Fall River Arrest Records and Bookings
Fall River recent bookings and arrest records come from the Fall River Police Department and the Bristol County Sheriff's Office. The city sits in Bristol County along the Taunton River, and all people booked by Fall River police end up in the Bristol County jail system. You can search for recent bookings through police arrest logs, court records, and public records requests. The Fall River PD posts arrest logs on its website, and the state court system lets you look up cases tied to local arrests for free. This page covers how to find Fall River booking records, where to get copies, and what each source can tell you.
Fall River Overview
Fall River Police Booking Records
The Fall River Police Department is the first place to check for recent bookings in the city. It handles all local arrests and creates the initial booking record for each case. The department sits at 685 Pleasant Street in Fall River. You can call (508) 676-8511 to ask about recent arrests or get info on how to request records. The records division takes requests by phone, in person, and by mail.
Fall River PD posts arrest logs on its site. These logs show who was arrested, what they were charged with, and when it happened. The logs get updated on a regular basis. This is the fastest way to check for a recent booking without making a phone call or going to the station. Visit the Fall River Police Department website to see the current arrest log postings. Here is a look at the department site.
The site lists contact info and links to department resources. You can find the arrest log section from the main page.
If you need a full police report or a certified copy of a booking record, you have to make a formal request. Go to the station in person during business hours or send a written request by mail. Include the full name of the person, the date of the arrest if you know it, and what type of record you want. The department may also have an online request form, but check the site to see if it is available right now. Response times follow the state public records law, which gives agencies 10 business days to get back to you under M.G.L. c. 66, Section 10.
| Department | Fall River Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 685 Pleasant Street Fall River, MA 02721 |
| Phone | (508) 676-8511 |
| Records | In person, by mail, or online form |
| Website | frpd.org |
What Happens After a Fall River Arrest
When someone is arrested in Fall River, the booking starts at the police station on Pleasant Street. Officers take the person's name, date of birth, photo, and fingerprints. They log the charges and enter the info into the system. This creates the initial booking record. After the booking at Fall River PD, the person is held for arraignment or transferred to a Bristol County jail facility.
Bristol County runs two main facilities. The Ash Street Jail at 226 Ash Street in New Bedford holds pre-trial inmates and has space for more than 200 people. The larger Dartmouth Complex on Faunce Corner Road in North Dartmouth is the main house of correction. It has room for about 1,100 inmates. High-security cases and longer holds usually go to Dartmouth. People arrested in Fall River can end up at either place depending on the charges and available space.
The Bristol County Sheriff's Office manages all county jail facilities. There is no online inmate search on the sheriff's site. To find out if someone arrested in Fall River is still in custody, call 508.995.6400 and ask for extension 2535. Staff can tell you which facility they are at. Below is the Bristol County Sheriff website.
The sheriff's site shows contact info and facility details but does not have a search tool for current inmates.
Fall River Court Records and Bookings
Most people arrested in Fall River go to the Fall River District Court for their arraignment. The court is at 186 South Main Street in Fall River. Its phone number is (508) 491-3200. Arraignments usually happen the next business day after an arrest. The court creates its own records for each case, and these tie back to the original booking.
You can search Fall River court records through the Massachusetts Trial Court eAccess portal. This is a free tool. Type in a name and filter by court location to find cases from Fall River District Court. Results show the charges, hearing dates, docket entries, and case status. You need at least two letters for a last name and one letter for the first name. The system covers all case types, so you can find everything from minor charges to serious felonies.
The Fall River District Court page on mass.gov has hours, directions, and contact details. Here is how that page looks.
The court page lists the address, phone number, and clerk info. You can call ahead to check if a specific case has been scheduled for hearing.
More serious cases from Fall River may go to the Bristol County Superior Court in New Bedford at 441 County Street. That court handles felonies and cases where the district court binds someone over. The phone number there is (508) 996-2051. Either way, the eAccess portal covers both courts. You can search one system and find records from any court in the state.
| Court | Fall River District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 186 South Main Street Fall River, MA 02721 |
| Phone | (508) 491-3200 |
| Online Search | masscourts.org |
Fall River Booking Records Requests
Massachusetts law gives you the right to ask for booking records. The public records law under M.G.L. c. 66, Section 10 applies to the Fall River Police Department and the Bristol County Sheriff's Office. Both agencies must respond within 10 business days. If you want records from the police, send your request to the Fall River PD at 685 Pleasant Street. For jail records, write to the Bristol County Sheriff's Office at 400 Faunce Corner Road, North Dartmouth, MA 02747.
Fees for public records requests are set by state rules. The first two hours of search time are free. After that, agencies can charge up to $25 per hour. Copies run about $0.05 per page for standard black and white prints. Your request should be as specific as you can make it. Include the full name of the person, the date or date range, and what kind of record you want. Vague requests take longer and sometimes come back with only part of what you need.
Some records have limits on what gets released. Juvenile arrest records are sealed under Massachusetts law. Domestic violence case details may have restrictions. Mental health info tied to a booking can be redacted. But the basic facts of an adult arrest are public in most cases. That includes the name, charges, date, and booking info. The full rules sit in M.G.L. Chapter 66 and M.G.L. c. 4, Section 7(26), which lists the exemptions.
Note: Fall River PD arrest logs are the fastest free source for recent booking info since they get posted on the department website.
Fall River Criminal Record Checks
The state iCORI system lets you run a criminal background check that includes Fall River arrest records. It is run by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services. A personal check costs $25. You need to make an account and verify who you are before you can search. Results show conviction records and some pending cases from across Massachusetts, including Bristol County.
iCORI is not the same as checking for someone who was booked last night. It is more of a background check tool that pulls from the statewide database. Processing can take up to 10 business days. For real-time booking info in Fall River, the arrest logs on the police website or a phone call to the station are much faster. Use iCORI when you need a formal record of past convictions rather than the latest booking details.
- Personal CORI check: $25
- Open access check: $50
- Processing time: up to 10 business days
- Covers all Massachusetts counties including Bristol
- Shows convictions and some pending cases
Bristol County Arrest Records
Fall River is in Bristol County, and all jail bookings go through the Bristol County Sheriff's Office. The county handles inmates from Fall River, New Bedford, Taunton, and every other town in the area. For more on the county jail system, facility details, and other ways to search Bristol County booking records, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are close to Fall River and share the Bristol County jail system. Arrests in any of these places go through similar booking steps and end up at the same county facilities.