Fall River Criminal Records
Fall River criminal records are held by the Fall River District Court, the Bristol County Superior Court, and the Massachusetts CORI system. This page covers how to look up criminal cases, request police records, access background information through DCJIS, and understand your rights around sealing and expungement in Fall River and Bristol County.
Fall River Overview
Fall River District Court
The Fall River District Court handles criminal cases for Fall River and nearby towns including Freetown, Somerset, Swansea, and Westport. This is where misdemeanor cases are heard and where most felony arraignments begin before a case moves on to superior court. The court is located on the 5th floor of the South Main Street building, which also houses the Bristol County Superior Court — a convenient setup if you need to visit both.
The clerk's office at the District Court can help you look up cases by name or case number. Public case records are available to view, and the staff can tell you whether a case is pending, resolved, or has been appealed. You can request copies of documents for a fee. Hours are standard weekday business hours, but holiday closings can affect access, so calling ahead is worth the effort.
| Address | 186 South Main Street, 5th Floor, Fall River, MA 02721 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (508) 491-3200 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Serves | Fall River, Freetown, Somerset, Swansea, Westport |
| Website | mass.gov/locations/fall-river-district-court |
The Fall River District Court page on mass.gov lists current hours and contact details. Check it before your visit to avoid surprises.
The Fall River District Court is located on South Main Street and handles the bulk of criminal cases in the city. You can find current contact and service details on the court's official page.
Search Fall River Criminal Records Online
Massachusetts has a free public court docket search at masscourts.org. You can look up cases by name or case number and see charges, case status, and scheduled dates. The tool covers District Court and Superior Court cases from across the state, including Fall River. It's open to anyone and costs nothing to use.
The Massachusetts Trial Court also has a search option at mass.gov. These tools won't show sealed records, expunged records, or juvenile matters. And they're not a replacement for an official CORI background report. But they're a solid starting point if you just want to confirm whether a case is on file in the public record.
For a complete official criminal history from DCJIS, you'll need to go through the iCORI system. That's described below. Many people use the free court search first and only move on to a formal CORI request if they need something more official.
Bristol County Superior Court — Fall River
The Bristol County Superior Court in Fall River handles serious felony cases that have been indicted. It's in the same building as the District Court — both courts share the South Main Street address. The Superior Court takes over once a case has gone through arraignment and a grand jury proceeding. Trials, plea hearings for major charges, and felony sentencing all happen here.
| Address | 186 South Main Street, Fall River, MA 02720 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (508) 491-3300 |
| Fax (Criminal) | (508) 646-3596 |
The clerk's office handles requests for certified court documents. For complex or older cases, it's best to call first. Some records may require advance notice or a written request. Copy fees apply.
CORI — Criminal Offender Record Information
CORI is Massachusetts' official criminal records system. It's managed by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) and covers criminal charges, arrests, and case outcomes from courts across the state — including both courts in Fall River. CORI is defined under MGL c. 6 § 167.
You can request your own CORI at any time through the iCORI online system. The fee is $25. If you can't afford that, you can file an Affidavit of Indigency to request a waiver. The process is fully online — no office visit required. DCJIS is based in Chelsea and handles requests from all of Massachusetts.
The CORI information page on mass.gov explains what's in a CORI report and how to request one. For your legal rights around who can access your record, the CORI law overview covers the rules under state law.
| Agency | Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) |
|---|---|
| Address | 200 Arlington Street, Chelsea, MA 02150 |
| Phone | (617) 660-4640 |
| Online | iCORI System |
| Fee | $25 per report |
Fall River Police Department Records
Police department records and court records are maintained separately. The Fall River Police Department keeps its own files — incident reports, arrest logs, and documents created by the department. To access these, you submit a public records request to the department directly. Police records may exist even when no charges were filed, and they're not always the same as what appears in the court docket.
| Address | 685 Pleasant Street, Fall River, MA 02721 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (508) 676-8511 |
Requests follow the Massachusetts Public Records Law, which requires the department to respond within 10 business days. If you're requesting a report involving yourself, bring a valid photo ID when you visit in person. If a record involves another person, some information may be redacted. If your request is denied, you can appeal to the Secretary of State's Public Records Division.
Bristol County DA — Fall River
The Bristol County District Attorney's main office is in Fall River on South Main Street. The DA's office prosecutes criminal cases in both the Fall River District Court and the Superior Court. If you need records from the DA's office — such as case records or disposition documents — you can submit a public records request by email or mail. The office has a designated public records officer.
| Address | 218 South Main Street, Suite 101, Fall River, MA 02721 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (508) 997-0711 |
| Public Records Email | publicrecords@bristolda.com |
| Records Officer | Monica Carreiro, ext. 1889 |
| Website | bristolda.com |
Fall River Juvenile Court
Juvenile criminal records in Fall River go through the Fall River Juvenile Court, not the District Court. Juvenile records are handled differently under state law — they're generally not public and are subject to stricter access rules. If you have questions about a juvenile case, the juvenile court clerk can guide you on what's available.
| Address | 289 Rock Street, 4th Floor, Fall River |
|---|---|
| Phone | (508) 676-0090 |
Sealing and Expungement
If you have a criminal record tied to Fall River or Bristol County, Massachusetts law offers two ways to deal with it: sealing and expungement. These are not the same thing, and they're not interchangeable. Understanding the difference matters before you decide which one to pursue.
Sealing is the more common option. It's governed by MGL c. 276 § 100A. A sealed record stays in the state system but is hidden from the public, most employers, and landlords. For misdemeanors, the waiting period is three years from the end of the case (or from the end of any incarceration or probation, whichever is later). For felonies, it's seven years. You file the sealing petition at the court that handled the case. For Fall River cases, that's either the Fall River District Court on South Main Street (5th floor) or the Superior Court on the same street (depending on the level of the case).
Expungement permanently removes the record. It's available under MGL c. 276 §§ 100E–100U but only in limited circumstances — mainly for offenses committed before age 21, or in cases involving fraud on the court or misidentification. A judge has to approve expungement. It takes more time and effort than sealing, but the result is permanent. The clerk's office can give you the required forms. Local legal aid programs or the Bristol County Bar Association may offer help if you're unsure how to start.
Sex Offender Registry
The Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) maintains the public registry of registered sex offenders in Massachusetts. It's separate from CORI and free to use. Search by name or location at the SORB website. Level 2 and Level 3 offenders appear in the public search. Level 1 offenders are not publicly listed. Fall River residents can search for registered offenders in the city or in nearby areas.
Victim Notification — VINE
VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) is a free service that lets crime victims stay informed about an offender's custody status. Sign up at vinelink.com to receive alerts by phone, text, or email when someone is released from custody, transferred, or escapes from a Massachusetts correctional facility. It covers Bristol County facilities and the state prison system, and it runs 24 hours a day.
Bristol County Criminal Records
Fall River is in Bristol County. The county court system handles all serious criminal cases. For full county court info and resources, see the county page.
Nearby Cities
Other qualifying cities near Fall River use the same Bristol County court system for criminal records.