Plymouth County Criminal Records
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Plymouth County in 2026
Members of the public seeking criminal records in Plymouth County may access publicly available information through PlymouthRecords.org, an aggregator of publicly available data related to criminal history, court filings, and related records. Plymouth County residents and researchers may find information such as arrest records, court case dispositions, booking logs, and conviction histories through a combination of official government resources and public access tools. The categories of records that may be available include:
- Arrest and booking records
- Criminal court case filings and dispositions
- Felony and misdemeanor conviction records
- Inmate and jail roster information
- Active warrant records
- Sex offender registry entries
- Probation and parole status (where publicly accessible)
Records can be searched through official resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools. The following five methods outline the primary channels through which members of the public may obtain criminal records in Plymouth County.
1. County Court Records
The Plymouth County Superior Court and the Plymouth District Court maintain criminal case files for matters adjudicated within the county. Members of the public may inspect records in person at the courthouse clerk's office during business hours. Requestors are advised to bring a valid government-issued photo ID and, where possible, the full legal name of the subject and a case number.
Plymouth County Superior Court
52 Obery Street
Plymouth, MA 02360
Phone: (508) 747-6911
Massachusetts Trial Court
Plymouth District Court
52 Obery Street
Plymouth, MA 02360
Phone: (508) 747-0500
Plymouth District Court
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Public access terminals are available at the clerk's office and allow self-service searches of case records at no charge. Staff-assisted searches and certified copies are subject to fees established under Massachusetts law.
2. Sheriff's Office
The Plymouth County Sheriff's Department maintains arrest logs, booking records, and inmate information for individuals held at county correctional facilities. Members of the public may submit records requests directly to the Sheriff's Office.
Plymouth County Sheriff's Department
24 Long Pond Road
Plymouth, MA 02360
Phone: (508) 830-6200
Plymouth County Sheriff's Department
Requests for records may be submitted in person or in writing. The Sheriff's Office publishes an inmate lookup tool on its official website, allowing the public to search current and recent bookings by name.
3. Online Court Search
The Massachusetts Trial Court provides an online case search portal through the Massachusetts Court System's public case search tool. Users may search by party name, case number, or docket number. The portal returns case status, hearing dates, charges, and dispositions for cases filed in the Massachusetts court system. Note that not all historical records are available online, and sealed or expunged records do not appear in public search results.
4. State Criminal History Repository
The Massachusetts Criminal History Systems Board (CHSB) maintains the Commonwealth's official criminal history repository. Individuals and authorized entities may request a Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) report through the iCORI online portal. Standard processing fees apply, and certain requests require fingerprint-based verification. Processing times vary depending on the request type and volume.
Massachusetts Criminal History Systems Board
200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200
Chelsea, MA 02150
Phone: (617) 660-4600
CHSB Official Website
5. Written/Mail Requests
Members of the public may submit written requests for court records to the clerk of the relevant court. Requests must include the subject's full legal name, date of birth, and the approximate date range of the records sought. Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, § 10, agencies are required to respond to public records requests within ten business days. Mailing address for written requests to the Plymouth County Superior Court is 52 Obery Street, Plymouth, MA 02360.
What Is Plymouth County Criminal Records
A criminal record is an official documentation of an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, encompassing arrests, charges, court proceedings, and outcomes. Under Massachusetts law, criminal records are formally defined and governed by Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 6, § 167, which establishes the framework for Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI).
The distinction between record types is significant for both legal and practical purposes:
- Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that an individual was taken into custody; it does not indicate guilt. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court.
- Felony vs. misdemeanor records: Felonies are more serious offenses carrying potential state prison sentences; misdemeanors carry lesser penalties and are typically adjudicated in district court.
- Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are subject to public access provisions under state law. Juvenile records are presumptively sealed and are not available to the general public.
- Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants reflect outstanding court orders for arrest; historical records document past criminal justice involvement.
The agencies responsible for maintaining criminal records in Plymouth County include the Plymouth County Sheriff's Department (arrest and jail records), the Plymouth County Superior Court and Plymouth District Court (court case files and dispositions), the Massachusetts Criminal History Systems Board (statewide criminal history repository), and local police departments (incident and arrest reports). Records are created at the point of arrest and updated as cases progress through arraignment, plea, trial, sentencing, and post-conviction proceedings.
Are Criminal Records Public In Plymouth County
Criminal records in Plymouth County are subject to public access under Massachusetts law. The Massachusetts Public Records Law, Chapter 66, § 10, establishes the general right of public access to government records, while the CORI statute under Chapter 6, § 172 governs access to criminal history information specifically.
As the Massachusetts Secretary of State's Office has noted, "Every person has a right to inspect public records," subject to enumerated exemptions. Adult conviction records and court proceedings are accessible to the public. However, the following categories of records are restricted or exempt from public disclosure:
- Juvenile records (presumptively sealed)
- Sealed or expunged records
- Records subject to a court-issued protective order
- Ongoing criminal investigation files
- Victim and witness identifying information
- Records subject to a governor's pardon
The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office provides guidance on public records access through the Public Records Division. Federal criminal records maintained by the FBI are governed by separate federal statutes and are not subject to Massachusetts public records law.
How To Find Criminal Records in Plymouth County Online?
Official County Resources
The primary online resources for Plymouth County criminal records include:
- Massachusetts Court System case search: Provides access to civil and criminal case information statewide, including Plymouth County courts. Users may search by name or case number and view charges, hearing dates, and dispositions.
- Plymouth County Sheriff's inmate lookup: Allows searches of current and recent jail bookings by name.
- iCORI portal: The official state portal for CORI requests, available to individuals, employers, and authorized agencies.
State-Level Resources
The Massachusetts Trial Court's online portal provides statewide case search functionality. The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board maintains a public sex offender registry search for registered offenders residing in Plymouth County and throughout the Commonwealth.
Search Tips
- Search using the subject's full legal name and any known aliases.
- Case number searches return the most precise results.
- Cross-reference multiple databases, as no single portal contains all records.
- Be aware that records older than approximately 10–15 years may not be fully digitized.
- Sealed and expunged records do not appear in public online searches.
Limitations
Online databases may reflect a data lag of several days to weeks. Older records that predate electronic filing systems may require in-person requests. Online searches do not substitute for official certified background checks required for employment, licensing, or housing purposes.
Can You Search Plymouth County Criminal Records for Free?
Free Options
1. In-Person Inspection: Massachusetts law mandates that members of the public may inspect public records at no charge. Under Chapter 66, § 10, agencies may not charge a fee for inspection alone. Copying fees apply to reproductions. Free in-person inspection is available at the Plymouth County Superior Court and Plymouth District Court clerk's offices, as well as at the Plymouth County Sheriff's Department.
2. Free Online Databases: The Massachusetts Court System's public case search portal is available at no cost. The Plymouth County Sheriff's inmate lookup tool is also free. The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry search is free to the public.
3. Sheriff's Logs: Daily arrest and booking reports are available through the Plymouth County Sheriff's Department website at no charge.
What Costs Money
| Service | Approximate Fee |
|---|---|
| Certified copy of court record | $2.50 per page (standard) |
| Official CORI background check (iCORI) | Varies by requester type |
| Staff-assisted record searches | Variable |
| Expedited processing | Additional fee may apply |
| Electronic certified copies | Fee per document |
State Fee Law
Massachusetts fee provisions for public records are governed by Chapter 66, § 10, which limits fees to the actual cost of reproduction. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors upon written application to the relevant agency.
What's Included in a Plymouth County Criminal Record?
Identifying Information
A Plymouth County criminal record includes the subject's full legal name and known aliases, date of birth, physical description, photograph (mugshot), last known address, state identification number (SID), and FBI number where applicable.
Arrest Information
Arrest records document the date and time of arrest, the arresting agency, booking number, charges filed at the time of arrest, bail or bond conditions, and the jail or holding facility.
Court Case Information
Court records include the case number, court and jurisdiction, filing date, charges and applicable statutes (including felony or misdemeanor classification), plea entered, and attorney of record.
Disposition
Disposition records reflect the verdict or outcome, conviction date where applicable, sentencing information (type, length, fines, restitution, and conditions of probation or parole), any appeals filed, and post-conviction supervision status.
Additional Record Categories
- Active or recalled warrants
- Protective and restraining orders
- Sex offender registration status (searchable via the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board)
- OUI/DUI and traffic-related criminal offenses
- Pending charges and open cases
NOT Included in Public Records
- Juvenile adjudications (sealed by law)
- Expunged or sealed records
- Records from other states or federal jurisdictions
- Completed diversion program records (where sealed by court order)
Accuracy Note
Individuals who identify errors in their criminal record may petition the relevant court or the Massachusetts Criminal History Systems Board for correction. Maintaining accurate records is essential for employment, licensing, and housing purposes.
How Long Does Plymouth County Keep Criminal Records?
Legal Requirements
Massachusetts record retention schedules are established by the Secretary of State's Records Conservation Board and applicable court rules. State law mandates minimum retention periods for criminal justice records.
Retention by Record Type
- Felony convictions: Retained permanently by courts and the state repository.
- Misdemeanor convictions: Retained permanently in court records; CORI access periods vary by offense class under Chapter 6, § 172.
- Arrest records (no conviction): Retained in court records; CORI access is restricted after three years for most offenses.
- Dismissed or acquitted cases: Retained permanently in court records showing the disposition; CORI access is restricted.
- Juvenile records: Sealed upon the subject reaching adulthood; destruction timelines are governed by court rules and Chapter 119, § 60A.
- Pending cases: Retained until final resolution.
Agency Differences
County courts retain criminal case files permanently under Massachusetts court retention rules. The Plymouth County Sheriff's Department retains booking and jail records for a minimum period established by the Records Conservation Board. The Massachusetts Criminal History Systems Board retains conviction records permanently in the state repository.
Physical vs. Electronic Records
Electronic records are retained for longer periods than paper records. Paper records may be destroyed after scanning and digitization, but the electronic version remains accessible.
Destruction vs. Sealing vs. Expungement
- Destruction refers to the physical or electronic elimination of a record.
- Sealing removes a record from public view but preserves it for law enforcement access.
- Expungement results in the permanent erasure of a record from all repositories.
Massachusetts expungement law, codified at Chapter 276, § 100E, allows eligible individuals to petition for expungement of certain records. Eligibility is subject to offense type, age at the time of the offense, and time elapsed since disposition. Even if county records are destroyed or sealed, electronic copies may persist in state databases unless a court order for expungement has been issued and fully executed.
Federal Records
Criminal records maintained by the FBI through the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) are governed by federal law and are maintained separately from state and county records. Federal retention rules differ from Massachusetts state law.
Practical Implications
Prior convictions may appear on background checks conducted for employment, housing, or professional licensing purposes. Consumer reporting agencies are subject to the Fair Credit Reporting Act, which limits reporting of most criminal records to seven years for certain purposes, though convictions may be reported indefinitely. Professional licensing boards in Massachusetts may require full disclosure of criminal history regardless of the age of the record.