Springfield Released Inmate Records
Released inmate records in Springfield come from two main sources. The Springfield Police Department keeps arrest logs and booking data for people held at the city lock-up. The Hampden County Sheriff's Department holds records for anyone who served time at a county jail. If you want to search for a released inmate in Springfield, you can start with the police department's online arrest log or file a public records request with the county. This page walks through each option and tells you how to get the records you need.
Springfield Overview
Springfield Police and Released Inmates
The Springfield Police Department is the first place to check for released inmate records tied to city arrests. The department sits at 130 Pearl Street in downtown Springfield. Chief Lawrence Akers runs the force. When someone gets picked up in Springfield, booking info goes into the police records system right away. That data stays on file even after the person gets out.
Springfield logs more arrests than most cities in western Massachusetts. Between 2013 and 2019, over 26,000 arrest reports went through the department. That is a big pool of records. Many of those people were released from the city lock-up within hours or days. Others got sent to the Hampden County Correctional Center in Ludlow to wait for trial or serve a sentence. Either way, the arrest record starts with Springfield PD.
The department puts out an online arrest log on its website. The log gets updated on a regular basis and shows recent bookings, charges, and release info. This is the quickest way to find out if someone was picked up and let go in Springfield. You do not need to file paperwork to view the log. Just visit the site and look through the entries.
| Department | Springfield Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 130 Pearl Street Springfield, MA 01105 |
| Phone | (413) 787-6310 |
| Chief | Lawrence Akers |
| Website | springfield-ma.gov/police |
For older released inmate records in Springfield that go past what the online log shows, you can file a public records request. Massachusetts law under M.G.L. c. 66 §10 gives you the right to ask for records from any state or local agency. Send your request to the Springfield Police Department at 130 Pearl Street. Include the full name of the person, any dates you have, and what type of records you need. The department has 10 business days to respond.
Hampden County Sheriff and Springfield Inmates
People arrested in Springfield who face serious charges or get sentenced to county time end up in the Hampden County jail system. Sheriff Nick Cocchi runs the department from the main facility at 627 Randall Road in Ludlow. The sheriff's office keeps records on every inmate who passes through, and those files stay on hand for seven years after release. If you are looking for a Springfield released inmate who did time at a county facility, this is where the records are.
You can reach the sheriff's office at (413) 547-8000 during business hours. There is also a 24-hour info line at (413) 858-0100 for basic questions about current or past inmates. The Hampden County Sheriff's Department website lists all facilities and contact numbers.
To get full released inmate records from the county, you submit a written request to the Records Access Officer. The RAO for Hampden County is Theresa S. Finnegan. She serves as Assistant Superintendent and General Counsel. She does not take requests by phone or voicemail. You must write it out. Email her at theresa.finnegan@SDH.state.ma.us or fax your request to (413) 589-1851. Her direct line for questions is (413) 858-0164, Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 3 PM.
Under M.G.L. c. 66 §6A, every government agency in Massachusetts must name a Records Access Officer. That person handles all public records requests for the office. When you write to Finnegan, be specific about who you are looking for and what dates matter. Broad requests take longer and may cost more to fill.
Note: The Hampden County Sheriff's Department keeps inmate files for seven years after release, so older records may no longer be on file.
Springfield Released Inmate Facilities
Springfield is home to two Hampden County facilities that play a direct role in releasing inmates back into the city. The Pre-Release Center at 95 Liberty Street houses inmates who are close to their release date. These are minimum-security inmates, and some may already work in the community during the day. When they finish their time, many stay right in Springfield. Call (413) 781-2050 for questions about someone held at this site.
The Mass.gov page for Hampden County Jail lists all county facilities with addresses and phone numbers. It is a useful backup if the sheriff's main site is hard to reach.
The Recovery and Wellness Center at 155 Mill Street in Springfield handles a different side of things. This facility takes Section 35 involuntary commitments for substance abuse treatment. People held under Section 35 are not serving criminal sentences, but the county still keeps records on them. If a person was committed and then released from this Springfield site, their file sits in the same Hampden County records system. You can call the center at (413) 733-1431 for visiting info or basic status questions.
Released inmate records from both Springfield facilities go through the same process as records from the main jail in Ludlow. File a written request with the RAO. The same rules, the same timeline, and the same seven-year retention window all apply. Some details may be redacted under M.G.L. c. 4 §7(26), which lists exemptions to the public records law. Medical info and certain personal data are commonly held back.
Springfield Reentry Services for Released Inmates
Springfield has the main drop-in site for the All Inclusive Support Services program, known as AISS. This is the Hampden County Sheriff's Department reentry program. It helps people who just got out of jail with housing, job skills, IDs, and other needs. The Springfield AISS office is at 736 State Street. Walk-ins are welcome from 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM, Monday through Friday. No appointment needed. Call (413) 781-2050 if you have questions before you go.
AISS staff can also help released inmates in Springfield understand their records. If you need a copy of your booking file for court, for a program, or just for your own use, the staff at the drop-in center can point you in the right direction. They work closely with the sheriff's office and know the records request process well.
Hampden County has one of the lowest recidivism rates in the country. That is not by accident. The reentry programs in Springfield play a big part in keeping people from going back inside. The AISS program page on the sheriff's website has a full list of what they offer, from job training to mental health support.
What Springfield released inmate records typically include:
- Full name and physical description of the inmate
- Mugshot if one is on file
- Booking date, charges, and bail info
- Court dates and case outcomes
- Release date and conditions
VINELink is another free tool that works for Springfield. It lets you search for current and recently released inmates in Hampden County by name or booking number. The system pulls from the jail's booking data and shows basic info fast. For older released inmate records, though, you still need to file a written request with the county RAO.
Searching Springfield Released Inmate Records
There are a few ways to look up released inmate records in Springfield. The right method depends on how old the record is and which agency held the person. Here is a quick breakdown of your options.
Start with the Springfield Police online arrest log if the arrest happened recently. The log is free and does not need any kind of account or login. It covers bookings at the city lock-up. If the person went to a county jail, use VINELink for a quick name search. VINELink covers all Hampden County facilities, including the ones in Springfield. For records older than what these tools show, file a written request with the Springfield Police or the Hampden County RAO. Both must respond within 10 business days under state law.
You can also visit the Hampden County Civil Process office in person. That office is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM. Staff there can help you figure out where a record lives and who to ask for it. If you are not sure which agency handled the person, start with the police department and they can point you to the county if needed.
Keep in mind: Some released inmate records in Springfield may have redacted sections. Medical data, juvenile info, and certain personal details are protected under Massachusetts public records exemptions.
Hampden County Released Inmates
Springfield is the county seat of Hampden County. All inmates from Springfield who serve county time go through the Hampden County Sheriff's Department. The county page has full details on every facility, the records request process, contact info for the RAO, and links to reentry programs across the county.
Nearby Cities
Chicopee borders Springfield to the north and shares the same county jail system. Released inmates from both cities go through the Hampden County Sheriff's Department. If the person you are searching for was arrested in Chicopee, check their city page for local police details.