Boston Jail Mugshots
Boston jail mugshots and booking records come from the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office and the Boston Police Department. With about 675,000 residents, Boston is the largest city in Massachusetts and processes thousands of arrests each year through its local police stations and county jail system. If you need to find a booking photo or check the custody status of someone arrested in Boston, there are several ways to search. The Suffolk County jail on Nashua Street holds most pre-trial detainees while the South Bay House of Correction houses sentenced inmates. This page covers the main ways to look up Boston jail mugshots and arrest records.
Boston Jail Mugshots Overview
Where to Search Boston Jail Mugshots
Boston is in Suffolk County, and all jail bookings go through the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office. The county runs two main facilities. Nashua Street Jail at 200 Nashua Street holds people waiting for trial. South Bay House of Correction holds those who have been sentenced. When someone gets arrested by Boston Police, they are booked at the station first. Then they may be moved to one of these county jails if held on bail or if they cannot post bond.
The Suffolk County Sheriff's website at www.suffolk-sheriff.com is the first place to check for inmate records. You can call the main line at 617-635-1100 and ask for custody status by name. The jail staff can tell you if someone is still in custody and what charges they face. They can also give you the court date and bail amount set by the judge.
Boston Police also keep arrest records at their main office. The records division at One Schroeder Plaza in Roxbury Crossing handles public records requests. Call 617-343-4500 for general info or 617-635-4037 for public records. You can also email publicrecords@boston.gov with your request.
Note: Suffolk County does not have an online inmate search tool, so phone calls or in-person visits are the main way to check custody status.
Boston Police Arrest Records
The Boston Police Department keeps daily arrest logs as required by MGL c. 41, § 98F. These logs are public records. They list the names and addresses of arrested persons along with the charges. You can view these logs during business hours at no cost. The law says every police department in Massachusetts must keep them. BPD makes crime data available through its online crime hub as well. Arrest logs on the hub do not include domestic violence cases, which are kept confidential under MGL c. 41, § 97D.
You can get copies of police reports by visiting the Public Service Counter at One Schroeder Plaza. Staff there can pull reports by name or case number. They also handle ink fingerprints and certain licenses. For a broader search, you can submit a written public records request. Under MGL c. 66, § 10, Boston Police must respond within 10 business days. The standard fee for paper copies is $0.25 per page.
The City of Boston website has more details on city services and department contacts for records requests.
This is the official City of Boston portal where you can find links to the police department and public records request forms.
Boston Mugshot Access Laws
Whether you can get a jail mugshot in Boston depends on when the photo was taken. This is a key point that confuses many people. The Supervisor of Public Records issued an opinion in 2010 (SPR10/152) that set the rule. Mugshots taken before criminal proceedings start are public records. Once a complaint gets filed, the mugshot falls under CORI and access is limited. The line is drawn at the "initiation of criminal proceedings," which is when officers move to bring a person to court.
MGL c. 6, § 167 defines CORI as information recorded from the start of criminal proceedings. This means most booking photos taken at the jail fall under CORI. Only authorized users can view full CORI records. A standard check through the iCORI system costs $25. The Department of Criminal Justice Information Services at 200 Arlington Street in Chelsea runs the iCORI portal.
Boston Police can still release mugshots at their discretion under 803 CMR 7.10 if they think it helps an investigation. A 2017 Boston Globe report found that BPD used this power unevenly. Some officer arrest photos were shielded while civilian booking photos were shared with the press. This sparked a debate about fair access to mugshot records in Boston and across the state.
Note: Police logs with arrest details are always public, even when the mugshot itself may be restricted under CORI rules.
Boston Jail Facilities
Suffolk County runs the jail system that serves Boston. There are two main facilities in the city.
| Facility | Nashua Street Jail |
|---|---|
| Address | 200 Nashua Street, Boston, MA 02114 |
| Phone | 617-635-1100 x3005 |
| Type | Pre-trial detention |
The South Bay House of Correction is the other main facility in Boston. It holds sentenced inmates who are serving time on shorter sentences, usually under two and a half years. People with longer sentences go to state prison facilities run by the Massachusetts Department of Correction. The state DOC inmate search covers all 16 state prison locations for those cases.
The Boston Police Department page on the city website covers local law enforcement services and has contact info for records requests.
This page shows the Boston Police Department's section on the city site with links to records and services.
How to Look Up Boston Arrest Records
There are several ways to search for arrest and booking records in Boston. Each source has different types of data available. Here are the main options:
- Call Suffolk County Sheriff at 617-635-1100 for inmate custody status
- Visit BPD Records at One Schroeder Plaza, Roxbury Crossing, MA 02120
- Email publicrecords@boston.gov for a formal records request
- Search court records through the Massachusetts Trial Court system
- Use the VINELink system for state prison inmates
Court records give you another path to find arrest 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. Boston Municipal Court handles many local cases, while Superior Court covers felonies. Neither system shows actual mugshots, but they can confirm arrest details when other sources fall short. Court records in Boston go back many years and are open for public inspection during business hours.
The Massachusetts criminal records portal is a good starting point for understanding what records are available at the state level and how to get them.
Sealing Arrest Records in Boston
Some arrest records and mugshots in Boston can be sealed or removed from public view. Under MGL c. 276, §§ 100A and 100C, a person can ask to have their record sealed after a set time. Misdemeanor records can be sealed five years after the conviction or after release from jail. Felony records take ten years. Level 1 sex offenders must wait 15 years.
Sealed records do not show up on standard CORI checks. They also do not appear in court searches. If a record is sealed, the mugshot linked to that arrest is also sealed. Expungement goes further and destroys the record for good. Not all records qualify for expungement. The process starts at the court where the case was heard. For Boston cases, that is usually Boston Municipal Court or Suffolk County Superior Court.
The Reporters Committee open government guide for Massachusetts has more detail on what records the public can and cannot access.
Note: Sealed records can still be seen by law enforcement and certain courts, even after a successful sealing petition.
Suffolk County Jail Mugshots
Boston is in Suffolk County. All jail bookings for people arrested in Boston go through the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office. The county also covers Chelsea, Revere, and Winthrop. For a full look at Suffolk County jail records, inmate search options, and facility details, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
Several cities near Boston have their own police departments that handle local arrests. Booking records for each city go through the county jail that serves that area. Check these nearby city pages for more local search options.