Somerville Arrest Records Lookup
Somerville arrest records are public documents held by the Somerville Police Department and Middlesex County courts. This page walks through how to get those records, what agencies keep them, and which state statutes set the rules for access.
Somerville Overview
Somerville Police Department Records
The Somerville Police Department at 220 Washington Street is the primary place to request local arrest records. It keeps arrest reports, daily logs, incident files, and booking records. State law under MGL c. 41, § 98F requires police departments to make daily arrest logs public. These logs show names, dates, charges, and case status.
To start a request, call (617) 625-1600 and ask for the records division. You can also visit the department in person at 220 Washington Street. The department website at www.somervillema.gov/departments/police may have additional information on submitting requests online.
Under MGL c. 66, § 10, the department must reply within 10 business days. Paper copies are $0.05 per page. Staff must give you two free hours of search time. After that, the rate is $25 per hour. If your request is denied, you can appeal to the Secretary of State's Public Records Division.
Somerville District Court
The Somerville District Court handles arraignments and lower-level criminal cases for the city. You can look up case records at masscourts.org, the statewide court docket system. Search by name, case number, or docket number. Dockets show charges, hearing dates, and outcomes.
Felony cases go to the Middlesex County Superior Court at 200 Trade Center, Woburn, phone (781) 939-2700. Clerks there can help you locate case files in person. Certified copies of documents may involve a small fee. Court records are public unless a judge orders them sealed.
CORI and Criminal History
Massachusetts uses the Criminal Offender Record Information system, or CORI, to manage criminal history. Under MGL c. 6, § 167, CORI includes arrests, charges, and dispositions for adults 18 and older. The Department of Criminal Justice Information Services runs this system statewide.
To see your own CORI, go to www.mass.gov/icori. Set up an account, verify your identity, and submit a request. You will get results within a day or two. This is the most direct way to see what the state has on file under your name.
Under MGL c. 6, § 172, misdemeanor records stay on background checks for five years after the conviction date. Felony records remain for 10 years. Records from cases that did not result in conviction can often be sealed without waiting, depending on the circumstances.
Middlesex County Sheriff
The Middlesex County Sheriff's Department is at 12 Gill Street, Suite 4700, Woburn, MA 01801, phone (781) 960-2800. The website is www.middlesexsheriff.org. The department runs the Middlesex House of Correction in Billerica and Cambridge Jail. These facilities hold people awaiting trial and those serving short sentences.
If someone was arrested in Somerville and is being held in county custody, the sheriff's office can confirm their location, booking date, and release status. For people in state prison, use the Massachusetts Department of Correction inmate locator on their website.
Middlesex County District Attorney
The Middlesex County District Attorney's Office prosecutes felony and serious misdemeanor cases from Somerville. The office is at 15 Commonwealth Avenue, Woburn, phone (781) 897-8300, website www.middlesexda.com.
Most case documents from the DA's office are accessible through the court docket at masscourts.org. Charging documents, motions, and plea agreements appear there. For certified copies, go to the court clerk rather than the DA's office. The clerk is the right place to request official court documents.
Sealing and Expungement
Somerville residents can petition to seal a criminal record under MGL c. 276, § 100A. Misdemeanors require a three-year wait from the conviction or release date. Felonies require a seven-year wait. After sealing, the record does not show up in most public searches.
Non-conviction records have no waiting period. Under MGL c. 276, § 100C, records from cases that did not end in a guilty finding can be sealed right away. This covers dismissed charges, not-guilty verdicts, and cases where no charges were filed.
Expungement goes further than sealing. It erases the record entirely. MGL c. 276, §§ 100E through 100U set out the eligibility rules. The process is limited to first-time, low-level offenses. The Somerville District Court clerk can provide petition forms. If cost is a concern, local legal aid organizations may help for free.
Domestic Violence Records
Note: Under MGL c. 41, § 97D, police reports involving domestic violence are not public records. They are withheld to protect victims. If you need access to one of these reports for a legal proceeding, work with an attorney to obtain it through the court system.
Abuse prevention orders and related court filings may appear in court records. Some of these are accessible at the clerk's office. Personal details may be redacted. The Somerville District Court clerk can tell you what is available for a specific case.
Sex Offender Registry
The Sex Offender Registry Board, or SORB, maintains the public list of registered sex offenders in Massachusetts. The registry is searchable at www.mass.gov/sorb by name, city, or zip code. Level 2 and Level 3 offenders are listed publicly. Level 1 offenders do not appear in the public search.
Additional Resources
The Somerville Police Department's own website at www.somervillema.gov/departments/police has department news and contact info. For broader Middlesex County case data, Massachusetts Court Records for Middlesex is a useful third-party resource. State Police records go through a separate process at www.mass.gov.
Nearby Cities
These nearby cities also have arrest records pages with local resources and contact details.
Middlesex County Records
Somerville is part of Middlesex County. County-level court records, sheriff records, and DA case files are covered on the county page.