Search Somerville Recent Bookings
Somerville recent bookings and arrest records are held by the Somerville Police Department and the Middlesex County Sheriff's Office. When someone is arrested in Somerville, SPD creates a booking record at their Washington Street headquarters. People held on bail or who can't post bond get moved to the Middlesex County House of Correction in Billerica. You can search for Somerville booking records through the police department, the state court system, or by filing a public records request. This page breaks down each method so you know where to look and what to expect.
Somerville Booking Records Overview
Somerville Police Arrest and Booking Process
The Somerville Police Department handles all arrests in the city. SPD headquarters is at 220 Washington Street, Somerville, MA 02143. When officers make an arrest, the person is brought to this station for booking. The process creates a record with the person's name, date of birth, charges, arrest date, and the officer who made the arrest. A booking photo is taken along with fingerprints. These records are public under Massachusetts law.
Somerville is a compact city, just about four square miles. It sits right next to Cambridge and borders Medford, Everett, and parts of Boston. Because of its size, SPD handles a moderate volume of arrests compared to larger departments. Still, the booking process works the same way it does across the state. Every arrest creates a paper trail that starts at the police station.
| Department | Somerville Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 220 Washington Street Somerville, MA 02143 |
| Main Phone | 617-625-1212 |
| Records Email | records@police.somerville.ma.us |
After booking at SPD, people who are held on bail or can't make bail get transferred to the Middlesex County House of Correction. That facility is at 269 Treble Cove Road in Billerica. The Middlesex County Sheriff's Office runs this jail and keeps its own intake records on each person who comes through. So a single Somerville arrest can produce booking records in two places: the police department and the county jail. The sheriff's administrative office is at 12 Gill Street, Suite 4700, Woburn, MA 01801, and you can reach them at (781) 960-2800.
Note: Middlesex County does not maintain a public online inmate database, so phone calls or written requests are needed to check custody status.
How to Search Somerville Booking Records
There are several ways to look up recent bookings in Somerville. The right method depends on what you need. For police booking records, go straight to SPD. For court case data tied to an arrest, use the state eAccess system. For background check information, the iCORI system covers statewide arrest data including Somerville. Each source holds different pieces of the puzzle, so checking more than one gives you a better picture.
The Somerville Police Department publishes weekly arrest logs. These logs show the date of each arrest, the person's name, and the charges filed. You can find them on the SPD website. The logs give a quick look at recent booking activity in the city without needing to file a formal request. For older records or more detail, you will need to contact the Records Bureau by email at records@police.somerville.ma.us or visit the station in person at 220 Washington Street.
Somerville also runs an open data portal with crime report data. You can view Somerville crime data going back to 2017 on the Somerville Open Data portal. The data refreshes daily with about a one-month delay. It includes report details, crime types, and locations. While this is not the same as a booking log, it shows what kinds of arrests and incidents are happening across the city.
The screenshot above shows the Somerville crime data portal. This open data tool lets you filter, sort, and download crime reports. It is a good starting point if you want to see patterns or look up a specific incident before requesting the full booking record from SPD.
Somerville Court Records and Arrest Cases
After an arrest in Somerville, the case moves to court for arraignment. Most Somerville cases are heard at the Somerville District Court, located at 175 Fellsway West, Somerville, MA 02144. This court handles arraignments, bail hearings, and preliminary proceedings for misdemeanors and some felonies. More serious charges may be sent to the Middlesex Superior Court in Woburn.
The Massachusetts Trial Court eAccess portal is a free tool that lets you search court records tied to Somerville bookings. You can look up cases by name or case number. The results show charges, hearing dates, docket entries, and case status. The system covers all court divisions in Middlesex County. You need at least two letters of the last name and one letter of the first name to run a search. A "not a robot" check is part of the process.
The eAccess system shown above is the main way to search court records online. When you are looking up a Somerville arrest, filter by the Somerville District Court to narrow your results. Case details include the filing date, all charges, any scheduled hearings, and whether the case is still open or closed. This is the court side of the booking. It picks up after arraignment and tracks the case through to resolution.
Note: The eAccess portal shows court data only, not the original police booking record with mugshots or fingerprint details.
Somerville Arrest Records Under State Law
Massachusetts public records law controls how you can get booking records in Somerville. Under M.G.L. Chapter 66, Section 10, any person can request public records from a government agency. Booking records, arrest logs, and police reports are generally public. The Somerville Police Department must respond to a public records request within 10 business days. You can submit your request by email to records@police.somerville.ma.us or in person at the Records Bureau.
Some records may be partially withheld. Under M.G.L. Chapter 4, Section 7, Clause 26, agencies can hold back records that fall under specific exemptions. This includes investigatory materials that could compromise an open case, or certain personal details. But the booking record itself, showing who was arrested, what the charges were, and when it happened, is accessible. The cost of copies is capped by state rules. Under M.G.L. Chapter 66, Section 10A, agencies can charge up to $0.05 per page for standard copies. The first four hours of staff time to fill a request are free. After that, the agency can bill up to $25 per hour.
For criminal background data beyond what the police hold, the state runs the iCORI system. Under M.G.L. Chapter 6, Section 172, individuals can check their own criminal offender record for free. You can also run a background check on someone else through iCORI for $25 per search. This statewide system includes Somerville arrest and booking data maintained by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) in Chelsea.
How to Get Somerville Booking Records
Getting a copy of a Somerville booking record means contacting the right office. Police records come from SPD. County jail records come from the Middlesex Sheriff. Court records come from the clerk or eAccess. Each holds a different part of the record.
For police booking records, email records@police.somerville.ma.us or visit SPD at 220 Washington Street. Be specific in your request. Include the full name of the person, the date of the arrest if you know it, and any case or incident numbers. The more detail you give, the faster the Records Bureau can pull the right file. You can also call SPD at 617-625-1212 and ask for the Records Bureau. Simple requests like a single arrest report can sometimes be ready the same day if you go in person. Larger requests may take the full 10 business days allowed under state law.
For the county jail side, contact the Middlesex County Sheriff's Office. The main jail is in Billerica at 978-667-1711. The administrative office in Woburn can be reached at (781) 960-2800. You can also send a written request by mail to: Middlesex County Sheriff's Office, Attention: Jail Records, 12 Gill Street, Suite 4700, Woburn, MA 01801. The sheriff's office follows the same 10-day response rule under the public records law.
- Police booking records: SPD Records Bureau, records@police.somerville.ma.us
- County jail records: Middlesex Sheriff, (781) 960-2800
- Court case records: masscourts.org (free online)
- CORI background checks: iCORI system, $25 per search
- Weekly arrest logs: SPD website
Booking Alerts and Victim Notification in Somerville
If you need to track someone's custody status after a Somerville arrest, the VINELink system can help. VINE stands for Victim Information and Notification Everyday. It is a free service that covers jails and prisons across Massachusetts. You can search by name or ID and sign up for alerts when a person's status changes. That includes releases, transfers between facilities, and escapes. Somerville bookings that result in county custody are tracked in the Massachusetts VINE database.
VINELink is especially useful when someone is being held at the Middlesex County House of Correction. Since Middlesex County does not have a public online inmate search tool, VINE fills that gap for custody tracking. You can register for notifications by phone, email, or text. The system runs under the Massachusetts Office for Victim Assistance and covers every county jail and state prison in the state. It does not cost anything to use.
Note: VINELink tracks custody status and does not provide copies of booking records, arrest reports, or court documents.
Recent Bookings in Nearby Cities
Somerville borders several cities that also have their own police departments and booking processes. Cambridge is right next door and shares a border along the south side of Somerville. Medford sits to the north. Everett is to the east. Each of these cities books arrests through their own police departments, and all fall under Middlesex County for jail and court purposes. People arrested in any of these cities may end up at the same Middlesex County House of Correction in Billerica.
Malden and Boston are also close by. Malden is in Middlesex County like Somerville, so the county-level resources are the same. Boston is in Suffolk County, so its booking records go through different county systems. But the state tools like eAccess, iCORI, and VINELink cover all of them regardless of county lines. If you are searching for booking records and aren't sure which city the arrest happened in, the statewide search tools are your best bet.
Middlesex County Recent Bookings
Somerville is in Middlesex County, the most populous county in Massachusetts. The Middlesex County Sheriff's Office handles all jail operations, inmate booking, and custody records for the county. For more about county-wide booking searches, court locations, and other Middlesex County resources, visit the full county page.