Norfolk County Jail & Inmate Roster
Custody for arrests in Norfolk County sits with the county, not with any city within it. The the county jail holds people through trial, and the sheriff's office is the agency that can confirm whether someone is there.
Norfolk County jail and sheriff
| County | Norfolk County |
|---|---|
| Population | 740,754 (2024) |
Where a field is blank, the county does not publish that detail on an official source we can cite.
How to find someone in the county jail
- If the person has already been sentenced, search the Massachusetts Department of Correction offender locator instead.
- Have their date of birth ready — it is the detail that separates people with common names.
- If the charge is federal, search the Bureau of Prisons system, which is separate from both.
- Call the jail directly if the name does not appear; online rosters lag behind actual bookings.
- Search the county's official roster for the person's full legal name.
Cities in Norfolk County
1 city in Norfolk County is covered, each with its own inmate search and bail information.
The Massachusetts state prison system
Sentenced prisoners in Massachusetts are held by the Massachusetts Department of Correction, not by Norfolk County. A person stops appearing on the county roster once transferred.
How the Norfolk County jail system works
County jails handle pretrial detention, which means most people inside have not been convicted of anything. They are also the intake point for the state prison system, so a transfer is the usual next step after sentencing.
After a booking, the next fixed point is a first appearance before a judge, where release conditions are set. Until that happens, the jail holds the person on the arresting agency's authority.
What to ask when you call
A single call to the jail or the sheriff's office can answer most of what a family needs to know in the first days. Having the questions ready makes the call much shorter.
- Whether the person is currently in custody, and under what booking number.
- When the first appearance is scheduled and which court will hear it.
- What the exact charges are as recorded at booking.
- What the current bail amount is, if one has been set.
- What the facility's visiting rules are and whether visits must be booked ahead.
- Whether the person has any medical or mental-health needs the facility should know about.
Bail in Massachusetts
Bail for arrests in Norfolk County is set under Massachusetts law. The governing provisions are listed below.
-
Mass. Code § 29
Outstanding warrant check prior to release on bail or recognizance
Before a court releases, discharges or admits to bail any person brought before said court, in any criminal matter, the court shall first check the warrant management system to determine whether any warrant has been issued against the person in any jurisdiction of the commonwealth.
Massachusetts General Laws (official, Massachusetts General Court) (opens in a new tab) -
Mass. Code § 64
Admission to bail on Sunday
Persons held in custody or committed upon a criminal charge, if entitled to be released upon bail, may, in the discretion of the magistrate, be admitted to bail on Sunday.
Massachusetts General Laws (official, Massachusetts General Court) (opens in a new tab)
Bail in Massachusetts
-
Mass. Code § 29
Outstanding warrant check prior to release on bail or recognizance
Before a court releases, discharges or admits to bail any person brought before said court, in any criminal matter, the court shall first check the warrant management system to determine whether any warrant has been issued against the person in any jurisdiction of the commonwealth.
Massachusetts General Laws (official, Massachusetts General Court) (opens in a new tab) -
Mass. Code § 64
Admission to bail on Sunday
Persons held in custody or committed upon a criminal charge, if entitled to be released upon bail, may, in the discretion of the magistrate, be admitted to bail on Sunday.
Massachusetts General Laws (official, Massachusetts General Court) (opens in a new tab)
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · retrieved 2026-09-16
Frequently asked questions
Where are people arrested in Norfolk County held?
At the county jail, operated by the county. Cities within the county generally do not run their own long-term jails, so bookings are transferred to the county facility.
How do I find someone in Norfolk County jail?
Contact the Norfolk County sheriff's office directly. Where no public online roster is published, a phone call is the only reliable route.
What is the county seat of Norfolk County?
Norfolk County publishes its county seat, as does the U.S. Census Bureau.
How do I post bail in Norfolk County?
Bail is set by a judge under Massachusetts law and is normally paid to the court or the county, not to the jail. Confirm the accepted payment method and the exact amount with the court before travelling.
Does Norfolk County publish mugshots?
Some sheriffs publish booking photographs and some do not. Where a roster is published, the sheriff's own site governs what is shown and for how long. We do not republish individual records.
How long are people held in Norfolk County jail?
That depends on the case. People awaiting trial are held until bail is posted or the case concludes; people serving a sentence are held for its duration, then transferred or released.
Last reviewed and updated: