Taunton Arrest Records
Arrest records for Taunton, Massachusetts are held by the Taunton Police Department and processed through the Bristol County court system. This page explains how to find police logs, court case files, CORI reports, and other criminal records tied to Taunton and the surrounding area.
Taunton Overview
Taunton Police Department Records
The Taunton Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency within city limits. The department is located at 23 Summer Street, Taunton, MA 02780. You can reach the records unit by calling (508) 823-5000. The department website is at taunton-ma.gov/departments/police.
State law requires police departments to keep daily logs open for public inspection. Under MGL c. 41, § 98F, those logs must show arrest dates, charges filed, and basic details about each person taken into custody. Taunton Police may post daily or weekly logs on their site, or you can call and ask to review them in person at the station.
To request copies, contact the records unit directly. Response timelines are governed by MGL c. 66, § 10, which requires agencies to respond within 10 business days. Copies are $0.05 per page. Staff time is free for the first two hours; after that, agencies may charge $25 per hour.
Bristol County Court Records
Criminal cases from Taunton are filed in Taunton District Court or Bristol County Superior Court. The Superior Court sits at 9 Court Street, Taunton, MA 02780. District Court handles misdemeanors and lower-level charges. Superior Court takes on serious felonies and jury trials.
Court records are searchable online through the Massachusetts Trial Court portal. You can look up docket numbers and case status for free. Certified copies of any documents must be requested from the clerk's office at the courthouse and require a fee at the window.
Some records are closed by law. Juvenile cases are sealed. Records involving domestic violence are restricted under MGL c. 41, § 97D. Sealed and expunged records will not show up in standard searches, whether online or at the clerk's window.
The Bristol DA maintains a Taunton office at 15 Court Street, Taunton, MA 02780. The DA prosecutes all criminal cases brought from the city. Case files that go to court become part of the public record and can be reviewed through the clerk's office.
CORI: Criminal Offender Record Information
Massachusetts tracks arrest and conviction history through CORI, the Criminal Offender Record Information system. The governing statute is MGL c. 6, § 167, which covers anyone 18 or older who has been arrested or charged in the state. CORI is not a fully open database. Who can see what depends on the type of request and the reason for it.
You can get your own CORI at no cost using the iCORI system at mass.gov. Set up an account, confirm your identity, and submit a request. Reports typically come back quickly. Your report will list all arrests, charges, and case outcomes on your record.
Under MGL c. 6, § 172, some records drop off CORI after a set number of years. Misdemeanor convictions age off after five years. Felony convictions age off after ten. Non-conviction records, like dismissed charges or not-guilty verdicts, come off right away. Sealed records are removed from standard CORI results entirely. For a full breakdown of the rules, the state has a guide at mass.gov/cori.
Bristol County Sheriff's Office
The Bristol County Sheriff operates two jail facilities in the county. The main facility is the Bristol County House of Correction at 400 Faunce Corner Road, North Dartmouth. The Ash Street Jail in New Bedford is the other location. You can reach the sheriff's office at (508) 995-6400. The website is bcso-ma.org.
People arrested in Taunton and held before arraignment may be transferred to one of these facilities. The sheriff's office can confirm whether someone is in custody. They do not maintain arrest logs from local police. That information comes from Taunton PD directly.
For anyone held in a state prison rather than a county facility, check the Massachusetts Department of Correction inmate search at mass.gov/doc. State prison and county jail are separate systems. Someone in county lockup will not appear in the DOC database.
Sex Offender Registry
The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board publishes a public database at mass.gov/sorb. You can search by name or zip code to find registered sex offenders in Taunton. Level 2 and Level 3 offenders appear in the public listing. Level 1 offenders are not shown to the general public.
The registry is separate from arrest records. A person may be on the sex offender registry without having a current open case. Always verify current status through official sources, since registry information changes as people move or update their registration.
Sealing and Expungement in Taunton
If you have an arrest record in Taunton and want to limit public access to it, Massachusetts law provides two main options: sealing and expungement. They work differently and have different eligibility rules.
Sealing is available under MGL c. 276, § 100A. You can petition to seal a misdemeanor conviction three years after the case closes. For felony convictions, the wait is seven years. The clock starts from the date of conviction or release from custody, whichever comes later. Once sealed, the record does not show up on standard background checks but still exists and can be accessed by courts and certain agencies.
Non-conviction records seal on their own under MGL c. 276, § 100C. If a charge was dropped or you were found not guilty, that record should be removed from public CORI results without any action on your part.
Expungement goes further. Under MGL c. 276, §§ 100E-100U, eligible records can be destroyed entirely rather than sealed. Not everyone qualifies. Cases involving violence, sex offenses, or other serious factors are generally not eligible. A judge must approve every expungement petition. If you are not sure whether you qualify, a local attorney or legal aid office can review your record and advise you.
Additional Resources
Note: An arrest record shows that a charge was filed, not that the person was convicted. All individuals are presumed innocent unless found guilty in court.
Massachusetts State Police may be involved in major cases in Taunton alongside local officers. State Police public records can be requested at mass.gov/state-police-public-records.
For Bristol County court records and arrest data, the Bristol County records portal is another starting point. Always cross-check with official police or court sources to confirm accuracy. Records on third-party sites may not reflect the most current status of a case.
Legal aid organizations serving Bristol County can help if you need assistance with a sealing or expungement petition, or if you have questions about a record listed under your name. The Massachusetts Bar Association referral service can point you toward attorneys who handle CORI and criminal record matters in the Taunton area.
Nearby Cities
Find arrest records for cities near Taunton:
Bristol County Records
Taunton is the county seat of Bristol County. For county-wide arrest record information, court locations, and sheriff's office details, see the Bristol County arrest records page.