Massachusetts built its arrest record system around a concept called CORI -- Criminal Offender Record Information. Every criminal court appearance, detention, charge, conviction, and acquittal in the state flows into the CORI system. It is one of the most comprehensive state criminal history frameworks in the country, and it comes with one of the most tiered access structures: what you can see depends significantly on who you are and why you are asking. Understanding the CORI tiers, the free court case search, and the difference between sealing and expungement is the foundation for navigating Massachusetts arrest records. This guide covers all of it.
What Makes Massachusetts Arrest Records Public
The Massachusetts Public Records Law, codified at Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, establishes the general framework for public access to government records. The CORI system is separately governed by MGL Chapter 6, Sections 167 through 178, which defines criminal history information and establishes the tiers of access.
The Department of Criminal Justice Information Services, known as DCJIS, is the central agency for all criminal history records in Massachusetts under MGL Chapter 6, Section 167A. DCJIS administers the CORI system and oversees compliance with CORI regulations.
Unlike most other states where the question is simply whether the record is public or not, Massachusetts CORI operates on a tiered access model. Not everyone gets the same information. What you see depends on your relationship to the subject and the purpose of your inquiry.
Exemptions from public access include juvenile records in most circumstances, sealed records, expunged records, and active investigation materials.
What a Massachusetts CORI Contains
A CORI report is a comprehensive record of all criminal court appearances in Massachusetts for a given individual. Under MGL Chapter 6, Section 167, CORI is defined as information recorded as the result of the initiation of criminal proceedings. This is a notably broad definition -- unlike states where only convictions are in the public record, Massachusetts CORI includes arrests, detentions, charges filed, court appearances, convictions, acquittals, dismissals, and pending cases.
The information available to any individual requester depends on their access tier. Personal access -- your own CORI -- provides a complete view going back to age 17. Open access, available to members of the public and media organizations, is limited: it shows only misdemeanor convictions within the past year, felony convictions within the past two years, and pending charges. Standard employer-level access shows more, including convictions for a longer period. Certain licensed agencies and government entities have full access.
This tiered structure means that a public open-access CORI request gives only a snapshot, not a full criminal history. For anyone trying to understand a person's complete arrest and court history in Massachusetts, the free MassCourts public case portal provides case-level information across all four court levels.
How to Search Massachusetts Arrest Records
The iCORI system is the primary official tool. It is accessible through the DCJIS at mass.gov/how-to/request-a-cori. Personal CORI requests cost $25 and require a Massachusetts driver's license or state-issued ID for online requests. Without a valid ID, requests can be submitted by mail using the Personal Request Form to DCJIS at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150, ATTN: CORI Unit. The DCJIS phone is 617-660-4600. Personal CORI checks are available free once every 90 days (a self-audit); subsequent requests within 90 days cost $25. Open access CORI requests cost $50 and return the limited public access tier.
The MassCourts Public Internet Portal is the free public tool for court case records. It provides access to case information across District Court, Superior Court, Housing Court, and other court levels. This is the right tool for checking case-level charges, case status, and dispositions without going through the CORI process.
County sheriff offices and local police departments maintain booking records for recent arrests. Massachusetts has 14 counties and most publish online inmate rosters or booking logs. For anyone arrested recently, the county jail or local police department website is where to start.
For broader multi-source searches that aggregate public record data across Massachusetts's 14 counties and other jurisdictions, TruthFinder is a practical option.
VINELink at vinelink.com connects to the Massachusetts DOC system and many county facilities and provides free real-time custody status and notification registration.
County Jail Records in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has 14 counties and each county sheriff manages the local correctional facility. County houses of correction hold people awaiting trial and those serving sentences of two and a half years or less. For anyone recently arrested, the county house of correction or city/town police department booking roster is where to look.
When someone is sentenced to more than two and a half years, they enter the Massachusetts Department of Correction system. The MADOC provides a free online inmate search at mass.gov/doc. You can search by name and date of birth to locate current state inmates and get facility and status information.
Federal Arrests in Massachusetts
Federal arrests in Massachusetts are made by agencies including the FBI, the DEA, U.S. Marshals, the ATF, and Homeland Security Investigations. Massachusetts is home to the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, with significant federal law enforcement activity.
The BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the official free tool for locating anyone serving a federal sentence. Search by name or BOP register number. Federal court records are available through the PACER system at pacer.gov.
Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the Massachusetts CORI system. A CORI check covers only Massachusetts state criminal history.
Arrest Records Versus Conviction Records
In Massachusetts, the CORI system explicitly includes both arrest records and conviction records -- unlike some states where only convictions are in the public criminal history. An arrest in Massachusetts initiates criminal proceedings and enters the CORI system from that point, regardless of the eventual outcome.
Charges can be dropped, cases dismissed, and juries acquit. In all of those situations the arrest entry remains in CORI and in the MassCourts portal unless the person pursues sealing or expungement. The entry will continue to surface in personal CORI checks and potentially in court searches until legally addressed.
Massachusetts Sealing and Expungement
Massachusetts provides two distinct legal paths for limiting access to criminal records.
Sealing under MGL Chapter 276, Section 100A hides the record from public view but does not destroy it. Sealed records remain available to law enforcement and certain authorized agencies. The waiting periods are three years from the date of a misdemeanor conviction or release from incarceration (whichever is later), seven years for felonies. There must be no intervening criminal convictions during the waiting period. Certain serious offenses cannot be sealed, including crimes against public justice under MGL Chapter 268 and, in limited circumstances, certain sex offenses. When a record is sealed, DCJIS notifies the FBI and requests that the federal record also be sealed under MGL Chapter 276, Section 100T.
Expungement under MGL Chapter 276, Sections 100E through 100U is true record destruction -- the record is permanently erased and technically does not exist. Expungement was created by the 2018 Criminal Justice Reform Act and is available in more limited circumstances than sealing, primarily: where the offense is no longer a crime under current law, for youthful offenders in specific circumstances, and for cases involving clerical or court error. Upon expungement, DCJIS must notify the FBI and request federal expungement as well.
Both sealed and expunged records are removed from open CORI access, the MassCourts public portal, and third-party background checks that rely on those systems. However, some employers with statutory authority to see sealed records may still access them under specific circumstances.
Massachusetts also has "CWOF" dispositions -- Continuance Without a Finding -- which are not convictions and can be sealed immediately upon successful completion of probation if the good-cause standard under MGL Chapter 276, Section 100C is met.
InmateAid's guides on sealing and expungement cover Massachusetts's framework in more detail. Mugshot removal from third-party sites is addressed in InmateAid's resources on that topic.
Frequently asked questions
Are Massachusetts arrest records public?
Yes, but access is tiered. The Massachusetts CORI system under MGL Chapter 6 includes arrests, charges, and convictions. Open/public access through DCJIS returns only misdemeanor convictions from the past year, felony convictions from the past two years, and pending charges. Full personal CORI history is available to the subject. Sealed and expunged records are not accessible to the public.
How do I search Massachusetts arrest records?
Use iCORI through mass.gov/how-to/request-a-cori for CORI checks ($25 personal, $50 open access). For free court case records, use the MassCourts Public Internet Portal. For recent arrests, check the relevant county house of correction or local police department. For multi-source results, TruthFinder aggregates public record data. For real-time custody status, VINELink at vinelink.com provides free notifications. For state prison inmates, use the MADOC inmate search at mass.gov/doc.
What does a Massachusetts CORI contain?
A CORI report covers all criminal court appearances in Massachusetts including arrests, detentions, charges filed, court dispositions, convictions, acquittals, dismissals, and pending cases. Personal CORI provides the complete history back to age 17. Open/public access CORI shows only recent misdemeanor convictions (past year), felony convictions (past two years), and pending charges. CORI covers only Massachusetts state history -- not other states or federal records.
Is an arrest the same as a conviction in Massachusetts?
No, but unlike many states, Massachusetts CORI includes both arrests and convictions. An arrest initiates criminal proceedings and enters CORI from that point. A conviction is a court's finding of guilt. Arrests that ended in dismissal, acquittal, or no charges remain in CORI unless sealed or expunged.
How do I find someone in a Massachusetts jail?
Check the county house of correction website for the county where the arrest occurred. VINELink at vinelink.com connects to many Massachusetts facilities and provides free notification registration. For someone serving more than two and a half years in state prison, use the MADOC inmate search at mass.gov/doc.
Can I search federal arrest records in Massachusetts?
Federal court records are available through PACER at pacer.gov. For someone serving a federal sentence, the BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the free official tool. Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the Massachusetts CORI system.
How long does an arrest stay on record in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts CORI records are maintained indefinitely unless sealed or expunged. Non-conviction entries remain in CORI and may appear in court records. Sealing for misdemeanors requires a three-year waiting period; for felonies, seven years. Expungement under the 2018 Criminal Justice Reform Act covers specific narrow circumstances and results in permanent record destruction.
What is the difference between sealing and expungement?
Sealing under MGL 276 §100A hides the record from public access but the record still exists and remains available to law enforcement. Waiting periods apply -- three years for misdemeanors, seven years for felonies. Expungement under MGL 276 §§100E-100U is permanent destruction of the record. It was created by the 2018 Criminal Justice Reform Act and applies to specific circumstances such as offenses that are no longer crimes under current law or clerical errors. Both trigger notification to the FBI. Expungement is the stronger remedy but is available in more limited circumstances.
Who qualifies for sealing in Massachusetts?
Under MGL 276 §100A, most disposed cases are eligible for sealing after the applicable waiting period -- three years for misdemeanors, seven years for felonies -- with no intervening criminal convictions. Crimes against public justice under MGL Chapter 268 cannot be sealed. Certain sex offenses have additional restrictions. Level 2 and 3 sex offenders cannot seal convictions for certain offenses while registered. CWOF cases can be sealed immediately upon successful probation completion if the good-cause standard under MGL 276 §100C is met.
Why does my record show an arrest but no conviction?
Massachusetts CORI includes all criminal court appearances -- not just convictions. If your case was dismissed, a nolle prosequi was entered, or you were acquitted, the arrest and case still appear in CORI unless sealed or expunged. Filing for sealing (free, no application fee) through the Commissioner of Probation, or for expungement through the courts if you qualify, is the legal path to remove qualifying entries. ---
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