Cambridge handles fewer arrests per year than Boston, but the process is the same. The records are public for adult arrests. Juvenile cases and certain sealed records are not available.

Request Cambridge Booking Records

The Cambridge Police Department accepts records requests in several ways. You can visit the station at 125 Sixth Street in person. Bring an ID and ask for the booking report by case number or by the person's name and arrest date. You can also call (617) 349-3300 for general inquiries. For formal public records requests, Cambridge has a dedicated page on its website. The Cambridge Police public records request page explains what you can ask for and how to submit your request.

Email is another option. Send your request to police@cambridgema.gov. Be specific about what you need. Include the full name of the person, the approximate date of arrest, and any case or report numbers. The more detail you give, the faster they can find the records. Cambridge must respond within 10 business days under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10. The first two hours of staff search time are free. After that, they can charge for labor and copies at $0.05 per page.

The Cambridge Police Department website shown above provides contact details, public safety updates, and links to the public records request form. Use the records request section to ask for specific booking reports or arrest logs.

Cambridge Arrest Log

Like every police department in Massachusetts, Cambridge keeps a public arrest log. M.G.L. c. 41, § 98F requires it. The log includes the name of each person arrested, the date and time of the arrest, the charges, and where it happened. You can see this log at the station. It covers the past week of activity. Cambridge does not publish its arrest log online at this time, so you need to go in person or call to get the details.

The arrest log is different from a full booking report. The log is a summary. It gives you the basics. A booking report goes deeper. It includes the person's physical description, personal info, bail amount, and more. If you just want to know whether someone was arrested in Cambridge recently, the log is enough. For a full copy of the 72 hour booking record, you need to file a records request.

Laws Covering Cambridge Bookings

Several state laws shape how 72 hour booking works in Cambridge. The arraignment deadline comes from M.G.L. c. 276, § 12. The public records access right comes from M.G.L. c. 4, § 7(26), which defines what qualifies as a public record in Massachusetts. Arrest bookings for adults are included. The weekly arrest log requirement is set by M.G.L. c. 41, § 98F. And the right to request records from any public agency is in M.G.L. c. 66, § 10.

There are exemptions. Juvenile records are not public. Records related to active investigations can be withheld. And records that could put someone in danger may be redacted. Mental health holds under M.G.L. c. 123, § 12 are private medical records, not criminal bookings. If Cambridge denies your request, you can appeal to the state Supervisor of Public Records through the state public records portal.

Middlesex County Resources

Cambridge is part of Middlesex County, the largest county in Massachusetts by population. The Middlesex County Sheriff's Office at middlesexsheriff.org runs the county jail and holds booking records for people transferred there after a Cambridge arrest. If someone was booked by Cambridge Police and then moved to a Middlesex County facility, you may need to contact the sheriff for their jail booking record.

The VINELink system is useful for checking custody status. You search by name and state. It covers all Massachusetts facilities, including Middlesex County. If someone is currently in custody after a Cambridge arrest, VINELink will show you where they are being held and their booking status. The service is free and runs 24 hours a day.

The Cambridge Police Department main page has additional info on community programs, crime prevention, and department news.

Nearby Cities

Several cities near Cambridge also have 72 hour booking pages on this site. Check these if you are searching the greater Boston area.