Find Medford Arrest Records
Arrest records for Medford, Massachusetts are kept by the Medford Police Department and go through the Middlesex County court system. This page explains how to find police logs, court case files, CORI reports, and other criminal records tied to Medford arrests.
Medford Overview
Medford Police Department Records
The Medford Police Department is the main law enforcement agency for the city. The station is at 100 Main Street, Medford, MA 02155. Contact the records unit at (781) 391-6400. The department website is at medfordma.org/departments/police.
State law requires every police department to keep a daily arrest log that is open to public inspection. Under MGL c. 41, § 98F, these logs must include arrest dates, charges, and basic identification details. Ask the Medford records unit about viewing or receiving copies of the daily log. Some departments post logs on their website; others make them available by request only.
Written public records requests fall under MGL c. 66, § 10. Agencies have 10 business days to respond. Copies cost $0.05 per page. The first two hours of staff search time are free. After that, departments may charge $25 per hour. Submit requests in writing to the Medford Police records unit, by mail or in person.
Middlesex County Court Records
Medford criminal cases are filed in Malden District Court or Middlesex County Superior Court. The Superior Court is at 200 Trade Center, Woburn. Malden District Court handles misdemeanors and lower-level felony charges. Superior Court covers serious felonies and jury trials.
The Massachusetts Trial Court site lets you search case dockets online for free. You can pull up docket numbers, charge descriptions, and court dates. Certified document copies must be ordered at the clerk's office and come with a fee. Some records are not available online and require an in-person visit.
Not all records are open. Cases involving juveniles are sealed under state law. Under MGL c. 41, § 97D, domestic violence records are not available to the general public. Sealed and expunged records will not appear in standard searches, whether online or at the courthouse.
For additional Middlesex County case data, the Middlesex County records portal is one more place to check. Confirm any results against official court or police records before relying on them.
CORI: Criminal Offender Record Information
Massachusetts tracks statewide arrest and conviction history through the CORI system. The law governing CORI is MGL c. 6, § 167. It covers anyone 18 or older who has been arrested or charged in the state. CORI is not a fully public database. Access levels depend on who is asking and for what purpose.
You can get your own CORI at no cost. Go to the iCORI system at mass.gov, set up an account, and verify your identity. Your report will list all arrests, charges, and case outcomes under your name. Most reports come back quickly after you submit the request.
Under MGL c. 6, § 172, some records age off CORI after a set number of years. Misdemeanor convictions drop off after five years. Felony convictions drop off after ten. Non-conviction records, like dismissed charges or not-guilty verdicts, are removed right away. Sealed records are excluded from standard CORI results. The state's full guide on CORI access rules is at mass.gov/cori.
Middlesex County Sheriff's Office
The Middlesex County Sheriff's Office is at 12 Gill Street, Suite 4700, Woburn, MA. Phone: (781) 960-2800. Website: middlesexsheriff.org. The sheriff operates the county jail where people arrested in Medford may be held before or after court appearances.
If you want to know whether someone is in custody at the county facility, call the sheriff's office directly. The sheriff does not maintain Medford Police arrest logs. Those come from the police department.
People sent to state prison rather than county jail are in the DOC system. Look up state prison inmates at mass.gov/doc. State prison and county jail are separate. A person at the Middlesex facility will not appear in DOC's database.
District Attorney: Middlesex County
The Middlesex District Attorney's office prosecutes all criminal cases arising in Medford. The office is at 15 Commonwealth Avenue, Woburn, MA. Phone: (781) 897-8300. Website: middlesexda.com.
The DA's office does not give out arrest records to the public. Once a case moves to court, the file is a public court record, accessible through the clerk's office. The DA may also issue press releases on notable cases; those are on the DA's website.
Sex Offender Registry
Registered sex offenders in Medford can be found through the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board at mass.gov/sorb. Search by name or zip code. Level 2 and Level 3 offenders appear in the public listing. Level 1 offenders are not shown to the general public.
The registry reflects current registration status. People who move or change their registration will have updated listings. For the most current data, always check the official SORB site rather than third-party sources.
Sealing and Expungement of Medford Records
If you have an arrest record tied to Medford and want to restrict access to it, Massachusetts offers two options: sealing and expungement. Each works differently.
Sealing is governed by MGL c. 276, § 100A. You can petition the court to seal a misdemeanor conviction three years after the case closes. For felony convictions, the wait is seven years. The clock starts from conviction or the date of release from custody, whichever comes later. A sealed record stays in the system but does not appear in standard CORI checks.
Non-conviction records are handled under MGL c. 276, § 100C. Cases that were dismissed or resulted in acquittal are removed from public CORI results automatically. No petition is needed for these. They should not show up in a routine background check.
Expungement is available under MGL c. 276, §§ 100E-100U for certain cases. It completely destroys the record, not just seals it. Eligibility is limited. Violent crimes, sex offenses, and other serious categories are generally excluded. Every expungement petition must be approved by a judge. A local attorney or legal aid office can tell you whether your record qualifies.
Additional Resources
Note: An arrest record shows that a charge was filed, not that a person was convicted. All individuals are presumed innocent unless found guilty in court.
Massachusetts State Police may assist with major cases in Medford. You can request State Police public records at mass.gov/state-police-public-records.
Legal aid organizations serving Middlesex County can help Medford residents with questions about sealing, expungement, or CORI errors at no cost. The Massachusetts Bar Association referral service can also connect you with a local attorney who handles criminal record matters.
Nearby Cities
Find arrest records for cities near Medford:
Middlesex County Records
Medford is in Middlesex County. For county-wide arrest record information, court locations, and sheriff's office details, see the Middlesex County arrest records page.