Massachusetts Inmate Records

According to recent statistics, Massachusetts's incarceration rate is 241 per 100,000 people, considerably lower than the national average of 608 per 100,000. Massachusetts inmates are housed in state, local, and federal correctional facilities. The state's correctional facilities collectively house approximately 6,000 inmates, local jails hold about 9,000 offenders, and another 1,200 prisoners are incarcerated in federal facilities.

Records of these inmates are also managed at the local, state, and federal levels by county sheriff's offices, the Massachusetts Department of Corrections, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons, respectively.

A Massachusetts inmate record typically contains the following information:

• Arrest records: The date and location of the inmate's arrest, the arresting agency, and charges filed.
• Booking information: Mugshots, personal information (like the inmate's full name, date of birth, and description), and other details processed during the initial booking process.
• Court case details: Documentation of the court process, including trial dates, verdicts, and sentencing.
• Sentencing information: Details on the sentence(s) imposed.
• Incarceration information: Details about the inmate's current status and incarceration location
• Probation, parole, and release information: Details on probationary conditions, parole eligibility, supervised release, and conditions of release.

Are Inmate Records Public in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts inmate records are generally considered public under state law, meaning that any interested member of the public may access them. However, certain records (or information contained in the record) are typically restricted and may only be accessed by specific parties. These include juvenile records, medical records, personally identifiable information like Social Security numbers and home addresses, confidential informant details, and records that have been sealed or expunged by court order.

What Agencies Are Responsible for Inmate Records in Massachusetts?

Massachusetts inmate records are managed by several agencies, each overseeing different types of correctional facilities that house various categories of inmates:

• The Massachusetts Department of Corrections (MADOC): This agency manages 13 state correctional facilities of varying security levels that house individuals convicted of serious offenses and serving terms longer than 2.5 years.
• County Sheriff's Offices: Each county in Massachusetts has at least one local correctional facility managed by the county sheriff's office. These facilities hold individuals awaiting trial and offenders sentenced to short terms (not more than 2.5 years); they may also hold individuals who cannot post bail.
• The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP): The BOP operates a minimum security correctional facility in Massachusetts that houses offenders convicted of committing federal crimes.
• Police Departments: While local police departments (and the Massachusetts State Police) do not technically house inmates, they may maintain temporary holding cells for recently arrested individuals pending their transfer to a correctional facility.

How To Search an Inmate's Information in Massachusetts?

When looking to access inmate information in Massachusetts, it is important to first determine whether the person is being held in a local, state, or federal correctional facility, as these agencies typically maintain separate inmate databases.

Find an Inmate in Massachusetts State Prisons

The Massachusetts Department of Corrections offers online access to inmate information through VINELink, and you may use this platform to search for inmates held in state-run correctional facilities. Note that you will need to provide the inmate's full first and last name or their commitment number to perform this search. You may also find inmates in Massachusetts state correctional facilities by calling (866) 277-7477.

Online inmate searches typically return basic information like the inmate's current custody status, photograph, current facility of incarceration, and eligible release dates. To access more detailed records, you may need to directly contact the facility where the inmate is being housed. Be aware that you may be required to submit a public records request and pay a fee before accessing the desired information.

Find an Inmate in Local Jail

Local jails (officially referred to as houses of correction) in Massachusetts are managed by county sheriff's offices. Many of these sheriff's offices provide inmate lookup tools on their official websites that may be used to search for offenders in their custody using the person's name or ID number. Essex County also participates in the state's VINE program, meaning that you may search for inmates being held in the Essex County Correctional Facility via VINELink.

In situations where an online resource is unavailable or does not return the desired result, you may contact the sheriff's office in the county where the arrest occurred (this is usually where the inmate will be held) or visit the jail in person.

Find an Inmate in Federal Prison

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) operates one federal correctional facility in Massachusetts - FMC Devens, located at:

You may find information on inmates held in this facility online by running a name or number-based search on the BOP's inmate locator tool. Note that this tool does not return information on individuals who were incarcerated before 1982.

How Can I Access Old Inmate Records in Massachusetts?

While information on currently incarcerated inmates in Massachusetts can be readily accessed online via inmate search tools, you will typically need to take additional steps and utilize additional resources to obtain records for former inmates. These include:

• Checking the Massachusetts Archives or the National Archives for historical records of former state and federal prison inmates.
• Submitting a public records request to the Records Access Officer for the state or local facility where the inmate was incarcerated, or an FOIA request for inmates that were held in federal prison. These requests may be submitted online, via mail, or in person, and are usually the recommended option if you need to access detailed information. Be aware that you may be charged a fee to obtain the required records.
• Using third-party platforms like MassachusettsPublicRecords.us that aggregate public information (including old inmate records) from government and non-government databases and offer convenient access to these records.

Can I Find a Massachusetts Inmate Record for Free?

State, local, and federal correctional facilities in Massachusetts typically provide online tools that may be used to access inmate records at no cost. However, the records accessible via these searches are limited to a specific agency (MADOC, BOP, or a particular county sheriff's office). Also, these free online tools typically only display basic information, meaning that an in-person visit may be required to access detailed records.

To this end, several reputable third-party websites, like MassachusettsPublicRecords.us, provide access to centralized databases that may be used to search across local, state, and federal correctional facilities in Massachusetts and obtain detailed inmate records from the convenience of your home. Be aware that a subscription/nominal fee may be required to utilize some of these platforms.

Jails and Prisons in Massachusetts

Prisons and jails in Massachusetts are generally grouped into three main categories based on how they are managed/overseen:

• State Correctional Facilities: These facilities are managed by the Massachusetts Department of Corrections (MADOC). There are currently 13 of these MADOC-managed facilities across the state.
• County Houses of Correction: Each of Massachusetts' 14 counties operates its own local jail system and has at least one house of correction managed by the county sheriff's office.
• Federal Facilities: Massachusetts is home to one federal correctional facility managed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP).

State Prisons in Massachusetts

Here is a list of the state-operated correctional facilities in Massachusetts:

Private Prisons in Massachusetts

Massachusetts does not currently have any privately controlled prisons, making it one of 22 states that do not use these types of facilities to house inmates.

Massachusetts Inmate Statistics

Massachusetts currently has an incarceration rate of 241 per 100,000. Here are some key inmate statistics in the state based on recent data:

• Massachusetts Imprisonment Rate: 94 per 100,000 people
• Male Imprisonment Rate: 185 per 100,000 males
• Female Imprisonment Rate: 7 per 100,000 females
• Youth Custody Rate: 32 per 100,000 youth
• Number of Prisoners Held in Private Prisons: 0
• Black to White Imprisonment Disparity: 7 to 1
• Latino to White Imprisonment Disparity: 4 to 1
• Offenders Under Community Supervision: 757 per 100,000 adults
• Offenders on Probation: 696 per 100,000 adults
• Offenders on Parole: 29 per 100,000 adults
• Felony Disenfranchisement Rate: 0.1%

* Source: U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics