Find Bristol County Felony Records

Bristol County felony records are spread across three Superior Court locations in Taunton, New Bedford, and Fall River. If you are searching for a criminal case in southeastern Massachusetts, this guide tells you which court to check, how to access records online, what to expect when you go in person, and where to find related criminal justice information for Bristol County.

Bristol County Superior Court Locations

Bristol County is unusual in Massachusetts because it has three separate Superior Court locations. Each handles cases from different parts of the county. Knowing which location covers the town or city you are researching will save time when you go looking for felony records.

The Taunton Superior Court is at 9 Court Street, Taunton, MA 02780. Phone: (508) 823-8301. This location handles cases from the northern part of the county. The New Bedford Superior Court sits at 441 County Street, New Bedford, MA 02740. Phone: (508) 991-2600. It serves the central and coastal sections of Bristol County. The Fall River Superior Court is at 441 North Main Street, Fall River, MA 02720. Phone: (508) 824-9405. All three are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Copy fees at Bristol County Superior Court are $1.00 per page for regular copies and $4.50 per page for certified copies. If you are requesting records by mail, allow 10 to 15 business days for processing. Include the case number, party names, and a check or money order made out to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

The Bristol County Superior Court page on mass.gov lists hours, contact numbers, and directions for all three courthouse locations.

Searching Bristol County Felony Records Online

The state court portal at masscourts.org is your best starting point for an online search of Bristol County felony records. From the home page, check the box confirming you are not a robot, then go to the public records search. Select Superior Court, then Bristol County, and choose one of the three locations: Fall River, New Bedford, or Taunton. Type in a name or case number to run your search. Results show up to 75 cases per page, so filter down if you get too many hits.

Each case result on masscourts.org shows the party name, case type, charges, filing date, current status, and a list of docket entries. You can see what happened in a case without going to the courthouse, though you cannot download full documents through the portal. For that, you need to visit in person or submit a mail request.

Some third-party sites aggregate public case data for Bristol County. These can be useful for quick lookups, but treat them as a starting point. Always confirm what you find against the official masscourts.org system or the courthouse itself.

Records that will not appear in any online search include sealed cases, juvenile records, active investigation files, and grand jury materials. Under MGL Chapter 276, felony records can be sealed after 7 years from the end of the case. If you search and find nothing for a case you know existed, sealing is the most likely explanation.

What Bristol County Felony Records Contain

A Bristol County felony case file holds a significant amount of information. The core documents include the criminal complaint or indictment, arraignment record, bail determination, motions to suppress evidence, discovery-related filings, plea agreements, and trial exhibits. If the case went to trial, you will also find verdict forms and the sentencing order. The docket sheet acts as a chronological index of every step the case went through.

Some items are excluded from public access. Ongoing investigations and prosecutions are protected. Personal identification information of certain parties may be redacted. Grand jury minutes are never released to the public. Medical records and autopsy reports tied to a case are also withheld. Juvenile case records are confidential. Attorney work product submitted as part of a case is generally protected. Sexual assault and domestic violence case materials may be restricted to protect victims.

When you go to the courthouse to inspect a file, you will see what is in the public portion of the record. If documents have been impounded by a judge, the clerk will note that impounded materials exist but will not provide them without a court order.

Checking what files exist in Bristol County before you visit the courthouse or submit a formal request can save you a lot of time and effort.

Bristol County District Courts

Felony cases often start in district court before moving up to Superior Court. If you are looking for early-stage felony filings, you may need to check the relevant district court. Bristol County has five district courts. Attleboro District Court is at 88 North Main Street, (508) 222-3600. Fall River District Court is at 45 Rock Street, (508) 673-2922. New Bedford District Court is at 75 North 6th Street, (508) 991-2300. Taunton District Court is at 40 Broadway, (508) 977-6000. Westport District Court is at 195 Main Road, (508) 673-2934.

Each district court keeps records for matters in its jurisdiction. A case that started at the district level and was bound over to Superior Court will have files at both courts. Check both if you want the complete record from arraignment through sentencing.

Bristol County Sheriff and Inmate Lookup

The Bristol County Sheriff's Office is at 400 Faunce Corner Road, Dartmouth, MA 02747. Phone: (508) 995-6800. The sheriff operates the county jail and house of correction. The Bristol County Sheriff's website includes an inmate lookup function. You can search for people currently in county custody by name, get their booking information, and find expected release dates.

Inmate records and court records are separate systems. A person may appear in the inmate lookup while their felony case is still pending in Superior Court. Use both resources when you need a full picture of where someone stands in the criminal justice process in Bristol County.

Bristol County DA Office Records Requests

The Bristol County District Attorney's Office is at 8 North 6th Street, 3rd Floor, New Bedford, MA 02740. Phone: (508) 997-0711. The DA's website is bristolda.com. The DA prosecutes felony cases across the county. Some prosecutorial records are public, but many are exempt. Active case files, grand jury proceedings, victim identification materials, and attorney work product are all protected.

When you request records from the DA's office, be specific. Name the case, give the docket number if you have it, and list exactly what documents you want. The office is not required to compile records that don't already exist, and broad requests for "all records" in a case are often denied or narrowed. Under state law, the office has 10 business days to respond to a public records request.

Bristol County Probate Courts

Bristol County has three Probate and Family Court locations that follow the same geographic split as the Superior Courts. The Taunton location is at 40 Broadway, Suite 240, Taunton, MA 02780, phone (508) 977-6040, open Monday through Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Fall River location is at 289 Rock Street, Fall River, MA 02720, phone (508) 672-1751, fax (508) 673-7068. The New Bedford location is at 505 Pleasant Street, New Bedford, MA 02740, phone (508) 999-5249, open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, closed Wednesday.

These courts handle matters that can intersect with felony cases, including guardianship proceedings after incarceration and civil commitments. If a criminal case connects to a family court matter, you may need to check both systems. The probate court can be searched through the Bristol County Probate Court website and through masscourts.org.

CORI and Bristol County Criminal History

Under MGL Chapter 6, Massachusetts controls access to Criminal Offender Record Information, or CORI. The DCJIS in Chelsea handles CORI statewide, covering all Bristol County felony convictions. A personal CORI request costs $25. Fee waivers apply for indigent persons. You can audit your own record once every 90 days at no cost. Felony convictions in Bristol County stay on the CORI record for 10 years in most cases, with no time limit for murder and sex offenses.

For more on your rights, MassLegalHelp has a clear breakdown of how CORI works and what you can do if your record is wrong or outdated.

Reviewing Bristol County court records through the masscourts.org portal gives you a clearer view of a person's criminal history in the region before requesting a formal CORI report.

Cities in Bristol County

These cities in Bristol County have dedicated records pages.

Nearby Counties

Bristol County shares borders with several other Massachusetts counties.