Fall River Criminal History Lookup
Fall River criminal history records are filed at courts and agencies throughout Bristol County. The city has its own district court, and felony cases move to Bristol County Superior Court in Fall River. With about 94,000 residents, Fall River is one of the larger cities in Bristol County. Criminal records here cover arrest logs, court dockets, and state CORI reports that draw on criminal history from across Massachusetts. This page explains where each type of record is held and how to request it.
Fall River Overview
Where Fall River Criminal Cases Are Filed
Fall River District Court handles most criminal cases that begin in the city. Misdemeanors, arraignments, and lower-level felony charges start here. When charges are elevated, cases move to Bristol County Superior Court. The Fall River location of Bristol County Superior Court is at 441 North Main Street, Fall River, MA 02720. The phone there is (508) 679-2421.
Both courts are in Fall River, which makes it straightforward to look up records. You do not need to travel to another city. Each court keeps its own case records, but both appear in the state's online case search portal. Public access to court records is broad, though certain documents may be sealed or restricted in sensitive cases.
For copies of court records, contact the clerk's office at the relevant court. Certified copies cost $2.50 per page. Non-certified copies are $0.05 per page. The statewide case portal at masscourts.org is the fastest way to find a case before requesting official copies from the clerk.
Bristol County Superior Court is the court of record for serious felonies, indictments, and jury trials in Fall River. More information about the Superior Court, including its contact details, is at mass.gov/locations/bristol-county-superior-court.
Fall River Police Department Records
The Fall River Police Department is at 685 Pleasant Street, Fall River, MA 02723. The main line is (508) 676-8511. The Records Division is extension 84214. This is where you go for arrest records, incident reports, and police logs from the city.
Massachusetts public records law makes arrest logs and closed-case incident reports generally available. The department has ten business days to respond to a written request. Some details may be withheld if they relate to an ongoing investigation or could identify a protected party. Most requests are handled faster than the legal maximum.
The Fall River Police Department page is at fallriverma.org/departments/police-department. You can mail or hand-deliver a written records request to the station at 685 Pleasant Street. Call the Records Division at extension 84214 before visiting to confirm current hours and procedures.
Police records document the arrest itself: the date, the charges, the booking information. They do not show what happened after arraignment. For court outcomes, check masscourts.org or contact the district or superior court clerk. Both sources together give the most complete view of a person's criminal history in Fall River.
The image below shows the Bristol County Superior Court page, which is the source for serious criminal records in Fall River and across Bristol County.
Bristol County Superior Court - official page
Fall River felony cases are handled at Bristol County Superior Court on North Main Street, which is the primary source for serious criminal history records in the city.
Fall River City Clerk Records
The Fall River City Clerk's Office is at 1 Government Center, Fall River, MA 02722. The phone is (508) 324-2220. The city clerk keeps official city records, including meeting minutes, city ordinances, and vital records such as births, deaths, and marriages. The clerk does not maintain criminal court records.
Vital records from the clerk's office can be useful in legal proceedings when identity or family relationships are at issue. Requests can be made in person or by mail. More information is at fallriverma.org/departments/city-clerk. The clerk must respond to public records requests within ten business days under state law.
For criminal records, the right sources are the police department and the courts. The city clerk's office can help redirect you if you are not sure which agency holds what you need. Staff are generally helpful in pointing people to the right office.
Searching Fall River Court Records Online
The Massachusetts court case search at masscourts.org is free and open to all. No login is needed. You search by name, case number, or date. Results include the court, case type, charges filed, and scheduled hearings. Fall River District Court and Bristol County Superior Court both show up in the search.
The portal is a good starting point. It shows basic case information but may not always reflect the final disposition in real time. Some older cases or sealed records will not appear. If you need complete records or certified copies, contact the clerk at the court that handled the case.
Certified copies of court documents cost $2.50 per page. Non-certified copies are $0.05 per page. Certified copies carry the court seal and are needed for most formal legal purposes. Non-certified copies work for most personal or informal uses.
The Massachusetts court system page at mass.gov lists every court in the state, including Fall River District Court and Bristol County Superior Court. Contact information, hours, and directions are all there. Mail-in records requests are accepted at most courts.
CORI Criminal History Access in Fall River
Massachusetts CORI is the statewide criminal history database. CORI stands for Criminal Offender Record Information. The Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) maintains it at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150. Phone: (617) 660-4600.
Individuals can request their own CORI at icori.chs.state.ma.us. Create an account, verify your identity, and submit your request online. The fee is $25. Results are usually ready in 24 to 48 hours. If you prefer not to use the online system, mail-in requests are also accepted. A request guide is posted at mass.gov.
CORI reports cover criminal convictions, open cases, and sometimes charges that did not result in conviction. What appears depends on the type of request and the requestor's authorization level. Individuals who ask for their own record get the most complete version. M.G.L. c. 6 §167 defines CORI and governs access. M.G.L. c. 6 §172 covers who can request what level of detail.
The DCJIS website at mass.gov/orgs/dcjis has complete information on the CORI system, fees, and the request process. If you have questions about what appears on your report, DCJIS staff can assist. The full Massachusetts CORI law page is at mass.gov.
Sealing Fall River Criminal Records
Massachusetts allows some criminal records to be sealed under M.G.L. c. 276 §100A. A sealed record is not visible in public searches, though law enforcement can still access it. The waiting period depends on the type of offense. Misdemeanors can be sealed sooner than felonies. Some charges are not eligible for sealing no matter how much time has passed.
To seal a Fall River case, file a petition at the court that heard it. Most cases go to Fall River District Court. Felony matters would be filed at Bristol County Superior Court on North Main Street. The clerk at either court can give you the petition forms. Legal aid organizations in the Fall River area can help you evaluate eligibility. The CORI law overview at mass.gov covers sealing rules in more detail.
Nearby Cities
Other Bristol County and nearby Massachusetts cities with criminal history record pages.
Bristol County Criminal History Records
Fall River is part of Bristol County. Criminal cases for the city are filed under Bristol County jurisdiction through Fall River District Court and Bristol County Superior Court. County records can be searched through the state court portal or requested from clerk's offices at the two courts in Fall River.