Fall River Inmate Population
Fall River inmate population records connect to the Bristol County jail system and the city's own police department. Fall River is a city of roughly 94,000 in southeastern Massachusetts, right on the Rhode Island border. People arrested in Fall River on county charges go to the Bristol County House of Correction in North Dartmouth or the Ash Street Jail in nearby New Bedford. Bristol County does not run an online inmate search tool, so you have to call to check on someone. The Fall River Police Department keeps arrest and booking records at its headquarters on Pleasant Street. This page covers all the ways to search for people in the Fall River inmate population and how to get records from the police and the county.
Fall River Overview
Bristol County Jail and Fall River Inmate Population
Fall River is part of Bristol County. People arrested here on county charges can be sent to one of two Bristol County facilities. The main one is the Bristol County House of Correction at 400 Faunce Corner Road in North Dartmouth. This jail holds both pre-trial detainees and sentenced inmates with terms of 2.5 years or less. The other is the Ash Street Jail at 226 Ash Street in New Bedford, which handles shorter holds and pre-trial detention.
There is no online inmate search for Bristol County. To check if someone from Fall River is in custody, call the House of Correction at 508-995-6400 or the Ash Street Jail at 508-996-6704. Give the person's full name and date of birth. Staff can confirm custody status during business hours.
VINELink at vinelink.com may have some Bristol County records. Coverage is not complete for every county in Massachusetts, but it is worth a check. You can also sign up for alerts. If the person has a felony sentence over 2.5 years, they are in state prison. Use the DOC search at mass.gov for that.
| Facility | Bristol County House of Correction |
|---|---|
| Address | 400 Faunce Corner Road North Dartmouth, MA 02747 |
| Phone | 508-995-6400 |
| Online Search | Not available |
For full details on both Bristol County facilities, including visiting hours, mail, and money, see the Bristol County inmate population page.
Fall River Police Inmate Population Records
The Fall River Police Department is at 685 Pleasant Street. All city arrests and bookings run through this station. When someone is picked up by Fall River Police, the department creates a booking record with the person's name, charges, and date. The person is then either released on bail or moved to a Bristol County facility for holding.
The Fall River Police website has department info and links to services.
Fall River Police Department website
The main page shows news, contact info, and links to online services.
Fall River Police also offers online reporting for certain types of incidents. This is separate from the records request process but shows how the department uses web tools.
Fall River Police online reporting
The online reporting page lets residents file certain reports without going to the station.
The Records Access Officers for the Fall River Police Department are Amanda Matton and Kathleen Madeiros. You can reach them at publicrecords@frpd.org or call 508-676-8511 ext. 134 or 135. They handle all public records requests for the department.
| Department | Fall River Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 685 Pleasant Street Fall River, MA 02721 |
| Records Officers | Amanda Matton, Kathleen Madeiros |
| Records Email | publicrecords@frpd.org |
| Records Phone | 508-676-8511 ext. 134/135 |
How to Request Fall River Inmate Population Data
Public records requests to the Fall River Police follow M.G.L. c. 66, § 10. This law gives every person the right to ask for records from any government agency in Massachusetts. You do not need to be a Fall River resident. No reason is needed. The department has 10 business days to respond after getting your request.
Send your request to publicrecords@frpd.org. Include your full name, contact info, and a clear description of the records you want. Arrest reports, booking logs, incident reports, and daily arrest data are all fair game. The more detail you provide, the faster the turnaround.
Fees follow state rules. Black and white copies are $0.05 per page. The first two hours of staff time are free for city agencies. After that, the rate can go up to $25 per hour. Electronic records in digital format are usually free when sent by email. If the department denies your request or charges a fee you think is wrong, you can appeal to the Supervisor of Records at the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office. The appeal is free.
Some records are exempt from public access. Under M.G.L. c. 4, § 7, law enforcement investigatory materials, medical files, and certain personal data can be withheld. The agency must cite the specific exemption if it turns down your request. Juvenile records and sealed cases also stay out of public view.
State Search and Court Records for Fall River
People with felony sentences over 2.5 years are not in the county jail. They go to one of the 16 state prisons run by the Department of Correction. The DOC search at mass.gov links to VINELink where you can search by name or offender ID. Results show facility, custody status, and sentence info. State and county systems are separate, so you need to search in the right place.
Court records for Fall River cases are on masscourts.org. This free system from the Massachusetts Trial Court covers criminal dockets from Fall River District Court and Bristol County Superior Court. Search by name or case number to see charges, hearing dates, and outcomes. Court records show what happened in the legal case. Jail records show where the person is now. They are kept in different systems.
CORI checks through the iCORI portal let you view your own criminal history for $25. The database shows convictions, pending cases, and incarceration data. Under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A, criminal records can be sealed after a set period. Misdemeanors qualify three years after the case closes. Felonies take seven years. Once a record is sealed, it will not show up in any public search of the Fall River inmate population or criminal history.
Fall River Inmate Population Legal Framework
Access to inmate and arrest data in Fall River is governed by several Massachusetts statutes. The public records law under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10 creates the baseline right of access. It applies to both the Fall River Police Department and the Bristol County Sheriff's Office. Each agency must have a Records Access Officer and must respond to requests within 10 business days.
The exemptions in M.G.L. c. 4, § 7 put limits on what agencies have to release. Active investigation files, medical data, and personal information about individuals can be held back. The agency must explain its reasoning if it denies a request. You can challenge the denial through the Supervisor of Records at no cost.
Record sealing under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A is the other major limit. Sealed records vanish from public view. A court search will not find them. A CORI check will not show them. The person can legally say they have no record for most purposes. This means that over time, some Fall River arrest and incarceration records will no longer be searchable by the public.
Tip: If you cannot find someone in the county jail or state prison search, they may have been released, transferred, or their records may be sealed. Try calling the Bristol County House of Correction at 508-995-6400 for the most current custody information.
Bristol County Inmate Population
Fall River is in Bristol County. All county inmates from Fall River are held at Bristol County facilities in North Dartmouth or New Bedford. For full details on both jails, visiting schedules, and how to send mail or money, see the county page.
Nearby Cities
These cities are close to Fall River. Each has its own page with local police info and inmate search details.