Quincy Bench Warrants
Bench warrants in Quincy are issued by the Quincy District Court when a person fails to show up for a court date or breaks a term set by a judge. Quincy sits in Norfolk County on the South Shore, and the court at 32 Adams St handles most bench warrant cases for the city and nearby towns. You can check for active bench warrants through the court clerk, the Norfolk County Sheriff, or state databases. This page covers where to search, who to call, and how to take care of a bench warrant if you have one in Quincy.
Quincy Bench Warrants at a Glance
Quincy District Court Bench Warrants
The Quincy District Court is the main court that issues bench warrants for cases in the city. It is at 32 Adams St, Quincy, MA 02169. The phone number is (617) 471-1651. The clerk's office can tell you if a bench warrant is active for a person. Bring a valid photo ID and know the full name and date of birth of the person you are asking about. The court handles both criminal and civil cases, and bench warrants can come from either side.
Below is the Quincy District Court page on the Massachusetts court system website where you can find hours, contact details, and filing information for bench warrant cases.
Most bench warrants from Quincy District Court come from missed court dates. A judge enters a default when someone does not show. Then the court issues the bench warrant under M.G.L. c. 276, § 22. The warrant stays active until the judge recalls it or the person turns up. There is no time limit on bench warrants in Massachusetts, so one from years ago can still lead to an arrest at a traffic stop or during any run-in with police in Quincy.
Note: Quincy District Court also serves Braintree, Milton, Cohasset, Hingham, Hull, Holbrook, Randolph, and Weymouth for bench warrant cases.
Quincy Police Warrant Checks
The Quincy Police Department is at 1 Sea St, Quincy, MA 02169. Call (617) 479-1212. Officers can run a warrant check through state and federal databases. If you go in person, bring your ID. The desk officer can look up whether a bench warrant is active for a given name and date of birth. Quincy PD works with the Norfolk County Sheriff's Office and state police to serve bench warrants across the city.
Quincy police patrol a city of about 101,000 people on the South Shore. They handle a high volume of bench warrant cases tied to the Quincy District Court. When an officer pulls someone over or responds to a call, they run a routine check that includes bench warrants. An active warrant from any Massachusetts court can show up during these checks. Under M.G.L. c. 276, § 6, a bench warrant can be served at any time, day or night.
Norfolk County Sheriff and Warrants
The Norfolk County Sheriff's Office enforces bench warrants across the county, including Quincy. The phone number is (781) 329-3705. The sheriff's warrant unit tracks active bench warrants from courts in Norfolk County. Deputies can serve these warrants in Quincy at a person's home, job, or any place they find them.
Norfolk County covers 28 cities and towns south of Boston. Quincy is the largest city in the county. The sheriff's office coordinates with Quincy PD and other local departments to locate people with bench warrants. If you want to check on a bench warrant through the sheriff, call and give them the person's full name and date of birth. They can tell you if the warrant is in their system and which court issued it.
The sheriff also runs the county jail. People picked up on bench warrants in Quincy are brought to the court that issued the warrant. Under M.G.L. c. 276, § 23A, law enforcement must keep records of all warrants and their service, so there is a paper trail for every bench warrant arrest in Norfolk County.
How to Search Quincy Bench Warrants
There is no single website that lists all active bench warrants in Quincy. Massachusetts does not publish warrant lists for public viewing online. But you have several ways to check.
The MassCourts portal lets you search court case records by name or case number. Free access is at public terminals in any courthouse, including Quincy District Court. Online access from home is also available. The system shows case details, hearing dates, and dispositions, though active bench warrant status may not always display fully. You can also run a criminal background check through iCORI for $25 per search. This pulls from records held by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services and may show bench warrant information as part of a person's criminal history.
The DCJIS homepage below shows where to start an online criminal records search that may include Quincy bench warrant information.
You can also file a public records request under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10 to get bench warrant records from the court or sheriff's office. Put the request in writing. Include the person's name, date of birth, and what records you want. Courts have 10 business days to respond.
Note: Sealed or impounded bench warrant cases in Quincy are not available through public records requests or online databases.
Clearing a Bench Warrant in Quincy
Act fast if you have a bench warrant in Quincy. Call the Quincy District Court clerk at (617) 471-1651. Ask what steps to take for a voluntary surrender. The clerk can tell you whether you can walk in during business hours or if you need a set date. Bring your ID and any court papers tied to the case.
Under M.G.L. c. 276, § 82A, a judge can vacate the default and recall the bench warrant if you show up and give a valid reason for missing your court date. A lawyer can help with this. The Massachusetts Bar Association referral line at 1-800-392-5660 can connect you with an attorney who handles bench warrant cases in Quincy and Norfolk County. Having a lawyer file a motion to recall the warrant before your appearance can sometimes speed things up and lead to a better outcome at the hearing.
Do not put it off. A bench warrant will not go away. It will sit in the system until someone deals with it. Every time you interact with police, the warrant can come up. That includes traffic stops, background checks, and routine encounters anywhere in Massachusetts.
Bench Warrants in Norfolk County
Quincy is part of Norfolk County, which has its own sheriff and court system for bench warrants. Other cities in Norfolk County with bench warrant information include Brookline and Weymouth. Each city's police can run warrant checks, and the Norfolk County courts handle all bench warrant cases in the area. Visit the Norfolk County bench warrants page for the full list of courts, contacts, and resources across the county.