Search Massachusetts Inmate Population
Massachusetts has a split jail and prison system that holds roughly 17,100 people across state and county facilities. If you need to find someone in the Massachusetts inmate population, there are free tools that let you search by name or ID number. The Department of Correction runs 16 state prisons for those with long sentences. Each of the 14 county sheriff offices runs its own jail or house of correction for shorter terms and pre-trial holds. This page shows you how to search both state and county inmate records, what tools are out there, and where to go for each type of search in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Inmate Population Overview
Massachusetts Inmate Population Search Tools
The fastest way to check the Massachusetts inmate population at the state level is through VINELink. This is the main tool the Department of Correction points people to when they want to find someone in a state prison. You can reach it at vinelink.com or call 1-866-277-7477 for the phone system. It covers all 16 DOC facilities plus Essex County, which is the only county that takes part in VINE. Search by first and last name, or use an offender ID number in W##### format. Results show custody status, what facility the person is at, date of birth, and sentence details. You can also sign up for alerts that tell you by phone, text, or email if an inmate gets moved or let go.
The DOC search page at mass.gov walks you through the steps and links straight to VINELink. It is a good place to start if you have not used the system before.
The Massachusetts inmate population page on mass.gov explains how state prisons work in the system. State prisons hold people with felony sentences over 2.5 years. If the sentence is under that, the person goes to a county house of correction instead. That split matters because you have to search in the right place.
The VINELink search page lets you pick Massachusetts from a state list and then type in a name. Results load fast.
County Jail Inmate Population in Massachusetts
County jails hold about 9,200 people across Massachusetts. These are folks waiting for trial or those with sentences under 2.5 years. Each of the 14 county sheriff offices runs its own facility and keeps its own inmate roster. Some counties have online search tools and some do not. The way you look up an inmate depends on which county you need.
Worcester County has one of the best online search tools. Go to inmatesearch.wcsoma.org and you can look up inmates by first name, last name, or MSA number. The site works in both English and Spanish. Essex County runs its own search at eccorrections.org/inmatelookup where you can search by name, booking number, or state ID. Essex is also the only county in the VINE system, so you can get custody change alerts for their inmates too. Norfolk County has a tool at inmateinfo.norfolk-sheriff.com that lets you search by name or ID.
About 45% of the county jail inmate population in Massachusetts is pre-trial. That means they have not been found guilty yet. The other 55% are sentenced. Each county runs its own programs for inmates too, from drug treatment to job skills. The Massachusetts Sheriffs' Association keeps a list of all 14 sheriff offices and what they offer.
Not every county has a website you can search. For places like Suffolk, Bristol, Plymouth, Hampden, Berkshire, Franklin, Dukes, and Nantucket, you have to call the jail to ask about someone. The county pages on this site list the right phone numbers and hours for each one.
Massachusetts Criminal History and CORI
Beyond the current inmate population, Massachusetts keeps a criminal history database called CORI. It stands for Criminal Offender Record Information. The Department of Criminal Justice Information Services runs it. You can request your own CORI through the iCORI portal for $25. The system shows all adult convictions, pending cases, and any time spent locked up. It does not include sealed records, most juvenile cases, or arrests that did not lead to charges. Under M.G.L. Chapter 6, Sections 167-178, CORI access is limited to certain people and groups.
To use iCORI you need a valid email, your full name, date of birth, last six of your Social Security number, and a Massachusetts license or state ID. Results come back in one to two days for most cases. Some take up to ten days if a manual check is needed. Call (617) 660-4600 if you have questions about the process.
Federal Inmate Population in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has one federal prison. FMC Devens in Ayer holds about 1,100 inmates. It is a medical center run by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. To look up someone there, use the BOP Inmate Locator. You can search by name, BOP register number, or FBI number. The database covers all federal inmates from 1982 to now.
Federal and state systems are separate. A search on VINELink will not show federal inmates. The BOP site will not show state or county inmates. You need to use the right tool for the right system.
Massachusetts Inmate Population Public Records
Massachusetts has a strong public records law. Under M.G.L. Chapter 66, Section 10, every person has the right to ask for public records from any state or local agency. That includes inmate data held by sheriff offices and the DOC. Each agency must have a Records Access Officer who handles these requests. They have 10 business days to respond.
Fees for public records requests follow a set schedule. Black and white copies cost $0.05 per page. The first four hours of staff time are free for state agencies, and the first two hours are free for cities and towns. After that, agencies can charge up to $25 per hour. Electronic records sent by email have no fee when they already exist in that format. The Secretary of the Commonwealth oversees the public records process. If an agency turns down your request, you can file an appeal with the Supervisor of Records at 617-727-2832.
The mass.gov public records page has forms and guides for making your request.
Court Records and Inmate Population Data
The Massachusetts Trial Court runs a case lookup system at masscourts.org. You can search criminal dockets by name or case number. The system shows charges, court dates, and case outcomes. It covers all court types and locations. This is useful when you want to see the case behind an inmate's sentence.
Court records do not show current custody status. They show what happened in court. For where someone is right now, use VINELink or call the county jail. The court system and the jail system keep separate records. Under M.G.L. Chapter 276, Section 100A, some criminal records can be sealed after a waiting period of three years for misdemeanors or seven years for felonies. Sealed records will not show up in a public search. Under M.G.L. Chapter 4, Section 7, certain law enforcement records and personal information are exempt from public access.
Note: Juvenile records, sealed cases, and dismissed charges will not show up in any inmate population search or CORI check in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Inmate Population Statistics
The total Massachusetts inmate population sits at roughly 17,100 across all facility types. State DOC prisons hold about 6,800 people. County jails and houses of correction hold about 9,200. FMC Devens adds another 1,100 federal inmates. Men make up about 92% of the total, women about 8%. The largest age group is 25 to 34, which accounts for about 32% of all inmates. Drug offenses are the most common charge type at 28%, followed by violent crimes at 22% and property crimes at 19%.
The DOC tracks how often people come back after release. The three-year return rate is about 32%. Of that, 18% come back for new crimes and 14% for technical violations like breaking parole rules. These numbers come from DOC annual reports and give a picture of how the Massachusetts inmate population changes over time.
Browse Massachusetts Inmate Population by County
Each county in Massachusetts has its own sheriff and jail. Pick a county below to find local inmate search tools, contact info, and visiting details for that area.
Inmate Population in Major Massachusetts Cities
City residents are held at their county's jail or house of correction. Pick a city below to find out which facility handles inmates from that area and how to search.