Access Fall River Busted Mugshots
Fall River busted mugshots are maintained by the Fall River Police Department at 685 Pleasant Street. The city has about 89,000 residents and is part of Bristol County in southeastern Massachusetts. The police Records Division manages all booking photos and arrest reports. After an arrest in Fall River, criminal cases move to the Bristol County court system. You can search for Fall River busted mugshots through the police department, the state court electronic portal, or the statewide CORI system. Each gives a different level of detail about the arrest and what followed.
Fall River Overview
Fall River Police Busted Mugshots
The Fall River Police Department is the main source for busted mugshots in the city. The Records Division at (508) 676-8511 ext. 224 handles requests for booking photos and arrest reports. You can file a request in person at the station, by mail, or in writing. Include the full name of the person, the date of arrest, and any case number you have. The more detail you give, the faster the staff can find the right file.
Under M.G.L. c. 66 § 10, Fall River police have 10 business days to respond to any public records request. Copies cost $0.05 per page. The first two hours of search time are free, and anything beyond that can run up to $25 per hour. The 2020 Supreme Judicial Court ruling confirmed that busted mugshots are public records. Police cannot hide them behind the CORI exemption. If the record has not been sealed, it is available through a standard request.
| Department | Fall River Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 685 Pleasant Street Fall River, MA 02721 |
| Phone | (508) 676-8511 |
| Records | (508) 676-8511 ext. 224 |
| Website | fallriverma.gov/police |
The Fall River Police website has more on their services and how to contact them. Walk-in requests can be handled at the front desk during normal hours. Bring a valid ID when you visit. The staff can help you fill out the request form and give you an estimate on fees for your Fall River busted mugshots request. If you need copies mailed, include a return envelope with your written request.
Fall River Court Records Search
After an arrest in Fall River, the case goes through Bristol County courts. Fall River District Court handles most misdemeanors and initial hearings. Bristol Superior Court takes serious felony charges. The eCourt portal lets you search case dockets for free. You need a case number for criminal lookups. Name searches only work on civil cases.
Court records show charge details, hearing dates, and outcomes for Fall River cases. They do not include busted mugshots. For the booking photo, contact the Fall River Police Records Division. The court search guide from the state explains how to navigate the eCourt system. If you have a case number from a Fall River arrest, the docket will show every filing and court action.
The Bristol County Sheriff's Office at (508) 995-6400 runs the county jail. People detained after arrest in Fall River may be held at the county facility. The Bristol County Sheriff website has more details. The Fall River Registry of Deeds handles property records for the area and is a separate resource from criminal records.
Fall River Arrest Logs
Under M.G.L. c. 41 § 98F, Fall River police must keep a daily arrest log. It shows names, dates, charges, and locations for all arrests. The log is public. You can view it at the station during business hours. It does not include busted mugshots, but it gives you the info to file a follow-up request for the booking photo.
The daily log covers every booking that goes through the Fall River station. If you know someone was arrested in Fall River but lack a case number, the log is the best place to start. Staff at the front desk can help you find the entry you need.
The Massachusetts public records law under M.G.L. c. 4 § 7(26) presumes all government records are public unless a specific exemption applies. This includes busted mugshots, arrest reports, and daily logs in Fall River. If your request is denied, you can appeal to the state Supervisor of Public Records. That office reviews denials from all agencies across the state and can order release of the records you asked for.
Fall River CORI Checks
The iCORI portal covers Fall River arrests as part of the statewide system. Public access costs $25. It shows court data only. CORI does not include busted mugshots or booking photos. Under M.G.L. c. 6 §§ 167 through 178B, the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services manages the program from Chelsea.
You can request your own CORI for $25. A self-audit is free once every 90 days. Fall River residents who want to seal their records can petition under M.G.L. c. 276 § 100A. Misdemeanors take five years. Felonies take ten. Non-conviction records from after March 2024 seal automatically under § 100C. The state sealing page has the forms and steps. There is no filing fee. Once sealed, the busted mugshot and all related records drop out of public view.
Note: Fall River District Court handles sealing petitions for misdemeanor cases that went through that court.
Bristol County Busted Mugshots
Fall River is in Bristol County along with New Bedford and Taunton. The county court system handles criminal cases from Fall River and surrounding communities. For countywide arrest records, sheriff booking data, and court resources, visit the Bristol County busted mugshots page.
Nearby Cities
New Bedford is the closest major city to Fall River. Both are in Bristol County and share the same county court system.