Find Massachusetts Jail Mugshots Online
Massachusetts jail mugshots and booking photos come from 14 county sheriff offices and the state Department of Correction. Each county jail keeps its own inmate records. Some offer online search tools while others need a phone call or a written request. You can also check state prison records through the DOC inmate locator or the VINE notification system. The rules for mugshot access in Massachusetts are more complex than in most states. Some booking photos are public records. Others fall under CORI restrictions that limit who can see them. This page covers how to find jail mugshots across Massachusetts, what the law says, and where to search for inmate records in each county.
Massachusetts Jail Mugshots Overview
How to Search Massachusetts Jail Mugshots
There is no single database that holds all Massachusetts jail mugshots in one place. The state runs a split system. County jails are run by 14 elected sheriffs. State prisons fall under the Department of Correction. This means you may need to check more than one source to find the booking photo or inmate record you are looking for. The most common way to look up jail mugshots is to call the county sheriff's office where the arrest took place and ask for custody status by name.
The VINELink system is a free tool for searching inmate records. It works for all state DOC prisons. But for county jails, only Essex County takes part in VINE. For the other 13 counties, you must go to each sheriff's office. Some counties like Worcester, Essex, and Bristol have online inmate search portals. Others like Middlesex County have no online directory at all. You can search by name, date of birth, or inmate ID on most of these tools.
The Massachusetts DOC inmate search page shows how to look up anyone held in a state prison facility.
This page walks you through searching state prison records and explains what info you can get from the DOC.
Court records offer another path to find arrest and booking data. The Massachusetts Trial Court lets you search case dockets by name or case number for free. It shows charges, hearing dates, and case status. It does not show mugshots or full police reports. But it can confirm arrest details when other sources come up short. Under MGL c. 66, § 10, you can also file a public records request with any agency. They have 10 business days to respond. The fee for paper copies is $0.25 per page.
Massachusetts Jail Mugshots and Public Records
Mugshot access in Massachusetts is not simple. Whether a jail mugshot is public depends on when it was taken. The Supervisor of Public Records issued an opinion in 2010 (SPR10/152) that drew a clear line. Mugshots taken before criminal proceedings start are public records. Mugshots taken after a complaint is filed fall under CORI, which limits access. The "initiation of criminal proceedings" is the point when the investigation is done and officers move to bring a suspect to court. This happens before the actual arrest in many cases.
MGL c. 4, § 7(26) lists exemptions to the public records law. These include investigatory materials, records that would compromise security, and information that could endanger safety. Police departments have some discretion here. Under 803 CMR 7.10, they can release CORI-related mugshots if they decide it helps an investigation. A 2017 Boston Globe report found that some departments used this discretion unevenly, shielding officer arrests while publishing civilian booking photos.
A legal analysis from Prince Lobel examines how Massachusetts courts have ruled on mugshot access for both officers and civilians.
The article explains why arrest records and mugshots are considered fair game under state law in certain contexts.
The Reporters Committee open government guide for Massachusetts covers the full scope of public records access, including jail mugshots and arrest data.
This guide is one of the best sources for understanding what records you can and cannot get in the state.
Note: Whether a Massachusetts jail mugshot is public depends on the timing of the booking photo relative to when criminal proceedings were formally initiated.
CORI System for Massachusetts Jail Mugshots
CORI stands for Criminal Offender Record Information. It is the state system that tracks criminal history in Massachusetts. The Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) runs CORI from its office at 200 Arlington Street in Chelsea. MGL c. 6, § 167 defines CORI as information "recorded as the result of the initiation of criminal proceedings." This is the same threshold that determines mugshot access. Once criminal proceedings start, the booking photo and related records enter the CORI system.
You can run a CORI check through the iCORI online portal. It costs $25 per check. You need the person's full name and date of birth. Results take 24 to 48 hours. Standard CORI checks show convictions, active cases, and incarceration records. They do not show sealed records, expunged records, or juvenile records. The iCORI system does not include mugshots or booking photos directly, but it confirms arrest and conviction data that county jails hold.
The Massachusetts CORI law page on mass.gov explains the legal framework behind criminal record access in the state.
This resource covers what CORI includes, who can access it, and the limits on sharing criminal record data.
The criminal records topic page on mass.gov is another helpful starting point for understanding the full picture of criminal record access in the state.
It links to CORI check tools, record sealing forms, and other related services.
Massachusetts Jail Mugshots From State Prisons
The Massachusetts Department of Correction runs 16 state prison facilities from its headquarters at 50 Maple Street in Milford. These range from maximum security at MCI-Cedar Junction and Souza-Baranowski to minimum security at MCI-Plymouth and Pondville. The DOC holds inmates sentenced to more than two and a half years. County jails hold pre-trial detainees and those with shorter sentences. This split matters when searching for jail mugshots because the search method differs by facility type.
For state prison inmates, the VINE system is your best free option. Call (866) 277-7477 or search online at VINELink. You can look up inmates by name, ID number, or case number. VINE provides custody status notifications and release date alerts. It is free and runs around the clock. You can sign up for automated alerts by email, text, or phone call.
To request records directly from the DOC, contact the Records Access Officer at the DOC public records page. You can email doc.rao@state.ma.us or call (508) 422-3300.
The DOC site has links to facility listings, inmate search tools, and public records request info.
Sealing Arrest Records in Massachusetts
Massachusetts law allows people to seal or expunge certain criminal records. Under MGL c. 276, §§ 100A and 100C, you can ask to seal a misdemeanor record after 5 years from the conviction or release date. Felony records can be sealed after 10 years. Level 1 sex offender records need 15 years. Level 2 and 3 sex offenders cannot seal their records at all. When a record is sealed, it no longer shows up in standard CORI checks. Jail mugshots tied to sealed records also become restricted.
Expungement goes further than sealing. It means permanent destruction of the record. Massachusetts created an expungement process for certain cases. You can learn about sealing at the mass.gov record sealing page. For expungement, visit the expungement info page. Both processes require court approval.
Important: Sealed records are not the same as expunged records. Sealed records still exist but are hidden from standard checks. Expunged records are permanently destroyed.
Massachusetts Police Logs and Jail Records
Even when jail mugshots are restricted, police arrest logs remain public. MGL c. 41, § 98F requires every municipal police department to keep a daily log. These logs must record responses to complaints, crimes reported, names and addresses of arrested persons, and charges filed. Police logs are open to the public during regular business hours at no charge. They do not fall under the CORI exemption.
There is one big exception. MGL c. 41, § 97D says police departments must keep domestic violence incidents, sexual assault cases, and abuse protection order violations out of public logs. This law was expanded in 2014 to give broader protection. So while most arrest data shows up in the daily log, these categories stay confidential. There is also no public alphabetical index of arrested persons under state law. You would need to check logs by date rather than by name in most cases.
The Boston Bar Journal published an article examining the gap between what criminal justice information should be public and what actually gets released in Massachusetts.
The piece argues that too much criminal justice data remains hidden from public view in the state.
For more on your rights to access government records in Massachusetts, including jail mugshots and arrest data, see the public records law guide on mass.gov.
Browse Massachusetts Jail Mugshots by County
Each of the 14 counties in Massachusetts has its own sheriff-run jail that handles booking photos and inmate records. Pick a county below to find local contact info and jail mugshot search options.
Jail Mugshots in Major Massachusetts Cities
Arrests in major cities go through the local police department, then to the county jail. Pick a city below to find out where jail mugshots are held and how to search for them.