Cambridge Inmate Population
Cambridge inmate population records involve both the Middlesex County Sheriff's Office and the Cambridge Police Department. Cambridge is in Middlesex County, the most populous county in Massachusetts. Anyone arrested in Cambridge and held pretrial goes to the Middlesex Jail and House of Correction in Billerica. The Cambridge Police keep their own booking records and arrest logs at city level. Public records requests for either agency fall under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, which gives the public a right to access government records.
Cambridge Overview
Middlesex County Jail and Inmate Population
The Middlesex County Sheriff's Office runs the jail and house of correction in Billerica. This is where Cambridge inmates go when they are held pretrial or serving a county sentence. The facility is about 25 miles northwest of Cambridge.
The sheriff's office has an inmate information page on its website. Visit middlesexsheriff.org/inmate-information to learn about visiting, mail, phone calls, and commissary. For a direct inquiry about whether someone is in custody, call 978-667-1711. Staff can confirm if a person is held there and give you basic booking info.
Middlesex County is the largest county in Massachusetts by population. The jail handles a high volume of inmates from dozens of cities and towns. Cambridge is one of many communities that send detainees here. Because of the volume, phone hold times can be long. Try calling in the morning for shorter waits.
| Facility | Middlesex Jail & House of Correction |
|---|---|
| Address | 269 Treble Cove Road Billerica, MA |
| Phone | 978-667-1711 |
| Website | Inmate Information |
State Inmate Population Search Tools
Some Cambridge inmates end up in state prison instead of the county jail. The Massachusetts Department of Correction takes custody of anyone sentenced to two and a half years or more. State prison inmates are housed at facilities across the commonwealth.
The DOC search instructions page explains how to look up a state inmate step by step.
Source: Massachusetts DOC - Find an Inmate
The page shows you how to search by name or inmate ID number and what information the results will include.
Visit mass.gov to search for state inmates. The tool shows the facility name, sentence length, and projected release date. For real-time alerts, use VINELink to register for notifications when an inmate's status changes. VINE covers both county and state facilities in Massachusetts.
For criminal history records, the state runs iCORI at icori.chs.state.ma.us. Under M.G.L. c. 4, § 7, some criminal records are public and can be looked up by anyone. iCORI pulls data from courts statewide. There is a small fee per search.
Cambridge Police and City Inmate Records
The Cambridge Police Department handles all local arrests and booking in the city. Their records are separate from the county sheriff's data. If someone was arrested by Cambridge Police, the booking record is with the city, not the county.
The City of Cambridge has a centralized public records process. The city's main website is the starting point for all requests.
Source: City of Cambridge
The city site lists departments, services, and contact info for public records requests.
The municipal Records Access Officer for Cambridge is Seah Levy. You can reach her at City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue. Her email is publicrecords@cambridgema.gov and her phone number is 617-349-4121. She handles all formal public records requests for the city, including police booking records and arrest data.
City Hall hours for records requests are Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM to 8:00 PM, and Friday from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM. Those extended evening hours on weekdays make it easier to visit in person if you work during the day. Bring a photo ID when you go.
| RAO | Seah Levy |
|---|---|
| Office | City Hall, 795 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA |
| Phone | 617-349-4121 |
| publicrecords@cambridgema.gov | |
| Hours | Mon-Thu 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM, Fri 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM |
Public Records Law and Inmate Population Access
Under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, anyone can request records from a Massachusetts government agency. The agency has 10 business days to respond. Cambridge typically responds within that window, though complex requests may take longer.
Not all records are open. M.G.L. c. 4, § 7 lists exemptions that let agencies withhold certain records. Active investigation files may be off limits. Juvenile arrest records are restricted. Medical and mental health records of inmates are private. But basic booking info like name, charge, date, and bail amount is usually public.
Criminal records can also be sealed over time. Under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A, misdemeanor records may be sealed after three years and felony records after seven years. A person must petition the court to seal their records. Once sealed, those records won't appear in standard searches. This means older inmate population data may be incomplete for people who have had records sealed.
Cambridge Court Records
Criminal cases from Cambridge are heard at the Cambridge District Court. More serious cases go to Middlesex Superior Court. The MassCourts portal lets you search both courts by name or case number. Results show charges, hearing dates, and case status.
The Massachusetts Sheriffs' Association lists all county sheriffs in the state. If you need to check multiple counties for an inmate, the association site links to each sheriff's office. This is useful when someone may have been transferred between facilities or when you are not sure which county is holding them.
Middlesex County Inmate Population
Cambridge is in Middlesex County, the largest county in Massachusetts. The county sheriff handles all jail operations for the area, including the Billerica facility. For more on the county system, visiting policies, and inmate programs, see the full Middlesex County inmate population page.
Nearby Cities
Other cities near Cambridge with inmate population pages: