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Malden Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Malden, Massachusetts?

Arrest records are public in Malden, Massachusetts, pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law (M.G.L. Chapter 66, Section 10). This statute establishes that government-generated records in the Commonwealth must be accessible to the public, with certain statutory exemptions. The law promotes transparency in governmental operations and ensures citizens' right to access information about arrests made within the jurisdiction, unless specifically exempted under M.G.L. Chapter 4, Section 7(26).

The Malden Police Department Records Bureau maintains these public records in accordance with state regulations. Certain information may be redacted from arrest records to protect ongoing investigations, juvenile information, or other statutorily protected data as outlined in the Massachusetts Public Records Law.

Members of the public seeking arrest records should be aware that while these documents are generally accessible, specific privacy protections may apply to certain cases, particularly those involving domestic violence, sexual assault, or cases where the release of information could compromise public safety or ongoing law enforcement operations.

How to Look Up Malden Arrest Records in 2025

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts provides several official channels through which members of the public may access arrest records in Malden. Individuals seeking such information have multiple options available through local and state resources:

Visit the Malden Police Department: Citizens may request arrest records in person at the Malden Police Department Records Bureau.

Malden Police Department
800 Eastern Avenue
Malden, MA 02148
Phone: 781-397-7171
Official Website

Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
Access Police Call Logs: The Malden Police Call Logs are available online with certain information redacted in compliance with Massachusetts Public Records law.
Contact the Massachusetts State Police: The state police maintain comprehensive records that include Malden arrests.

Massachusetts State Police Headquarters
470 Worcester Road
Framingham, MA 01702
Phone: 508-820-2300

Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Middlesex County District Court: Court records related to arrests may be obtained from:

Malden District Court
89 Summer Street
Malden, MA 02148
Phone: 781-397-7000

Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Pursuant to M.G.L. Chapter 66, Section 10(a), public records requests must be fulfilled within 10 business days. Requestors may be required to pay reasonable fees for document reproduction as permitted under state law.

Contents of a Malden Arrest Record

Arrest records maintained by the Malden Police Department typically contain standardized information as required by Massachusetts law and departmental documentation protocols. These records generally include:

Full legal name of the arrested individual and any known aliases
Date of birth and demographic information
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
Detailed description of the alleged offense(s), including applicable Massachusetts General Laws citations
Identity of the arresting officer(s) and law enforcement agency
Booking information, including:
- Booking photographs (mugshots)
- Fingerprint records
- Personal property inventory
Bail or bond determination information
Case disposition if available
Incident report number for cross-reference purposes

The Crime Analysis Unit of the Malden Police Department utilizes this information to identify crime patterns and trends within the jurisdiction. Certain sensitive information may be redacted from public versions of arrest records in accordance with exemptions provided in M.G.L. Chapter 4, Section 7(26), particularly subsections (a), (c), and (f) which protect personal privacy and law enforcement operations.

Legal Framework for Public Access to Arrest Records

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has established a comprehensive legal framework governing public access to arrest records. This framework balances the public's right to information with individual privacy concerns and law enforcement operational needs.

Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 66, Section 10 establishes the fundamental right of access to public records, while Chapter 4, Section 7(26) defines specific exemptions. The Secretary of the Commonwealth, through the Public Records Division, provides oversight and guidance regarding compliance with these statutes.

Key legal provisions affecting arrest record access include:

M.G.L. c. 6, § 167-178B: The Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) law regulates access to criminal history information.
M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A-100C: Governs the sealing of criminal records under specific circumstances.
M.G.L. c. 94C, § 34: Provides special confidentiality protections for certain drug-related offenses.

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has consistently upheld the public's right to access arrest information while recognizing legitimate exemptions. In Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC v. Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (2018), the court affirmed that arrest records are presumptively public but subject to specific statutory exemptions.

Restrictions on Arrest Record Access in Malden

While arrest records in Malden are generally public, Massachusetts law establishes several important restrictions on access. These limitations serve to protect individual privacy, ongoing investigations, and vulnerable populations.

Pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws and departmental policies, the following restrictions apply:

Juvenile Records: Arrest records for individuals under 18 years of age are subject to heightened confidentiality protections under M.G.L. c. 119, § 60A.
Sealed Records: Records that have been sealed by court order under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A-100C are not accessible to the public.
Domestic Violence Cases: Information that could identify victims of domestic violence receives special protection under M.G.L. c. 41, § 97D.
Sexual Assault Cases: Details that could identify victims of sexual assault are protected from disclosure.
Active Investigations: Information that could compromise ongoing investigations may be temporarily withheld under M.G.L. c. 4, § 7(26)(f).
CORI Restrictions: Criminal Offender Record Information access is regulated by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services pursuant to M.G.L. c. 6, § 167-178B.

The Malden District Court, located at 89 Summer Street, Malden, MA 02148, maintains jurisdiction over cases arising from arrests within the city and applies these restrictions in accordance with state law.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Malden

Massachusetts law provides mechanisms for the expungement of arrest records under specific circumstances. Expungement results in the permanent erasure of records, making them legally inaccessible to both the public and government agencies.

Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 276, § 100E-100U (as amended by the Criminal Justice Reform Act of 2018), expungement may be available if:

The arrest resulted in no conviction or a finding of not guilty
The offense is no longer criminalized under Massachusetts law
The record resulted from false identification or fraud
The offense occurred before the individual's 21st birthday (subject to specific eligibility requirements)

The expungement petition process requires filing with the Commissioner of Probation and the court of jurisdiction. For Malden arrests, petitions are typically filed with:

Malden District Court
89 Summer Street
Malden, MA 02148
Phone: 781-397-7000

The court evaluates petitions based on statutory criteria and the "best interests of justice" standard. If granted, all records related to the arrest are permanently destroyed, including those maintained by the Malden Police Department, the court, and state agencies.

Individuals seeking expungement should be aware that the process differs from record sealing (M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A-100C), which makes records unavailable to the public but preserves them for certain governmental and law enforcement purposes.

Differences Between Arrest Records and Criminal History Reports

Arrest records and criminal history reports represent distinct categories of documentation within the Massachusetts criminal justice system, each with different content, accessibility, and legal implications.

Arrest records, maintained by the Malden Police Department, document specific incidents resulting in an individual being taken into custody. These records:

Focus on a single event
Include detailed information about the circumstances of the arrest
Are generally accessible as public records
Do not necessarily indicate guilt or conviction
May be accessed through direct request to the police department

Criminal history reports, also known as CORI (Criminal Offender Record Information) reports, are comprehensive documents that:

Compile information from multiple sources across jurisdictions
Include arrest, charge, and disposition information
Are subject to stricter access controls under M.G.L. c. 6, § 167-178B
Require specific authorization for access
Are maintained by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services
May include sealed records accessible only to authorized entities

The distinction is important for individuals seeking information about arrests in Malden, as the appropriate request method depends on the specific information needed and the requestor's legal standing to access such information.