Search Taunton Criminal Court Records
Taunton criminal court records are filed at the Taunton District Court and Bristol Superior Court. Taunton is the county seat of Bristol County with about 58,000 residents. Both courts are located right in the city, which makes it easy to get criminal records in person. The District Court handles misdemeanors and lesser felony cases. Bristol Superior Court takes on serious felony matters. You can also search for Taunton criminal cases online through the state's MassCourts portal. Most basic case data is public record and available to anyone who asks for it.
Taunton Overview
Taunton District Court Criminal Records
Taunton District Court is at 120 Cohannet Street in Taunton. The court handles misdemeanor charges, motor vehicle crimes, and lesser felonies from the city. It also serves a handful of surrounding communities. The clerk's office manages case files and takes requests for copies during regular business hours.
Walk in with the defendant's name or docket number and ask the clerk to pull the file. Recent cases can be copied while you wait. Older records may take a day or two if they are in storage. Bring a photo ID. The clerk can also tell you the status of a pending case, who the judge is, and when the next hearing is set. Call (508) 828-2800 to check on a record before making the trip. The Taunton District Court page on mass.gov has hours, directions, and contact details.
| Court | Taunton District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 120 Cohannet St Taunton, MA 02780 |
| Phone | (508) 828-2800 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
The screenshot below shows the Taunton District Court page on mass.gov with contact and service information.
Check this page for the latest hours, forms, and phone numbers for the Taunton District Court clerk.
Bristol Superior Court in Taunton
Bristol Superior Court is at 11 Court Street in Taunton. Since Taunton is the county seat, the Superior Court is right in the city. That is convenient if you need felony case records. Indicted cases for serious crimes like drug trafficking, armed robbery, and major assault charges from all of Bristol County get heard here.
The criminal clerk can be reached at (508) 823-8900. Records requests work the same way as at the District Court level. Give the clerk a name or docket number and they will pull the file. Copies follow the state fee schedule. The courthouse is in downtown Taunton, an easy walk from the District Court. Both courts run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Having both courts in the same city is a real advantage. If you are not sure whether a Taunton case is at the District or Superior level, you can check at both locations in one trip. The clerk at either court can also tell you where a case ended up if it was transferred between courts.
How to Search Taunton Criminal Records Online
The MassCourts portal is the free online tool for searching court records in Massachusetts. It covers both Taunton District Court and Bristol Superior Court. You can look up case status, docket entries, and hearing dates from any computer. The site is up 24 hours a day.
There is one big limit you should know. Criminal cases on MassCourts can only be searched by docket number, not by name. If you have the case number, you can pull up the full docket in a few minutes. Without it, you need to call the clerk's office and ask them to find the case by name. The Taunton District Court number is (508) 828-2800. For Superior Court, call (508) 823-8900. Either clerk can give you the docket number so you can track the case online from there.
For full criminal background checks, use the iCORI portal. Check your own record free once a year. Checking someone else costs $25 per search and requires registration as an approved user. CORI results pull from every court in the state, including both Taunton courts.
Taunton Criminal Case Agencies
The Bristol County District Attorney's Office prosecutes criminal cases from Taunton. The DA has an office in Taunton since it is the county seat. They handle cases at both the District and Superior Court levels. You can contact them about case status or victim services.
Police reports from Taunton are separate from court files. If you need the arrest report or incident report, request it from the Taunton Police Department. The court record starts with the criminal complaint or indictment. The police record covers the investigation and arrest. These are different systems. You may need both to get the full picture of a case.
The Bristol County Sheriff's Office manages the county jail and house of correction. You can look up current inmates on their website. This only covers people in custody now. Past inmates are not listed.
Note: The Bristol County DA's main office is in New Bedford, but they keep staff in Taunton for Superior Court cases.
Taunton Court Record Fees
Copy fees for criminal court records in Taunton are the same at both courts. The state sets the schedule. You pay at the clerk's window when picking up records.
- Non-certified copies: $0.05 per page
- Certified copies: $2.50 per page
- Certificate of order or judgment: $20.00
- CORI background check (someone else): $25.00
Mail requests are accepted at both courts. Send a check or money order payable to the clerk's office with a self-addressed stamped envelope. Include the defendant's name, docket number if you have it, and what records you need. Mail requests take 5 to 10 business days. Older cases from storage may take longer. If you cannot afford the fees, file an Affidavit of Indigency with the court to request a waiver.
Sealing Taunton Criminal Records
You can petition to seal a criminal record from Taunton after the right amount of time passes. Misdemeanors can be sealed 3 years after the case disposition. Felonies need 7 years. File at the court where the case was heard. For most Taunton matters, that means Taunton District Court or Bristol Superior Court.
Cases that ended in a dismissal or not guilty verdict can be sealed right away under M.G.L. c. 276, section 100C. No fee to file. Once sealed, the record drops off CORI results and public view. The criminal records page on mass.gov has the forms and step-by-step guides. You can also get help at the Bristol County Law Library in the Taunton courthouse.
Juvenile records from Taunton are kept in a separate system. They are generally confidential under M.G.L. c. 119, section 60A and do not appear on standard CORI checks.
Legal Help in Taunton
South Coastal Counties Legal Services covers Bristol County and provides free legal help to people with low income. They assist with criminal record sealing, CORI issues, and other legal problems. The Massachusetts Bar Association runs a referral service at (617) 654-0400 where you can get matched with a criminal law attorney for a $25 first meeting.
MassLegalHelp at masslegalhelp.org has free guides on criminal records, sealing, and how to understand your CORI report. All court forms are free on mass.gov. The Bristol County Law Library in the Taunton courthouse can point you to the right forms and resources.
Bristol County Criminal Court Records
Taunton is the county seat of Bristol County. Both the District Court and the Superior Court are located here. Bristol County also has courts in New Bedford and Fall River. For full details on every Bristol County court, the fee schedule, and how to search records across the county, visit the Bristol County page.
Nearby Cities
Other cities near Taunton with criminal court records pages: