Find Taunton Criminal Records

Taunton criminal records are available through the Taunton District Court, the Bristol County Superior Court, and the state's online CORI system. Whether you need to look up a case, request your own record, or find out if a record has been sealed, this page covers the key sources and steps to access criminal records in Taunton, Massachusetts.

Taunton District Court

The Taunton District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, arraignments, and bail hearings for Taunton and several nearby towns. If you need to look up a case file, request a docket, or get a certified copy of a criminal record, the clerk's office at this court is your main point of contact. The court is open Monday through Friday during regular business hours.

The Taunton District Court official page on mass.gov lists clerk contact info, court hours, and links to online case lookup tools. The screenshot below shows the court's listing page where you can confirm current hours and find additional contact details.

The court page also links to the statewide case search portal, which lets you pull docket information without visiting in person.

Bristol County Superior Court

Felony cases for Taunton are handled at the Bristol County Superior Court. This court sits in Taunton and takes on the more serious criminal matters that go beyond the district court's authority. If you need records from a felony trial or a grand jury indictment, you'll need to contact the Superior Court clerk directly.

Walk-in requests are accepted during business hours. Certified copies of court records typically carry a small per-page fee. Call ahead to ask about current fees and turnaround times before you visit.

Search Taunton Criminal Records Online

Massachusetts offers two main online tools for looking up criminal records. Both are free to use and do not require an account for basic case lookups.

The first is the Massachusetts Trial Court online case search at masscourts.org. This tool lets you search by name, case number, or court location. It covers district, superior, and appeals court records statewide. Results show docket entries, hearing dates, charges, and dispositions. Not all older records are in the system, but most cases filed after the mid-1990s should appear.

The second tool is iCORI, run by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS). iCORI lets individuals request their own Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) online. It also allows authorized organizations to run CORI checks on others. The fee for a CORI request is $25. You can reach DCJIS by phone at (617) 660-4640 if you have questions about your record or need help with the iCORI portal.

For a broader look at what CORI covers and how the system works, the official CORI page on mass.gov is a good starting point. The CORI law summary on mass.gov also explains who can access records, what records are included, and how the sealing process works.

Taunton Police Records

The Taunton Police Department holds local arrest records, incident reports, and other law enforcement records. These are separate from court records. You'll need to contact the police department directly to request a copy of a police report or an arrest record generated by Taunton officers.

Massachusetts public records law (MGL c. 66 § 10) gives the public the right to request records held by government agencies, including police departments. Some records may be withheld if they relate to an open investigation or contain personal information protected by law. When you submit a request, be specific about the case or incident you're looking for to speed up the process.

What Is CORI?

CORI stands for Criminal Offender Record Information. It is the official Massachusetts system for maintaining and sharing criminal history data. CORI records cover arrests, charges, convictions, and case outcomes from courts across the state. The system is defined under MGL c. 6 § 167.

Not all criminal records are publicly visible. Massachusetts limits who can see what. The public can access only conviction records for certain crimes. More detailed records are available to authorized agencies like employers in specific sectors, law enforcement, and courts. Individuals always have the right to request their own full CORI.

DCJIS manages the CORI database. When a court enters a case outcome, that information flows to DCJIS and gets added to the individual's record. The record can include charges that were dismissed or resulted in not-guilty findings, though those entries are subject to stricter access rules than convictions.

Sealing and Expungement in Taunton

If you have a criminal record in Massachusetts, you may be able to have it sealed or expunged. These are two separate processes with different rules.

Sealing removes a record from public view but keeps it in the DCJIS system for law enforcement use. Under MGL c. 276 § 100A, you can petition to seal a misdemeanor conviction after 5 years and a felony conviction after 10 years, as long as you have no new criminal activity during the waiting period. Dismissed charges can often be sealed sooner.

Expungement is a newer option in Massachusetts, available under MGL c. 276 §§ 100E-100U. It allows certain records to be destroyed entirely, not just sealed. Expungement is available in limited cases, mainly for first-time offenses that meet specific criteria or for records created when the person was a juvenile. The process requires filing a petition with the court where the case was heard. For Taunton cases, that would generally be the Taunton District Court or the Bristol County Superior Court.

The Bristol County District Attorney's office has a satellite office in Taunton at 40 Broadway, Suite 200. The main line is (508) 997-0711. Staff there can answer questions about the DA's role in the sealing or expungement process.

Sex Offender Registry

The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) maintains a public database of registered sex offenders. This is separate from CORI and available to anyone at no cost. You can search by name, city, or zip code through the SORB website. Taunton residents and individuals registered in Taunton appear in this database if their registration level requires public disclosure.

Level 2 and Level 3 offenders are listed publicly. Level 1 offenders are not on the public registry. If you have questions about a specific registration or want to report a registration violation, contact SORB directly through the mass.gov portal.

Bristol County Sheriff

The Bristol County Sheriff's Office manages the county jail and house of correction. They hold records on individuals who are detained or serving sentences at county facilities. If you need to look up an inmate currently held in Bristol County, you can contact the sheriff's office directly.

For real-time victim notification and inmate custody status, the VINE service at VINELink.com tracks custody changes at Bristol County facilities and can send alerts when an inmate's status changes.

Bristol County Criminal Records

Taunton is in Bristol County. The county courts handle all serious felony cases for the area. For full county court info, visit the county page.

View Bristol County Criminal Records

Nearby Cities

Other cities in the region also have criminal records resources available through local courts and police departments.