Search Berkshire County Arrest Records
Berkshire County arrest records come from the Sheriff's Office, local police departments across the county's many towns, and the state court system. Located at the far western edge of Massachusetts, the county stretches from the Vermont border south to Connecticut and covers a large rural area with Pittsfield as its largest city. Records are available through direct agency requests, online court tools, and the state iCORI system.
Berkshire County Overview
Berkshire County Sheriff's Office
The Berkshire County Sheriff's Office runs the county jail and house of correction at 467 Cheshire Road in Pittsfield. The facility holds people awaiting trial and those sentenced to terms of up to two and a half years. Booking records from the jail reflect who has been brought in, but they do not replace the original arrest reports from the police departments that made the arrests.
To get records from the Sheriff, call (413) 443-7220. You can also visit the office lobby in person. The office can confirm whether a person is currently in custody and provide custody information. For written requests, send them to 467 Cheshire Road, Pittsfield, MA 01201. The Sheriff's website is at www.berkshiresheriff.org.
The Sheriff's Office operates separately from the Berkshire County District Attorney's office. If you need records related to prosecution of a case, contact the DA at 7 North Street, Pittsfield, phone (413) 443-2221. Timothy Shugrue serves as District Attorney and his office handles all criminal prosecutions in the county.
Local Police Departments
Arrest records in Berkshire County originate primarily with local police. Under MGL c. 41, § 98F, police logs are public records. These logs must be open to anyone who asks. They list arrests and detentions but not the full text of reports.
Pittsfield Police is the largest department in the county. The department is at 39 Allen Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201, phone (413) 448-9700. The website at www.pittsfieldma.gov includes press logs and daily activity summaries. Pittsfield accounts for a large share of arrests in the county each year given its population relative to surrounding towns.
North Adams Police is at 11 Summer Street, North Adams, MA 01247, phone (413) 662-3232. The department's website is at www.northadams-ma.gov. North Adams is the county's second largest city and generates its own arrest logs. Great Barrington Police at 47 Bridge Street, Great Barrington, phone (413) 528-0306, and Lee Police at 20 Main Street, Lee, phone (413) 243-2111, serve the southern part of the county.
Many of the county's smaller towns are served by the Massachusetts State Police. State Police records from Berkshire County are available through the State Police public records page. You submit requests in writing with the name, approximate date, and location of the incident.
Note: Under MGL c. 41, § 97D, domestic violence incident reports are exempt from the public records law. These reports are not available to the public regardless of outcome.
Berkshire County Courts
Berkshire County Superior Court is at 7 North Street in Pittsfield, phone (413) 499-7484. This court handles felony cases and serious civil matters. The court maintains its own case records, which are separate from police arrest records. You can get docket information, case numbers, and court dates from the clerk's office.
The county has four district courts covering different geographic areas. Pittsfield District Court handles cases from Pittsfield and the central county. North Adams District Court serves the northern part of the county. Great Barrington District Court covers the southern towns. Lee District Court serves the Lee area. Each district court maintains its own clerk's office and can provide docket information and copies of filings.
The fastest way to search court records online is the MassCourts public access portal. You can look up cases by name or case number without charge. The portal shows charges, arraignment dates, and case dispositions. Sealed records do not appear. Under MGL c. 66, § 10, agencies must respond to public records requests within 10 days, with copy fees capped at $0.05 per page.
iCORI and State Arrest Records
The state's iCORI system is the main tool for background checks in Massachusetts. It pulls from the state's Criminal Offender Record Information database, which covers arrests, charges, and dispositions statewide. Under MGL c. 6, § 167, the system includes arrest data for anyone 18 or older.
Access depends on who is requesting. Under MGL c. 6, § 172, non-conviction records are immediately available to the person they belong to. Misdemeanor records carry a five-year waiting period after disposition. Felony records carry a ten-year waiting period. Some records are restricted to authorized users. Anyone can run a search on themselves through iCORI and see their complete record.
The state arrest records directory offers another way to browse publicly available arrest data across Massachusetts. This resource does not replace the official iCORI system but provides an accessible starting point for general research.
Record Sealing and Expungement in Berkshire County
People with arrest records in Berkshire County can seek to seal or expunge those records under Massachusetts law. Sealing keeps the record from the public but leaves it visible to courts and law enforcement. Expungement eliminates the record entirely from state systems.
Under MGL c. 276, § 100A, petitions to seal a misdemeanor require a three-year wait from the end of the case. For felonies, the wait is seven years. The clock starts from the last date of incarceration, parole, or probation, whichever came latest. Under MGL c. 276, § 100C, records from cases that were dismissed or ended in a not guilty finding seal automatically without a petition.
Expungement applies in narrow situations under MGL c. 276, §§ 100E-100U. It is most often available for juvenile records or offenses committed before age 21. The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office can advise whether a specific record qualifies. The court clerk's office can also provide petition forms for sealing.
Note: Sealed records are not visible through iCORI or MassCourts public searches. If you believe a record should have sealed automatically under MGL c. 276, § 100C and it still appears, contact the Office of the Commissioner of Probation.
Additional State Resources
The Sex Offender Registry Board maintains a public list of Level 2 and Level 3 offenders. You can search by name or zip code. Berkshire County residents who are required to register and live or work in the county appear on this list.
The Massachusetts Department of Correction holds records for people serving sentences longer than two and a half years at state facilities. If someone from Berkshire County was sentenced to state prison, their record is with DOC rather than the county Sheriff. DOC has its own records process, separate from county systems.
For a broader look at available data, the CORI laws page from the state explains what records exist, who can see them, and how to challenge errors. This is a useful reference if you are trying to understand why certain information is or is not showing up in a search.
Cities and Towns in Berkshire County
Berkshire County's communities include Pittsfield, North Adams, Adams, Great Barrington, Lee, Lenox, Stockbridge, Williamstown, Lanesborough, Dalton, Cheshire, Clarksburg, Florida, Hancock, Hinsdale, Monterey, Mount Washington, New Ashford, New Marlborough, Otis, Peru, Richmond, Sandisfield, Savoy, Sheffield, Tyringham, Washington, West Stockbridge, Windsor, and Alford. None of these municipalities currently meet the population threshold for dedicated city pages on this site. For arrest records from any of these towns, contact the local police department or use the statewide resources described above.