Bristol County Bench Warrants

Bristol County bench warrants are issued by courts in Taunton, Fall River, and New Bedford when a person does not show up for a court date or breaks a court order. The county has three Superior Courts and four District Courts that can issue bench warrants. If you need to look up a bench warrant in Bristol County, you can start with the court clerk at the court where your case was filed or reach out to the Bristol County Sheriff. This page covers the main ways to search for and deal with bench warrants across Bristol County, Massachusetts.

Bristol County Sheriff and Warrants

The Bristol County Sheriff's Office runs a Warrant Apprehension Unit that tracks down people with active bench warrants across the county. The main office sits at 400 Faunce Corner Road in Dartmouth, MA 02747. You can call them at (508) 995-4500. The unit works with local police in Fall River, New Bedford, and Taunton to serve bench warrants. They also team up with state and federal agencies when needed.

Civil Process for Bristol County is handled at 9 Broadway in Taunton, MA 02780. The phone number there is (508) 828-2800. This office serves court papers and can point you to the right place if you need to ask about a bench warrant. Under M.G.L. c. 276, § 6, warrants can be served on any day and at any time. That means the Warrant Apprehension Unit can act on a bench warrant at night, on weekends, or on holidays. There is no safe window where a warrant goes dormant.

The Bristol County Sheriff's Office homepage shows contact details and information about their warrant operations across the county.

You can use this site to find the right division to call about bench warrant matters in Bristol County.

Bristol County Superior Courts

Bristol County has three Superior Courts. These handle the most serious cases and can issue bench warrants for felony matters. The Taunton Superior Court is at 9 Court Street in Taunton, and you can reach them at (508) 828-2800. This court serves as the main hub for Bristol County bench warrant cases at the Superior Court level. The clerk's office can tell you if a bench warrant is active on a case there.

Fall River Superior Court sits at 441 North Main Street. Call (508) 675-9640 for case info. New Bedford Superior Court is at 1213 Purchase Street on the 7th floor, with a phone number of (508) 991-2600. All three courts share the same rules for bench warrants under Massachusetts law. When a person misses a scheduled hearing at any of these courts, the judge can issue a bench warrant right away. Under M.G.L. c. 276, § 22, a default warrant follows when someone fails to appear after being ordered to show up.

Each Superior Court clerk can check the Warrant Management System for active bench warrants in Bristol County.

District Court Bench Warrants

Most bench warrants in Bristol County come from the four District Courts. These courts handle misdemeanors, some felonies, and a large volume of cases each year. More cases means more missed court dates and more bench warrants. The Fall River District Court is at 186 South Main Street in Fall River. Call (508) 675-9641. This is one of the busiest courts in the county for bench warrant activity.

The Fall River District Court serves a large part of Bristol County and processes many bench warrants each year.

People with bench warrants from this court can contact the clerk to ask about recall options.

New Bedford District Court is at 75 North 6th Street. The phone is (508) 991-2602. The New Bedford District Court handles cases for the city and surrounding towns. Taunton District Court sits at 120 Cohannet Street with a number of (508) 828-2802. Attleboro District Court is at 88 North Main Street, and you can call (508) 222-5900. Each of these courts has a clerk who can look up bench warrants and tell you the status of a case.

The New Bedford District Court page shows hours, location, and contact details for warrant inquiries in Bristol County.

Walk-in visits during business hours are the fastest way to get bench warrant information at this court.

Searching Bristol County Warrant Records

There are a few ways to check for bench warrants in Bristol County. The MassCourts portal lets you search court records by name or case number for free at courthouse public terminals. Online access is also available but may not show full warrant details for Bristol County cases. Some records could be sealed or restricted by a judge.

The iCORI system run by the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services is another option. A CORI search costs $25 and may show bench warrant data as part of a criminal history record. You need a valid photo ID and Social Security Number to use iCORI. Results come back fast for online requests. For Bristol County bench warrants, you can also call the sheriff at (508) 995-4500 or visit any of the four District Court clerks in person. Under M.G.L. c. 276, § 23A, law enforcement must keep records of warrants and their service, which helps make sure the data stays current across the county.

Clearing Bench Warrants in Bristol County

If you have a bench warrant in Bristol County, the best step is to go to the court that issued it. Contact the clerk first. Ask about a recall hearing or voluntary surrender. Under M.G.L. c. 276, § 82A, a court can vacate a default and recall a bench warrant if you show up and give a good reason for missing your court date. Bring your ID and any case papers with you.

A lawyer can help with the process. The Massachusetts Bar referral line at 1-800-392-5660 can connect you with an attorney who takes Bristol County cases. Some people choose to hire a lawyer to file a motion to recall the bench warrant before they appear. This can sometimes lead to a better outcome. Do not ignore a bench warrant in Bristol County. It stays active until a judge recalls it or you are arrested. Any contact with law enforcement in Massachusetts can lead to an arrest on an open bench warrant.

You can also file a public records request under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10 to get copies of warrant records from Bristol County courts or the sheriff's office. Written requests go to the Records Access Officer at the relevant agency.

Bristol County Cities

Three major cities in Bristol County have their own pages with local bench warrant resources and court contacts.

Nearby Counties