Bristol County Released Inmate Records

Bristol County released inmate records are managed by the Bristol County Sheriff's Office, which runs two main correctional facilities in the New Bedford and Dartmouth area. Searching for released inmates in Bristol County means working with the sheriff's office directly since there is no public online inmate lookup tool on their official site. The county holds both pre-trial detainees and sentenced inmates across its jail and house of correction. Public records requests are the main way to get released inmate data from Bristol County, and the process takes about 10 business days for a response.

Bristol County Sheriff's Office

The Bristol County Sheriff's Office is the main source for released inmate records in the county. Sheriff Paul Heroux oversees all correctional operations. The office runs two facilities and handles all records tied to inmates who have been held in Bristol County custody. When someone gets released from a Bristol County jail, the sheriff's office keeps the record of that stay.

You can reach the Records Access Officer to file a public records request for released inmate information. Michael C. Arnold serves as the RAO for the Bristol County Sheriff's Office. Call him at (508) 995-1311 or send a fax to (508) 995-7835. Under M.G.L. Chapter 66, Section 10, state agencies must respond to public records requests within 10 business days. The office can provide records on public contracts, grant awards, and inmate census numbers. One thing to keep in mind is that the sheriff's office is prohibited by law from giving out CORI data or information about ICE detainees through this process.

The Bristol County Sheriff's Office website has general information about their facilities and programs but does not have a public inmate search tool. This is different from some other Massachusetts counties that let you look up current or past inmates on their site.

The lack of an online lookup tool means you need to take extra steps to find released inmate records in Bristol County. A written request to the RAO is the most reliable path.

Bristol County Correctional Facilities

Bristol County operates two main correctional sites. Each one holds different types of inmates, and released inmate records come from both. Knowing which facility held a person can speed up your records search.

The Ash Street Jail sits at 226 Ash Street in New Bedford. It holds more than 200 prisoners, mostly pre-trial detainees waiting for their cases to move through court. This jail first opened in 1888, making it one of the oldest still running in the country. Released inmate records from Ash Street go back many years. The phone number is (508) 996-6704. Because most people held here are pre-trial, many get released after posting bail, getting charges dropped, or finishing short sentences. Each release creates a record that the sheriff's office keeps on file.

The Dartmouth House of Correction is the larger facility. It sits at 400 Faunce Corner Road in North Dartmouth and has about 1,100 beds. This is where sentenced inmates serve their time in Bristol County. The phone number is (508) 995-6400. Released inmates from Dartmouth have completed their sentences or earned early release through good behavior and program completion. The Women's Center is also at the Dartmouth address and can hold up to 106 women in medium security housing.

Historical records from both Bristol County facilities are being preserved. The New Bedford Whaling Museum has worked on archiving older jail records, which can be useful if you are searching for released inmates from past decades.

Note: Released inmate records from the Ash Street Jail and Dartmouth facility are handled by the same Records Access Officer.

Bristol County Released Inmate Public Records

Getting released inmate records from Bristol County starts with a public records request. Massachusetts law gives you the right to ask for these records. The process is straightforward but takes some time.

Under M.G.L. c. 66, Section 10, you can submit a written request to the Bristol County Sheriff's Office. Send it to the RAO, Michael C. Arnold. Your request should include the full name of the person you are looking for, any dates you know, and what specific records you want. The office has 10 business days to respond. They may ask for more time if the request is large or needs review. The Bristol County public records request page has details on how to submit your request.

There are limits on what the office can share. CORI records, which stands for Criminal Offender Record Information, are handled separately through the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services. Bristol County staff cannot hand out CORI data as part of a standard public records request. This is set by M.G.L. Chapter 6, Section 172. The same goes for any information about ICE detainees held at Bristol County facilities.

The types of records you can get through a public records request include inmate census numbers, public contracts with vendors, and grant awards. Basic booking and release dates for inmates are generally available. If you need a full criminal history, that goes through the iCORI system at the state level, not through the county sheriff.

Other Ways to Find Bristol County Released Inmates

Since the Bristol County Sheriff's Office does not run its own online inmate search, third-party sites fill that gap for some people. These sites pull data from public sources and can sometimes show past inmates.

JailExchange is one third-party site that lists jail information for Bristol County. It may show some inmate data, though coverage varies and records may not be current. These sites are not official, and you should verify any information you find through the sheriff's office or court records. They can be a starting point when you do not have enough details for a formal records request.

The Bristol County District Attorney's Office is another resource. DA Thomas M. Quinn III handles cases in Bristol County. His office is at 218 South Main Street in Fall River. You can reach their public records contact at publicrecords@bristolda.com. The DA's office keeps records on case outcomes, which can help confirm whether someone was convicted and later released from a Bristol County facility.

Court records from Bristol County are also a path to released inmate information. If you know the case number or the person's name, you can search through MassCourts to find sentencing details. The court docket will show the disposition of the case, and from there you can figure out where someone was held and when they might have been released.

Bristol County Inmate Programs and Reentry

Bristol County runs several programs for inmates. These programs show up in released inmate records because they affect sentence length, parole decisions, and release conditions. Good behavior and program completion can lead to earlier release dates.

The programs offered at Bristol County facilities include:

• GED and Pre-GED classes for inmates without a high school diploma
• Substance abuse treatment and counseling
• AA and NA meetings held at both facilities
• Anger management courses
• Culinary arts training for job skills

These programs matter for released inmate records because they are part of the person's file. When an inmate finishes a program, it gets noted. Parole boards look at program completion when deciding on early release. A released inmate's record from Bristol County may show which programs they took part in and whether they completed them. This information can be relevant for people checking on someone's rehabilitation efforts after release from a Bristol County jail or house of correction.

Note: Program availability can change based on funding and facility capacity at the Bristol County Sheriff's Office.

Cities in Bristol County

Bristol County has several cities and towns. Released inmate records for all of them are handled by the Bristol County Sheriff's Office, no matter which city the person lived in.

Other communities in Bristol County include Attleboro, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, and Mansfield. Released inmate records for people from these areas go through the same Bristol County Sheriff's Office.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Bristol County. If you are not sure which county handled someone's case, check the arrest location and which facility they were held at. Each county sheriff keeps its own released inmate records.