How to Access Massachusetts State Police Arrest Logs & Records (2024 Guide)

Table of Contents#

1. Eligibility: Who Can Access MSP Arrest Records?
2. Public vs. Restricted: What MSP Arrest Information Can You Request?
3. 3 Legitimate Ways to Request MSP Arrest Logs & Records 3.1 Online Request (Fastest Option) 3.2 In-Person Request 3.3 Mail Request
4. Fees for MSP Arrest Record Requests (2024 Rates)
5. What to Do If Your MSP Record Request Is Denied
6. FAQs About Massachusetts State Police Arrest Records
7. References

---

Eligibility: Who Can Access MSP Arrest Records?#

Under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 66, § 10 (the state’s Public Records Law), there are almost no eligibility restrictions for requesting public arrest records:

• You do not need to be a Massachusetts resident or U.S. citizen to submit a request
• You are not required to disclose the reason you are requesting the records
• The only restriction applies to sealed, expunged, or juvenile records, which are only accessible to the individual named on the record, their legal representative, or authorized law enforcement/court staff

---

Public vs. Restricted: What MSP Arrest Information Can You Request?#

Important disclaimer: An arrest record only confirms an individual was taken into custody by law enforcement. It does not serve as proof of guilt or a criminal conviction, which is only issued by a court after adjudication.

Publicly Available Arrest Information#

All standard MSP arrest logs will include the following details for eligible records:

• Full name, date of birth, and residential address of the arrestee
• Exact date, time, and location of the arrest
• Name of the arresting officer and MSP troop that handled the incident
• List of criminal charges filed at the time of arrest
• Booking number, bail amount (if set), and scheduled first court appearance date

Restricted (Non-Public) Arrest Information#

MSP is legally required to redact or withhold the following information from all public record requests:

• Juvenile arrest records (for individuals under 18 at the time of the offense)
• Sealed or expunged arrest records
• Sensitive details of ongoing active investigations that could compromise case outcomes
• Personal identifying information including Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, and financial information
• Victim identifying information, especially for cases involving sexual assault, domestic violence, or child abuse
• Medical or mental health information collected during the booking process

---

3 Legitimate Ways to Request MSP Arrest Logs & Records#

All requests should include as much identifying information as possible to speed up processing: full name of the arrestee, approximate date of arrest, location of the incident, and MSP troop that responded (if known).

Online Request (Fastest Option)#

The majority of standard arrest record requests can be completed digitally in 5 minutes or less:

1. Navigate to the official Massachusetts Public Records Request Portal
2. Select "Massachusetts State Police" as the responding agency
3. Choose the type of record you are requesting (daily arrest log for a specific date range, or full arrest record for a named individual)
4. Enter all identifying details for the record, plus your full name and contact information
5. Opt for electronic delivery of records to avoid printing and shipping fees
6. Submit your request. You will receive a confirmation email with a tracking number for your request.

Processing time for standard online requests is 10 business days, per state public records requirements.

In-Person Request#

If you need to access recent arrest logs immediately, you can visit an MSP barracks in person:

1. Locate the MSP barracks that handled the arrest (or MSP Headquarters in Framingham for state-wide records)
2. Visit during regular business hours (Monday to Friday, 8:30AM to 4:30PM, excluding state holidays)
3. Present a valid government-issued photo ID
4. You can view the last 72 hours of arrest logs for that barracks free of charge on-site, or request copies of older records for a small fee.

Mail Request#

For formal or large-volume record requests, you can submit a request via postal mail:

1. Write a signed letter including all identifying details for the records you are requesting, plus your full name, mailing address, and contact phone number
2. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you are requesting physical copies of records
3. Include a check or money order for the estimated fee (you can contact the MSP Public Records Unit ahead of time to get a fee estimate)
4. Mail your request to:

   Massachusetts State Police Public Records Unit 470 Worcester Road Framingham, MA 01702

Processing time for mail requests is 15 to 20 business days from the date of receipt.

---

Fees for MSP Arrest Record Requests (2024 Rates)#

MSP follows standardized state fee rules for public record requests:

• Electronic copies: Free for all digitized records (most records from 1990 to present are stored digitally)
• Physical copies: $0.05 per page for black and white prints,$0.25 per page for color prints
• Staff time: No fee for the first 2 hours of staff time spent processing your request. For requests that require more than 2 hours of work, you will be charged $25 per hour for additional labor
• Certified copies: $10 per certified record, for use in legal or official government proceedings

Note: Requests for your own personal arrest records may qualify for waived or reduced fees if you can demonstrate financial hardship.

---

What to Do If Your MSP Record Request Is Denied#

MSP is required to provide a written explanation for any denied request, citing the specific legal exemption that justifies withholding the records. If you believe your request was wrongfully denied:

1. File an appeal with the Supervisor of Public Records in the Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office within 90 days of receiving the denial notice
2. You can submit your appeal online via the Secretary of State’s public records portal, or via mail
3. The Supervisor will review your request and the MSP’s denial, and issue a binding ruling within 10 business days
4. If the Supervisor rules in your favor and MSP still refuses to release the records, you can file a civil lawsuit in Massachusetts Superior Court to enforce the ruling.

---

FAQs About Massachusetts State Police Arrest Records#

1. Are recent MSP arrest logs available for free?#

Yes, all MSP barracks post the last 72 hours of arrest logs in their public lobbies and many post them on their local troop websites for free public access, no request required.

2. Can I request arrest records for someone else?#

Yes, you can request basic arrest logs for any individual as long as the records are not sealed, expunged, or juvenile. Full criminal history records (CORI) for other people require written consent from the individual named on the record.

3. How far back do MSP arrest records go?#

Digitized MSP arrest records are available from 1990 to present. Records older than 1990 are stored in offline archives, and may require extra processing time and additional fees for manual search.

4. How do I seal my own MSP arrest record?#

You can file a petition to seal your arrest record with your local Massachusetts District Court or Probate and Family Court, after meeting the required waiting period for your specific offense (typically 3 years for misdemeanors, 7 years for felonies).

---

References#

1. Massachusetts General Law Chapter 66, § 10: Public Records Law. Retrieved from https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleX/Chapter66/Section10
2. Massachusetts State Police Public Records Request Page. Retrieved from https://www.mass.gov/how-to/request-public-records-from-the-massachusetts-state-police
3. Supervisor of Public Records Appeal Guidelines. Retrieved from https://www.sec.state.ma.us/pre/preidx.htm
4. Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) Request Rules. Retrieved from https://www.mass.gov/how-to/request-your-cori