Guide
Massachusetts Inmate Search at a Glance
Massachusetts splits custody between the state Department of Correction and the 14 county sheriffs, but the line falls in an unusual place. County houses of correction hold not only pretrial detainees but people sentenced to as much as two and a half years, so most people convicted in a Massachusetts district court serve their time in a county facility such as the Suffolk County House of Correction in Boston, the Middlesex jail in Billerica or the Essex County facility in Middleton. The Department of Correction holds state prison sentences at MCI-Norfolk, MCI-Shirley, Souza-Baranowski in Lancaster, NCCI-Gardner, Old Colony in Bridgewater and MCI-Framingham for women.
Neither the Department nor the sheriffs run a single statewide locator. Custody status for state prisons and most county facilities is provided through VINELink.
Official sources on this page were checked on September 25, 2026.
Guide
Massachusetts inmate search
| State prison inmates | Yes, through VINELink |
|---|---|
| County jail inmates | Yes for most counties, through VINELink |
| Parole and probation | No |
| Released inmates | No |
| Photographs | No |
| Release dates | No, status only |
| Best search key | Full name |
Search VINELink with Massachusetts selected. The result shows the inmate's name, the identification number, the facility and the custody status, and you can register for release, transfer and court event alerts. The Department of Correction confirms custody by phone through its records office and answers written requests under the Public Records Law. For the charges and sentence, the Massachusetts Trial Court publishes case information through its electronic case access system for the district, Boston municipal and superior courts.
- VINELink MassachusettsCustody status and alerts for Massachusetts state prisons and county facilities
- Massachusetts Department of CorrectionState prisons, visiting, mail, phone and money deposits
- Massachusetts Parole BoardParole hearing schedules, decisions and victim services
- Massachusetts Trial Court case accessPublic case information for district and superior courts
Guide
County houses of correction and local custody in Massachusetts
The Suffolk County Sheriff runs the Nashua Street Jail for pretrial detainees and the House of Correction at South Bay for sentenced inmates in Boston. The Middlesex, Essex, Worcester, Hampden in Ludlow, Bristol in Dartmouth, Plymouth, Norfolk in Dedham and Barnstable sheriffs each run a jail and house of correction and answer custody questions by phone; several post inmate lookups online. Boston Police and the Massachusetts State Police hold arrestees only until arraignment, then the court commits them to the county sheriff.
- Massachusetts County Sheriff DirectorySheriff offices and houses of correction for all 14 counties
- Massachusetts Police DepartmentsCity police and state police records
- Massachusetts Criminal RecordsCORI requests through the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services
- Massachusetts Most WantedWanted persons and outstanding warrants
Guide
What Massachusetts inmate records show, and what stays private
The Massachusetts Public Records Law, M.G.L. chapter 66 section 10, opens the basic custody record, but the state's Criminal Offender Record Information law, M.G.L. chapter 6 sections 167 to 178, tightly controls criminal history. The public may run an open access iCORI search only for convictions that carry a five year or longer sentence or are within set time limits, and employers need consent for standard access. The Department does not post photographs or offenses online. Medical, mental health, classification and disciplinary records are closed, and juvenile records are sealed.
Guide
Parole, probation and release in Massachusetts
The Massachusetts Parole Board hears state and county sentences once the parole eligibility date is reached, publishes hearing schedules and issues written decisions for life sentence cases. Parole officers of the Board supervise releases, while probation is run by the Trial Court's Probation Service, so probationers appear in court records. Good conduct credits set the release date shown by the Department. The judgment sits with the clerk of the court where the case was heard, and older superior court cases are held by the county clerk of courts.
Guide
When the search shows nothing
If VINELink shows nothing for Massachusetts, call the sheriff's office for the county where the case was heard, since a sentence of up to two and a half years is served in the county house of correction and not every county reports to VINELink. Check the Trial Court's case access system for the case, the federal Bureau of Prisons locator for a federal case, including the federal medical center in Devens, and the Parole Board for a recent release.
Straight answers
Massachusetts Inmate Search, questions
Why is a person sentenced to two years not in a Massachusetts state prison?
Sentences of up to two and a half years in Massachusetts are served in the county house of correction, not in a Department of Correction prison. Check with the sheriff of the county where the sentence was imposed.
Does Massachusetts have an online state inmate locator?
No. The Department of Correction provides custody status through VINELink and by phone through its records office.
Can I run a public criminal record check in Massachusetts?
Only a limited one. The iCORI open access search returns certain convictions, mainly those with five year or longer sentences and recent misdemeanors. Fuller reports require the subject's consent.
Where is someone arrested in Boston held?
At the Suffolk County Nashua Street Jail after arraignment if bail is not posted, or at the South Bay House of Correction once sentenced. Boston Police hold arrestees only until arraignment.