Find Criminal Court Records in Bristol County

Bristol County criminal court records are held at the Superior Court in Taunton and five district courts spread across the county. With a population near 580,000, Bristol County sees a high volume of criminal case filings each year. Residents in Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton, Attleboro, and Wareham each have a local district court that handles misdemeanors and some felonies. Serious felony cases go to Bristol Superior Court. You can search many of these criminal records online through the MassCourts portal or request copies from the clerk at any Bristol County court. This page covers how to look up cases, where to go, what fees to expect, and who to call for help with Bristol County criminal court records.

Bristol County Superior Court

Bristol Superior Court sits at 11 Court Street in Taunton. This is where the most serious criminal cases in the county are tried. The court has jurisdiction over all felony cases that get indicted by the grand jury. Murder, armed robbery, drug trafficking, and other major crimes all go through this court. The clerk's office keeps all case files and can help you find records for both open and closed cases.

Court hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. You can walk in and ask for records at the clerk's window. Bring the case number if you have it. Staff can also search by name, though criminal case name searches are more limited than civil ones. If you need a certified copy of a court document, the fee is $2.50 per page. Plain copies cost just $0.05 per page.

You can also reach the clerk by email at bristol.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us. Mail requests for records are accepted. Send a written request with the case details, a copy of your photo ID, and a check for the fees. Processing by mail takes about two to three weeks.

Bristol County District Courts

Bristol County has five district courts. Each one handles criminal cases for its part of the county. District courts deal with misdemeanors, lesser felonies, and arraignments. Many cases start here. Some get moved to Superior Court later if the charges are more serious or if a grand jury issues an indictment.

The Fall River District Court is at 186 South Main Street in Fall River. Call (508) 675-7461 for case info. New Bedford District Court sits at 75 North 6th Street. Its phone number is (508) 997-4511. These two courts handle the bulk of district-level criminal filings in Bristol County because Fall River and New Bedford are the two largest cities.

Taunton District Court is at 120 Cohannet Street, and you can reach them at (508) 828-2800. Attleboro District Court is at 88 North Main Street with a phone number of (508) 226-4000. The Wareham District Court covers the eastern part of the county at 2245 Cranberry Highway. Call (508) 295-2700 to reach that court. All five courts keep their own criminal case files and can provide copies on request.

Each district court clerk can look up cases for you. Walk-in visits work best for quick searches. Hours are the same at all locations: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday. Fees match the statewide schedule. You pay $0.05 per page for plain copies and $2.50 per page for certified ones.

Note: If you are not sure which court handled a case, try the MassCourts online portal first to find the right location.

How to Search Bristol County Criminal Records

The MassCourts portal is the main way to search Bristol County criminal court records online. It is free to use. The system covers both the Superior Court and all five district courts. You can search by case number to pull up docket sheets, hearing dates, charges, and case status. Criminal cases in Bristol County follow the standard format, such as 1681CR02072 for Superior Court or 1153CR000005 for District Court.

There is one big catch. Most criminal cases on MassCourts can only be found by docket number. Name searches work well for civil cases, but criminal case name lookups are limited. If you only have a person's name and not the case number, you may need to visit the clerk's office in person. The clerk can run a broader search of their internal system.

For background checks, the state CORI system is another option. CORI stands for Criminal Offender Record Information. You can run a public CORI check through the iCORI portal for $25. This gives you a statewide criminal history report. It covers more than just Bristol County. You need the person's full name, date of birth, and Social Security number. Each person can get one free self-check per year.

The screenshot below shows the MassCourts portal, which is the starting point for any Bristol County criminal court record search. Start your search there by selecting Bristol County as the court location.

Once you get to the search page, pick "Bristol" as the court location and select either Superior Court or the specific district court you want. Results show the case docket with dates, charges, and status updates.

Bristol County District Attorney

The Bristol County District Attorney's office prosecutes all criminal cases in the county. The DA's office is at 1 Government Center in Fall River. You can call them at (508) 828-2300. Their website at bristolda.com has news and information about cases they handle.

The DA does not give out court records directly. Those come from the court clerk. But the DA's office can help with victim services and case status questions if you are a victim or witness in a Bristol County criminal case. They also handle grand jury proceedings, which is how serious felonies get sent to Superior Court. If you need to know whether charges were filed in a case, the DA's office may be able to point you in the right direction.

Bristol County Sheriff's Office

The Bristol County Sheriff's Office is at 400 Faunce Corner Road in Dartmouth. Call (508) 995-4927 to reach them. The sheriff runs the county jail and house of correction. They handle inmates, not court records. But if you need to find out if someone is in custody in Bristol County, the sheriff's office is the place to call.

Arrest records and booking info sometimes come through the sheriff's department. Court records stay with the court clerk. The two are separate systems. For warrant information, contact the court that issued the warrant or call the local police department. The sheriff's office also handles service of court papers like summonses and subpoenas in criminal cases.

Bristol County Criminal Record Types

Criminal court records in Bristol County include several kinds of documents. The criminal complaint is the first paper filed. It lists the charges and the date of the alleged crime. Docket sheets track every event in the case from arraignment to final disposition. These are the records most people look for when they search Bristol County criminal cases.

Other documents in a criminal file include bail orders, motions filed by either side, hearing transcripts, and the final judgment. If a case goes to trial, the record grows to include jury instructions, verdict forms, and sentencing documents. Plea agreements are also part of the file. All of these are held by the clerk at the court where the case was tried.

Massachusetts law allows some criminal records to be sealed. Under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A, certain convictions can be sealed after a waiting period. Misdemeanor convictions can be sealed three years after the case ends. Felony convictions have a seven-year wait. Cases that were dismissed or ended in a not guilty verdict can be sealed right away under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100C. Once a record is sealed in Bristol County, it will not show up in public searches on MassCourts or through the clerk's office.

Note: Sealed records are not destroyed and can still be accessed by law enforcement and some government agencies.

Bristol County Court Record Fees

Fees for court records in Bristol County follow the statewide schedule set by the Massachusetts Trial Court. Plain copies cost $0.05 per page. Certified copies are $2.50 per page. If you need a certificate of a court order or decree, that costs $20.00.

CORI background checks cost $25 each. Court transcripts run $3.00 to $5.00 per page. Staff-assisted searches can cost $5.00 to $20.00 depending on the work involved. Most courts take cash, checks, and credit cards for payment. If you cannot afford the fees, you can file an Affidavit of Indigency with the court to ask for a fee waiver. The judge will review your financial situation and decide.

Legal Help in Bristol County

If you need legal help with a criminal case in Bristol County, several groups can assist. The Committee for Public Counsel Services assigns public defenders to people who cannot afford a lawyer. You ask for a public defender at your arraignment. The judge will decide if you qualify based on your income.

South Coastal Counties Legal Services has offices in the area and helps low-income residents with some legal matters. The Massachusetts Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service at (617) 654-0400. The first meeting is $25 for 30 minutes. The website masslegalhelp.org has guides and forms for people dealing with criminal records, including how to seal a record. All official court forms are available for free on the mass.gov courts page.

Cities in Bristol County

Bristol County has several cities and towns. Three of the largest have their own pages with more detail on local criminal court resources.

Other communities in Bristol County include Attleboro, Dartmouth, and Wareham. All criminal cases from these areas go through the district court that covers their location or through Bristol Superior Court for serious felonies.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Bristol County. If you need criminal court records from a neighboring area, check the county where the case was filed. Jurisdiction depends on where the alleged crime took place.