Middlesex County Arrest Records

Middlesex County arrest records are held by multiple agencies across the county, including the Sheriff's Office, local police departments, and the state court system. With over 1.6 million residents and more than 15,000 arrests recorded in 2024, the county generates a large volume of public records each year. You can search Middlesex County arrest records through online portals, direct requests to law enforcement, and the state's court access tools.

Middlesex County Sheriff's Office and Arrest Records

The Middlesex County Sheriff's Office is the main custodian of county-level arrest and booking records. The office is at 12 Gill Street, Suite 4700, in Woburn. You can reach them by phone at (781) 960-2800 or by email at info@middlesexsheriff.org. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Sheriff maintains pre-trial criminal records, booking information, warrant records, jail logs, and inmate records from the Middlesex House of Correction in Billerica and the Cambridge Jail.

To request Middlesex County arrest records, you can go in person to the Woburn office, send a mail request to the Records Division at 12 Gill Street, Suite 4700, Woburn, MA 01801, or call the Records Division directly. Inspection of records is free. Paper copies are $0.05 per page under MGL c. 66, § 10, which also gives you a 2-hour free search window before staff time fees of up to $25 per hour may apply. The Middlesex Sheriff's website has more information on the request process and current inmate lookups.

The Sheriff also handles warrant records for the county. If you need to check whether someone has an active warrant in Middlesex County, contacting the Sheriff's Records Division directly is the fastest route. They can confirm warrant status by name and date of birth in most cases.

How to Search Middlesex County Arrest Records Online

Massachusetts offers several online tools to search Middlesex County arrest records without visiting a courthouse. The MassCourts Electronic Case Access (ECA) system lets you look up criminal cases by name, case number, or court. You can see docket entries, charges, and case status for cases filed in Middlesex District Courts and Superior Court. This is free and requires no account.

For background check purposes, the iCORI system gives authorized users access to Criminal Offender Record Information. Under MGL c. 6, § 167, CORI covers criminal charges, arrests, pre-trial proceedings, sentencing, and incarceration for anyone 18 and older. Access rules under MGL c. 6, § 172 vary by record type: non-conviction records are available immediately, while misdemeanor records require a 5-year wait and felony records a 10-year wait before broader access applies. Most members of the public can get their own CORI through the iCORI portal at no cost.

The Massachusetts state arrest records database is another resource that aggregates public arrest data. It is useful for initial searches, though official agency requests will always give you the most complete and up-to-date information.

Middlesex County Police Departments and Arrest Logs

Middlesex County has dozens of city and town police departments, each keeping its own arrest logs and incident reports. Under MGL c. 41, § 98F, police departments must make their logs public. These logs must include the time, location, and nature of each incident. This means that arrest information from the initial booking is generally available to anyone who asks.

The Lowell Police Department handles records at their Records Division, (978) 674-4508, at 50 Arcand Drive. You can also email records@lowellpolice.org. Their records window is open Monday through Friday, 9 AM to midnight. Lowell charges $1 per incident report. The Cambridge Police Department is at 125 Sixth Street, Cambridge, and can be reached at (617) 349-3300. Newton Police are at 1321 Washington Street, West Newton, (617) 796-2100. Somerville Police are at 220 Washington Street, (617) 625-1600. Framingham Police are at 1 William Welch Way, (508) 872-1212.

Malden Police are at 800 Eastern Avenue, (781) 322-1212. Medford Police are at 100 Main Street, (781) 391-6400. Waltham Police are at 155 Lexington Street, (781) 314-3600. Everett Police are at 45 Elm Street, (617) 389-2120. Each department handles its own public records requests. Response times vary, but the law requires a reply within 10 business days.

Middlesex County Courts and Case Records

The Middlesex County Superior Court handles serious felony cases and is located at 200 Trade Center, Woburn, MA 01801. Phone: (781) 939-2700. District Courts handle misdemeanors, arraignments, and many felony pre-trial matters. District Court locations in Middlesex County include Cambridge, Lowell, Newton, Somerville, Waltham, Malden, Concord, and Framingham. Each court maintains its own docket, and most case records are accessible through the MassCourts ECA portal.

Court records from these courts include criminal complaints, arraignment records, trial records, sentencing information, and probation records. These are distinct from arrest records held by police or the Sheriff, but they are the most detailed account of what happened after an arrest. For cases that went to trial or resulted in a conviction, the court file is the primary source of information.

The Middlesex District Attorney's Office is at 15 Commonwealth Avenue, Woburn, MA 01801, (781) 897-8300. Their website is at www.middlesexda.com. The DA does not maintain public arrest record databases, but they may have information about cases they have prosecuted.

Massachusetts Public Records Law in Middlesex County

The Massachusetts Public Records Law, MGL c. 66, § 10, applies to all Middlesex County agencies. Under this law, any person can request public records. Agencies must respond within 10 business days. Copies cost $0.05 per page, and the first 2 hours of search time are free. After that, agencies may charge up to $25 per hour for staff time. There is no requirement to explain why you want the records or to identify yourself.

Arrest records fall under this law in most cases, though some exemptions apply. Records related to open investigations may be withheld. Juvenile records are generally sealed. The CORI system adds a separate layer of rules for criminal history checks used in background screenings. If an agency denies your request, you have the right to appeal to the Supervisor of Public Records at the Secretary of State's office, and then to Superior Court if needed.

Sealing and Expungement of Middlesex Arrest Records

People with old Middlesex County arrest records may be able to seal or expunge them. Under MGL c. 276, § 100A, you can petition to seal a misdemeanor conviction after 3 years from the end of your sentence, and a felony conviction after 7 years. Sealed records are not visible in most background checks.

MGL c. 276, § 100C provides automatic sealing for non-conviction records, including not-guilty verdicts and dismissed cases. These should be sealed without any action on your part, though errors do happen and it is worth checking your CORI to confirm. For more serious situations, MGL c. 276, §§ 100E-100U outlines expungement options, which are more limited but result in the record being destroyed rather than sealed. The CORI laws page at Mass.gov has a full summary of current sealing and expungement rules.

Cities in Middlesex County

Several large cities in Middlesex County have their own arrest records pages with local courthouse details, police contact information, and city-specific search guidance.

Nearby Counties

If the person or case you are looking for may involve a neighboring county, check these pages for jurisdiction-specific information.