Somerville 72 Hour Booking Records

Somerville 72 hour booking records track arrests made by the Somerville Police Department and processed through Middlesex County. One useful feature in Somerville is the weekly arrest log published by the police department on their crime information page. This log gives the public a regular look at booking activity in the city. You can also search for booking records by contacting the Somerville Police directly or by sending a public records request to Middlesex County. This page walks through all the options for getting 72 hour booking data in Somerville.

Somerville Police and Booking Process

The Somerville Police Department is at 220 Washington Street, Somerville, MA 02143. The main phone number is (617) 625-1212. Email police@somervillema.gov for non-emergency matters. When Somerville officers arrest someone, the person is brought to the station for the initial 72 hour booking. Officers record the charges, take fingerprints and photos, and log the arrest in the system.

Somerville is a dense city just north of Boston. It sits in Middlesex County. The police department handles a steady flow of arrests each year. After someone is booked at the Somerville station, they may stay in the local holding cells or get transferred to the Middlesex County jail in Medford. The transfer depends on the charges and whether bail is set. Either way, the 72 hour booking record stays on file with the Somerville police.

If the person can't make bail, they go to Middlesex County. That creates a second layer of records at the county level. Both the Somerville police and the county sheriff's office may have booking data on the same arrest.

Somerville Weekly Arrest Log

Somerville stands out because the police department publishes a weekly arrest log on its crime information page. This log is updated regularly and shows recent arrests made in the city. It is one of the easier ways to check on 72 hour booking activity in Somerville without making a formal records request.

The arrest log includes the date and time of each arrest, the person's name, the charges, and sometimes the location. Under M.G.L. c. 41, § 98F, the log must exclude juvenile arrests and domestic violence cases. That means not every Somerville booking shows up on the public log. But for most adult arrests, the information is there.

The Massachusetts state records request portal provides another path for accessing booking data when local sources in Somerville do not have what you need.

The weekly log format is helpful for people who want to see trends or check on specific dates. You don't need to call anyone or fill out forms. Just go to the website and read the log. It covers recent weeks and gives a snapshot of who was booked in Somerville and why.

Somerville 72 Hour Booking Requests

For records that go beyond what the weekly log shows, you can file a formal public records request. Under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, any person can request public records from any Massachusetts government office. That includes the Somerville Police Department. Write your request and send it to the department at 220 Washington Street or email it.

Include the person's full name and date of birth. State that you want the 72 hour booking record. If you know the arrest date, include that too. The department has 10 business days to respond. Fees follow state rules. The first four hours of search time are free. Copies cost five cents per page. After four hours of staff time, the department can charge $25 per hour.

If the Somerville police deny your request, you have the right to appeal. Send your appeal to the Supervisor of Records at the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office. The Public Records Law Guide explains the full appeal process. Most booking records are straightforward to release. Denials usually happen only when the record is sealed or involves a juvenile.

Somerville Booking Under State Law

Massachusetts law sets the rules for every 72 hour booking in Somerville. Under M.G.L. c. 276, § 12, police can make warrantless arrests when they see a crime happen or have probable cause for a felony. Once arrested, the person must appear before a judge within 72 hours. If that deadline passes without a hearing, the person must be released from Somerville or Middlesex County custody.

The definition of a public record under M.G.L. c. 4, § 7(26) covers booking records. They are documents made by a government agency in the course of doing its job. Somerville police create these records every time they book someone. Section 12 mental health holds are different. Those are medical records under M.G.L. c. 123, § 12 and are not available to the public. They should not be confused with criminal 72 hour bookings.

Middlesex County and Somerville Arrests

The Middlesex County Sheriff's Office receives inmates from Somerville who can't post bail. The sheriff's office does not have an online inmate lookup tool. You have to call (781) 960-2800 to check if someone from Somerville is in county custody. For a written request, contact the Records Access Officer at the sheriff's office.

State resources also help. The VINELink system tracks some Massachusetts inmates but does not cover every county facility. For Somerville arrests that end up in Middlesex County, the phone remains the fastest way to confirm custody status. If the person was convicted and sent to state prison, the Massachusetts DOC system can help locate them.

Note: Somerville arrests processed through Middlesex County may take several hours to appear in the county booking system after transfer.

Somerville Criminal History Records

The Bureau of Criminal Investigation holds criminal history data that includes Somerville 72 hour bookings. A CORI report shows convictions and pending cases from across Massachusetts. You can request your own report through iCORI for $25. Sealed records do not show up. Dismissed cases may appear for a limited time.

For broader searches beyond Somerville, the state records request portal routes requests to the right agency. This is useful if you need data from multiple departments or if the arrest involved agencies from different cities.

Nearby Cities

Somerville is surrounded by several cities in the greater Boston area. Each handles its own 72 hour bookings through local police and county systems.

County Page

Somerville is in Middlesex County. For full details on the county jail, sheriff's office, and county-level records requests, visit the county page.