Essex County Inmate Search
An arrest occurs in Essex County when a police officer uses their legal authority to take a person into custody. The person must have committed a felony or misdemeanor. The Essex County Sheriff's Department will keep a record of the arrest and incarceration. This allows a requester to conduct an inmate search by phone or in person at the Department.
After an arrest, the police officer will take the arrested person to the police station for booking. The booking process involves taking biographical information, mugshots, and fingerprints. If the arrest occurred in the early hours of the day, the arrested person (defendant) would be taken to the courthouse for arraignment. If the arrest was late in the day, the arrested person might be released on bail or held in custody, depending on the nature of the offense. During an arraignment, the judge will formally read the offender’s charges, and the offender will be asked to plead guilty or not. The defendant may be released at this point unless the prosecutor asks for an increased bail amount. After arraignment and bail, a pre-trial conference will be held. This is where the defense attorney annd prosecutor will exchange evidence. A plea agreement may be entered at this point, or the case can proceed to trial. The trial may be held in from of a jury or judge.
Both attorneys will present their arguments, evidence, and witnesses during the trial. The case will be dismissed if the defendant is found not guilty. However, a sentence would be given if the defendant is found guilty. This sentence could be that the defendant pays a fine or be held in any Essex County jail.
Inmate records are considered public in the United States and therefore are made available by both traditional governmental agencies as well as third-party websites and organizations. Third-party websites may offer an easier means to search, as these services do not face geographical limitations. However, because third-party sites are not government-sponsored, the information obtained through them may vary from official channels. To find inmate records using third-party aggregate sites, requesting parties must provide:
- The location of the sought-after record, including state, county, and city where the inmate resides.
- The name of the person listed in the record, unless it is a juvenile.
Essex County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
The Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) annual crime data revealed that about 81,953 people were arrested in the state in 2021. This was a 4.82% increase compared to 2020. About 21,921 adults and 1,563 juveniles of those arrested committed crimes against persons. About 9,532 adults and 859 juveniles committed crimes against property. About 6,887 adults and 229 juveniles committed crimes against society. About 39,994 adults and 936 juveniles committed Group B crimes like DUI, disorderly conduct, the trespass of real property, and liquor law violations.
Essex County Prison System
The Essex County Sheriff's Department oversees the county prison system. The Department manages inmates at 3 institutions across the county:
- Middleton Facility
- Essex County Pre-Release & Re-Entry Center (ECPRC)
- Women In Transition Facility (WIT)
As of 2021, the Essex County jails had 3,719 inmates processed through the intake. Of this number, 239 were safekeeps, 2,815 were on pre-trials, and 665 were sentenced. That same year 3,732 inmates were released from jail. About 235 were safekeeps, 2,720 were on pre-trial, and 777 were sentenced.
The average daily population (ADP) of inmates in Essex County jails was 1,044. Middleton facility ADP was 960, ECPRC ADP was 71, and WIT was 13. The recidivism rate for inmates released in 2020 was 41.58%, a 5.04% decrease from 2019 (46.62%).
How to Find an Inmate in Essex County
Individuals can find out if a person is in custody at any Essex County jail by calling (978) 750-1900 ext 3400. Alternatively, individuals can visit the facilities in person to inquire about an inmate. Requesters must provide the inmate’s name or booking number to facilitate the search.
How Does an Essex County Inmate Search Work?
The Massachusetts Public Records Act allows for the inspection and retrieval of inmate records maintained by law enforcement agencies in Essex County. Therefore, anyone can request to view annd obtain copies of information about an inmate house in any Essex County jail. However, some inmate records are deemed confidential and can only be assessed by record holders, legal representatives, and other selected few. An example of such records is juvenile records. Below is the kind of information that can be found during an Essex County inmate search:
- Inmate’s first and last names
- Gender
- Date of birth
- ID number
- Custody status
- Custody status date
- Custody detail
- Location
- Reporting agency
Where to Find an Essex County Inmate Locator
Essex County does not have an inmate locator which can be used to find an inmate housed in the county jails. However, individuals can find a third-party inmate locator on the Massachusetts Department of Correction (MADOC) website. A search can be conducted by name or ID number. Additionally, an inmate locator can be found on the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) website. Individuals can use this locator to find Essex County inmates in federal prisons. A search on the BOP website can be done by number or name. Search results reveal the inmate’s name, register number, race, sex, release date, and location.
Alternatively, requesters can find inmate locators on third-party sites. The inmate’s name, ID number, or booking number can be used to conduct the search via the inmate locators. Some third-party sites require that requesters pay a small fee to complete inmate searches. In contrast, others may be able to use third-party inmate locators for free.
How to Send Money to an Essex County Inmate
An individual can send money to an inmate county via an approved third-party vendor. The deposit can be made as follows:
- Online: Go to the third-party website and create an account. Sign in with an email annd password to deposit funds in an inmate’s account.
- Phone: Call (888) 988-4768 (Trust) and follow the prompts
- In-person: Visit the lobby kiosk located at each of the jails
- Mobile app: Download the third-party app on Apple and Android
Depositors must ensure they have basic information about the inmate, like first and last name, date of birth, and ID number, to transact successfully. Individuals making payments by telephone and Pin Debit should use site ID# 262.
How to Visit an Essex County Inmate
Individuals can conduct in-person or video visits at any Essex County jail. Video visitors must set up an account on a third-party platform before initiating a visit. All visits should be initiated based on each facility’s video schedule. Below are the rules for in-person visits by facility:
Essex County Middleton Jail
Visitors do not need to schedule appointments before visiting Essex County Middleton Jail inmates. Visitors can visit the jail any day of the week but must ensure they know the visiting schedule for each month, which is subject to change. First-time visitors must download, print and complete the Request to Visit an Inmate form and bring it to the facility at the time of visit.
Essex County Pre-Release Center - Lawrence
Visitors must schedule an appointment before visiting an inmate in the Essex County Lawrence Jail. This appointment must be scheduled between 48 and 24 hours in advance by calling (978) 750-1900 ext. 4488. Calls can be made Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. There is a maximum of six appointments per visitation time slot. Individuals can schedule visitations for any day of the week except Friday. Visiting time is usually from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 pm and 7:30 p.m. Visits last only one hour and can be canceled due to bad weather. This is because visitations take place outside the facility. First-time visitors must submit the Request to Visit an Inmate form by email (rsmith@essexsheriffma.org), by mail, or in person at the Essex County Pre-Release Center (ECPRC) at least 24 hours before the visit.
Essex County Wit Jail
Visitors must make appointments 48 to 24 hours before visiting Essex County Wit Jail inmates. Call (978) 750-1900 ext. 3728 to make an appointment. Visiting days are between Tuesday and Thursday (6 p.m. to 7 p.m.) and Saturday and Sunday (10 a.m. - 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. -7 p.m.). Only five appointments are allowed per visitation time slot. First-time visitors must submit the Request to Visit an Inmate form by email, mail, or in person at the WIT at least 24 hours before the visit.
The Essex County jails allow only 2 adults and 2 children per visit. Minors must visit the jail with their parents or legal guardian. Direct relations may accompany minors provided they have a signed and notarized letter from the parent or legal guardian. The minor’s birth certificate with both parent’s names must be presented during the visit. Legal guardians are required to have court documents as proof of custody. Visitors must be properly dressed when visiting the jail. Visitors are permitted to bring wedding bands, car keys, and medic alert bracelets into the visiting area. See-through tops, hats, bandanas, tube tops, cropped tops, bare tops, and halter tops are prohibited.
How to Send Jail Mail in Essex County
The Essex County Sheriff’s Department (ECSD) allows personal and nonprivileged mail to be sent to inmates via a third-party digital delivery system. However, legal and privileged mail can be sent to inmates through the postal office. Also, money orders and publications sent directly from a publisher or authorized retailer can be sent to inmates through the postal office. Mail containing a money order for an inmate's canteen account should have the word "CANTEEN" indicated on the envelope.
The third-party vendor in charge of the delivery program receives, opens, and scans mail into digital files. Afterward, the ECSD will print the files and distribute them to recipients. The third-party vendor will keep the original correspondence for 60 days before destroying them. Senders who want their mail returned can send a self-addressed stamped envelope to the vendor.
Essex County Jails and Prisons
Below are the names, addresses, and contact information of all the jail facilities, prisons, and detention centers in Essex County:
Essex County Middleton Jail
20 Manning Avenue
Middleton, MA
Phone: (978) 750-1900
Essex County Pre-Release Center - Lawrence
165 Marston Street
Lawrence, MA
Phone: (978) 750-1900
Fax: (978) 750-1999
Essex County Women In Transition Facility Jail
197 Elm Street
Salisbury, MA
Phone: (978) 750-1900
Fax: (978) 750-1999
Peabody City Jail
6 Allens Lane
Peabody, MA 01960
North East Regional Youth Service Center
33 Gregory Street
Middleton, MA 01949
Phone: (978) 716-1100
Mass Juvenile Detention & Correctional Facility
20 Manning Road
Middleton, MA 01949
Lynn City Jail
300 Washington Street
Lynn, MA 01902
Lawrence City Jail
90 Lowell Street
Lawrence, MA 01840
Haverhill Prison
69 Belmont Street
Haverhill, MA 01832
Phone: (978) 372-2006
Haverhill City Jail
40 Bailey Boulevard
Haverhill, MA 01830
Essex County Correctional Alternative Center
165 Marston Street
Lawrence, MA 01841
