Bristol County 72 Hour Booking

Bristol County 72 hour booking records are held by the Bristol County Sheriff's Office in southeastern Massachusetts. The county runs two main jail sites and does not have an online inmate search tool. If you need to look up a booking in Bristol County, you will have to call or send a written request. The sheriff's office handles all custody data for people held at the Dartmouth and New Bedford facilities. This page walks you through the steps to find 72 hour booking records in Bristol County, what you can expect to pay, and where to send your request.

Bristol County 72 Hour Booking Process

When someone is arrested in Bristol County, local police bring them to one of the county jail facilities for booking. The Bristol County Sheriff's Office runs the main house of correction at 400 Faunce Corner Road in Dartmouth and the Ash Street Jail at 226 Ash Street in New Bedford. Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson oversees both sites. A third facility, the Women's Center in Dartmouth, holds female inmates. During the booking process, staff log the person's name, date of birth, charges, and the time they came in. This data becomes the 72 hour booking record.

Bristol County does not post booking data on the web. There is no online search tool for inmates at either facility. To check if someone was booked in Bristol County, you need to call the main office at (508) 995-6800 or the Ash Street Jail at (508) 991-6300. Have the full name and date of birth ready when you call. Staff can tell you if the person is in custody and what charges they face. They can also give you bond info and court dates if those have been set.

The Bristol County Sheriff's Office website has general info about the jails but no search tool. You can find details about facilities and inmate services on the site.

Search Bristol County Booking Records

Since Bristol County lacks an online inmate lookup, your best bet for a quick search is the statewide VINELink system. VINELink tracks people held in Massachusetts state prisons and some county jails. It does not cover all counties, but it is worth a try. You can search by name and sign up for alerts when an inmate's status changes. The system sends updates by email, text, or phone call at no cost.

The Massachusetts VINELink portal shows current custody status, not past bookings. If someone has been released, they may not show up in the system anymore. For older 72 hour booking records in Bristol County, a written public records request is the way to go.

The screenshot below shows the VINELink search page used for Massachusetts 72 hour booking lookups.

VINELink is run by Appriss Safety and works with correctional agencies across the country. It is free to use and does not need an account to search.

Bristol County Public Records Requests

Massachusetts law gives you the right to ask for 72 hour booking records. Under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, every government office must have a Records Access Officer who handles public records requests. The Bristol County Sheriff's Office follows this law. You can send a written request by mail or email asking for specific booking records. Include the full name and date of birth of the person. A booking number helps if you have one.

The RAO has 10 business days to respond. They can take up to 10 more days with a written explanation. Copies cost five cents per page for black and white prints. The first four hours of search time are free each month. If the work goes past four hours, the office can charge between $25 and $50 an hour based on the pay grade of the staff doing the work. You can ask for a fee waiver if your request serves the public interest and is not for commercial use.

Under M.G.L. c. 4, § 7(26), some records are exempt from disclosure. Medical records, mental health files, and some investigation materials are not public. Criminal booking data is typically public unless a court has sealed the case. If your request is denied, you can appeal to the Supervisor of Records at the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office.

Arrest Logs in Bristol County

Police departments in Bristol County keep daily arrest logs under M.G.L. c. 41, § 98F. This law requires every police department to maintain a public log of all arrests. The log shows the name of the person, date and time of arrest, charges, and location. You can walk into any police station in Bristol County and ask to see the log. New Bedford, Fall River, and Taunton police all keep these records. The log does not include juvenile arrests or domestic violence cases where the victim's identity could be revealed.

These arrest logs are separate from the 72 hour booking record at the county jail. The police make the arrest. The sheriff books the person into the jail. Both agencies keep their own records. If you want the full picture, you may need to request records from both the local police department and the Bristol County Sheriff's Office.

72 Hour Mental Health Holds in Bristol County

A 72 hour booking is not always about a criminal arrest. Under M.G.L. c. 123, § 12, a licensed clinician can place someone on an involuntary mental health hold for up to 72 hours. This is called a Section 12 hold. In Bristol County, people placed on a Section 12 hold may be taken to a local hospital or to a state facility. These records are private. They are protected by state law and federal HIPAA rules. You cannot get them through a public records request.

If someone you know is on a Section 12 hold, the facility must tell them their rights within the first few hours. The person can make two phone calls and has the right to talk with a lawyer. The Mental Health Legal Advisors Committee provides free legal help for people facing mental health commitment in Massachusetts. Call them at 1-800-342-9092.

Bristol County Booking Fees and Costs

Getting 72 hour booking records from Bristol County costs very little. Here is what you can expect to pay:

• Black and white copies: $0.05 per page
• First four hours of search time: free
• Additional search time: $25 to $50 per hour
• Electronic records on USB or CD: cost of media only
• CORI check through iCORI: $25 online

The state sets these rates under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10. Bristol County cannot charge more than these amounts. If you think a fee is too high, you can dispute it with the Supervisor of Records. Fee waivers are available for requests that serve a public purpose. Journalists, researchers, and nonprofits often qualify for reduced or waived fees.

Phone inquiries about current inmates at Bristol County are free. You just call (508) 995-6800 and ask if the person is in custody. The staff will tell you their status and charges. They will not give out detailed booking records over the phone, though. For a full copy, you need a written request.

State Resources for Bristol County

The Massachusetts DOC inmate locator covers state prisons only. If someone has been transferred from Bristol County to a state prison, you can find them here. The DOC site shows current location, sentence info, and earliest release date. It does not show county jail bookings.

The Public Records Law Guide from the Secretary of the Commonwealth explains your rights when requesting 72 hour booking records. It covers response times, fees, and the appeal process. The guide also lists the exemptions under M.G.L. c. 4, § 7(26) so you know what records the county can withhold.

Nearby Counties

Bristol County borders two other Massachusetts counties that handle their own 72 hour booking records.

Bristol County Cities

These cities in Bristol County have their own pages with local 72 hour booking details.