Hampshire County Arrest Records
Hampshire County arrest records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office, local police departments, and the state court system. The county spans western Massachusetts and includes the cities of Northampton and Easthampton along with several large towns. You can find arrest records through direct requests to law enforcement, online court tools, and the state's iCORI system.
Hampshire County Overview
Hampshire County Sheriff's Office
The Hampshire County Sheriff's Office operates the Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction at 205 Rocky Hill Road in Northampton. The Sheriff holds people who are awaiting trial and those serving sentences of up to two and a half years. Jail booking records are available through the office, and staff can confirm whether a person is currently in custody.
To get records in person, visit the office at 205 Rocky Hill Road, Northampton, MA 01060. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Bring a valid photo ID. You can also send a written request by mail addressed to ATTN: Records, 205 Rocky Hill Road, Northampton, MA 01060. The main line is (413) 584-5911. Staff can walk you through what records are available and how to submit your request.
The Sheriff does not maintain arrest records from local police agencies. A booking at the jail means a person was brought in after arrest, but the originating arrest report stays with the police department that made the arrest. Keep that in mind when deciding where to start your search.
Local Police Departments
Most arrest records in Hampshire County originate with local police. Each department keeps its own records. Under MGL c. 41, § 98F, police logs must be open to the public. These logs list arrests, detentions, and incidents. They do not include full reports, but they give you a starting point.
The Northampton Police Department is at 29 Center Street, Northampton, MA 01060, phone (413) 587-1100. The department's website is at www.northamptonma.gov. Records requests go through the main line or in writing to the department. Northampton handles a significant share of arrest activity in the county because of its size.
Amherst Police is at 111 Main Street, Amherst, MA 01002, phone (413) 259-3000. The department posts daily logs online and accepts records requests through its website at www.amherstma.gov. Amherst is home to a large university population, so its arrest logs can cover a wide range of incidents.
Easthampton Police is at 1 Carew Street, Easthampton, MA 01027, phone (413) 529-7711. The department publishes weekly call logs on its website at easthamptonma.gov. Other departments serving the county include South Hadley Police at 116 Main Street, (413) 538-8231, and Belchertown Police at 27 Mount Drive, (413) 323-6400. Each of these agencies handles its own records, so if you know which town an arrest occurred in, contact that department directly.
Note: Under MGL c. 41, § 97D, police reports related to domestic violence incidents are not public records. These reports are withheld regardless of the outcome of the case.
Hampshire County Courts
Court records in Hampshire County are available through the MassCourts public access portal. You can look up case numbers, charges, arraignment dates, and case dispositions without charge through this system. It does not show sealed or expunged records.
Hampshire County Superior Court sits at 15 Gothic Street in Northampton, phone (413) 584-5810. This court handles felony cases and serious civil matters. Northampton District Court shares the same building at 15 Gothic Street, phone (413) 584-7400, and handles misdemeanors, arraignments, and lower-level criminal cases. Belchertown District Court at 2 State Street in Belchertown covers the eastern part of the county. The Hampshire County District Attorney's Office at 1 Gleason Plaza, Northampton, phone (413) 584-5810, prosecutes cases in both courts.
If you need certified copies of case records or docket sheets, contact the clerk of the court directly. Fees apply for copies. Under MGL c. 66, § 10, government agencies must respond to public records requests within 10 days. Copies cost $0.05 per page, with the first two hours of staff time free and $25 per hour after that.
iCORI and State Criminal Records
The state's Criminal Offender Record Information system, known as CORI, is the primary source for statewide arrest and conviction data. iCORI lets you run a background check on yourself or, in certain cases, on another person. The system covers arrests, charges, and incarceration for people 18 and older under MGL c. 6, § 167.
Access rules depend on the type of record. Under MGL c. 6, § 172, non-conviction records are available to the subject immediately. Misdemeanor records require a five-year wait after disposition. Felony records require a ten-year wait. Some records are restricted to authorized users such as courts, prosecutors, and certain licensed employers. If you run a check on yourself through iCORI, you see everything in the system.
You can also browse statewide arrest data through the state records directory. This does not replace iCORI but gives you a broader view of publicly available arrest information across all counties.
Note: CORI records are governed by MGL c. 6, §§ 167-178. Misuse of CORI data is a criminal offense in Massachusetts.
Record Sealing and Expungement
Massachusetts law allows people to seal or expunge certain records. Sealing removes a record from public view but keeps it accessible to courts and law enforcement. Expungement destroys the record entirely. Both are separate processes with different rules.
Under MGL c. 276, § 100A, a person can petition to seal a misdemeanor after three years from the end of the case and a felony after seven years. The waiting period starts after the last date of incarceration, probation, or parole, whichever is latest. MGL c. 276, § 100C provides for automatic sealing of non-conviction records. If charges were dismissed or a person was found not guilty, the record seals without a petition.
Expungement is available under MGL c. 276, §§ 100E-100U for certain juvenile records and cases where the person was under 21 at the time of the offense. Eligibility rules are narrow. The Hampshire County District Attorney's Office can explain what applies in a specific case. The state also posts guides on sealing and expungement through the court system's website.
Massachusetts State Police Records
The Massachusetts State Police handle arrests in areas without local coverage and on state highways. Their records are available through the State Police public records page. You submit a written request identifying the case, approximate date, and the person involved. Turnaround times vary. State Police also maintain a troop presence in western Massachusetts that covers parts of Hampshire County.
The state's Department of Correction maintains inmate records for those serving longer sentences at state facilities. If someone was sentenced to more than two and a half years, the case went to a state prison rather than the county jail. DOC records are separate from Sheriff records.
Sex Offender Registry
The Sex Offender Registry Board maintains a public list of Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders. You can search by name or location. The registry is separate from the arrest records system and is updated as offenders register or move. Hampshire County residents appear on the registry if they are required to register and live or work in the county.
Towns in Hampshire County
Hampshire County has no cities that meet the population threshold for individual city pages on this site. The county includes Northampton, Amherst, Easthampton, Ware, South Hadley, Belchertown, Hadley, Pelham, Granby, Williamsburg, Huntington, Chesterfield, Cummington, Goshen, Middlefield, Plainfield, Westhampton, and several other small towns. For arrest records from any of these communities, contact the local police department or use the statewide tools listed above.