Brookline Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in Brookline, Massachusetts?
Arrest records in Brookline, Massachusetts are public documents accessible to members of the general public. This accessibility is governed by the Massachusetts Public Records Law (M.G.L. c. 66, § 10), which establishes that government-generated records in the Commonwealth must be made available for public inspection, with certain statutory exceptions. The law specifically includes arrest-related documentation such as arrest reports, booking photographs, and records of court proceedings among the materials that must be disclosed upon proper request, unless such materials fall under a specific exemption as defined in M.G.L. c. 4, § 7(26).
The Brookline Police Department maintains these records in accordance with state regulations and departmental policies. Pursuant to Massachusetts law, the department must respond to public records requests within 10 business days. Certain information within arrest records may be redacted to protect ongoing investigations, juvenile information, or other statutorily protected data as outlined in the Commonwealth's public records statutes.
How to Look Up Brookline Arrest Records in 2025
Members of the public seeking to obtain arrest records in Brookline have multiple methods available to them. The Brookline Police Department processes requests for arrest records in compliance with the Massachusetts Public Records Law. Individuals may utilize the following procedures to access these documents:
In-person requests may be submitted at the Brookline Police Department Records Division, located at 350 Washington Street, Brookline, MA 02445. The Records Division is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, excluding holidays.
Written requests may be submitted via the Public Records Request portal on the Town of Brookline's official website. Requestors must provide specific information about the records sought, including names, dates, and case numbers when available.
Telephone requests can be made to the Records Division at (617) 730-2225 during regular business hours, though written follow-up may be required for certain types of requests.
Email requests may be sent to the designated Records Access Officer at recordsrequest@brooklinema.gov.
Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 66, § 10(a), the Records Access Officer must provide a response within 10 business days of receiving a request. Fees may apply for search time, reproduction costs, and other services as permitted under 950 CMR 32.07. The current fee schedule includes $0.05 per page for black and white copies and $0.15 per page for color copies, with additional charges for certified copies and extensive search time.
Contents of a Brookline Arrest Record
Arrest records maintained by the Brookline Police Department typically contain comprehensive information about the arrest incident and the individual taken into custody. These records are standardized in accordance with Massachusetts law enforcement protocols and generally include the following components:
Biographical information of the arrested individual, including full legal name, any known aliases or nicknames, date of birth, gender, and residential address
Physical descriptors such as height, weight, eye color, hair color, and identifying marks such as tattoos or scars
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest, including street address and GPS coordinates when available
Detailed narrative of the circumstances leading to the arrest, written by the arresting officer(s)
Specific criminal charges filed, with references to the applicable Massachusetts General Laws or Brookline municipal ordinances allegedly violated
Booking photographs (commonly known as "mugshots") taken during the processing procedure
Fingerprint records and other biometric data collected during booking
Property inventory listing items in the arrestee's possession at the time of arrest
Names and badge numbers of all law enforcement personnel involved in the arrest and booking process
Preliminary breath test results or other field sobriety test outcomes, if applicable
Miranda rights acknowledgment documentation
Bail determination information and custody status
The Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) law (M.G.L. c. 6, § 172) governs the dissemination of certain criminal history information and may restrict access to some components of arrest records depending on the requestor's identity and purpose.
Expungement of Arrest Records in Brookline
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts provides legal mechanisms for the expungement of arrest records under specific circumstances. Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 276, § 100E-100U, individuals may petition for expungement of Brookline arrest records if they meet statutory eligibility requirements. The expungement process effectively removes the record from public access and official databases.
Eligibility criteria for expungement in Brookline include:
Cases resulting in no conviction, including dismissals, not guilty findings, nolle prosequi, or no probable cause determinations
Cases where the arrest or court appearance resulted from another person's fraudulent use of the petitioner's identity
Cases involving offenses that are no longer criminalized under Massachusetts law
Certain juvenile records after statutorily defined waiting periods
Cases meeting the "time-based" expungement criteria under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100G, which generally requires a clean record for 7 years for misdemeanors or 10 years for felonies, with numerous statutory exceptions for certain offense types
The expungement petition process requires filing formal documentation with the court that handled the original case. The Commissioner of Probation, the District Attorney's Office, and other relevant agencies have the opportunity to object to the petition. Judicial review then determines whether expungement serves justice and public safety.
If granted, expungement orders are transmitted to all agencies maintaining records of the arrest, including the Brookline Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, Department of Criminal Justice Information Services, and relevant courts. These agencies must then permanently destroy all records pertaining to the expunged arrest.
The Massachusetts Probation Service oversees the expungement process and can be contacted at:
Massachusetts Probation Service
One Ashburton Place, Room 405
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 727-5300
Massachusetts Probation Service Website
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