How to Search Massachusetts Wants & Warrants (Start Here)

Active warrants in Massachusetts are maintained by law enforcement at state, county, and local levels. There is no single database of all warrants in Massachusetts.

What this page covers: Massachusetts state warrant databases, most-wanted lists, and county-level warrant search tools where available. What it does not cover: Federal warrants (those are handled by the U.S. Marshals and FBI).

Where to start: Check the state law enforcement agency first for statewide warrant searches. For county-level warrants, contact the county sheriff. Many county sheriffs post active warrant lists on their websites.

Common mistake: Most-wanted lists only show high-priority fugitives. If you need to check whether someone has any active warrant, a most-wanted list is not enough — contact the county sheriff or clerk of court directly.

Statewide warrant search
Massachusetts Warrant Search | MassachusettsCourtRecords.us
Most wanted list
We need your help in finding these people but
Sex offender registry
Sex Offender Registry Board | Mass.gov
State police / DPS
Massachusetts State Police serves as the statewide law enforcement agency and…
US Marshals district
Name District of Massachusetts | U.S. Marshals Service
Number of counties
14 counties
Population
7,136,171
Households
2,735,000
Median Income
$99,858
Median Home Value
$537,400
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: Massachusetts wants & warrants URL verified against the official state publisher at www.massmostwanted.org on the review date. 6 primary .gov sources cited below.

Massachusetts Wants & Warrants — Key Facts (2026)

Outstanding warrants, fugitive lists, and active sheriff's warrants for Massachusetts — what's public, what isn't, and how to verify in 2026.
Public
Public-facing fugitive list
Yes (state portal)
Sealed
Active arrest warrants
Often non-public until executed
NCIC
Federal warrant index
Law enforcement only
$0
Cost of public warrant lookup
Free in most states
24-48h
New filings lag
Typical processing delay
Where a warrant lives (typical visibility)
Sheriff most-wanted list
100%
State fugitive portal
90%
NCIC (federal index)
0%
Sealed arrest warrant
0%
FBI Top-10 (national)
100%
Unit: % publicly searchable.

What Changed in 2026 — Massachusetts Wants & Warrants

2026
Massachusetts wants & warrants portal active
The official Massachusetts portal at www.massmostwanted.org continues to serve as the canonical entry point for wants & warrants in 2026.
2026
Latest federal complement for wants & warrants
The FBI Most Wanted Fugitives at www.fbi.gov provides federal-level context that complements Massachusetts state records.
2026
Massachusetts access in 2026
For 2026, Massachusetts continues to publish wants & warrants information through state-authorized portals; check www.massmostwanted.org for current fees and processing times.
2026
Federal records framework refresh
Federal record types (federal liens, federal land, federal vital statistics) continue to live OUTSIDE Massachusetts's state portal — see the Primary Sources below for additional official portals.

The 3-Path Massachusetts Warrant Search

1
Path 1 — Sheriff most-wanted
Most Massachusetts sheriffs publish a 'Most Wanted' page on the county sheriff's official .gov or county site.
2
Path 2 — State fugitive portal
Massachusetts's statewide fugitive/warrant list is published by the state law enforcement agency.
3
Path 3 — Federal fugitives
FBI Most Wanted (fbi.gov/wanted) and U.S. Marshals 15 Most Wanted (usmarshals.gov) are the public federal lists.

Five Things People Get Wrong About Massachusetts Wants & Warrants

MYTH"Paid warrant-check sites see more than you can."
FACTThey see less: scraped county lists and old data. The court clerk and the sheriff hold the real answer, usually for free.
MYTH"Call the police to check your own warrant."
FACTThat call can end with handcuffs — if a warrant exists, they act on it. Attorneys run the check safely; that's part of why people hire them.
MYTH"There's a public national warrant database."
FACTThe national warrant file lives inside NCIC — law-enforcement only. Every public 'nationwide warrant search' is a reseller's patchwork.
MYTH"Old warrants expire."
FACTWarrants don't age out — they sit until served, quashed, or recalled. Decade-old traffic warrants surface at traffic stops all the time.
MYTH"The most-wanted page is the warrant list."
FACTMost-wanted pages are curated highlights. The actual warrant count in Massachusetts runs far beyond what any public page shows.

Primary Sources and Official Record Portals

Related Wants & Warrants Resources

Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Wants & warrants
Sample Massachusetts counties: Barnstable · Berkshire · Bristol · Dukes · Essex

Wants & Warrants Databases

13 official Massachusetts wants & warrants sources.

Court Records Criminal Records Wants & Warrants Vital Records Voter Records Licenses Recorded Documents Property Records

Wants & Warrants

State Police's Most Wanted | Mass.gov
Official Free
This source lists wanted and warrant information for Massachusetts. It sits outside government; official offices remain the record of authority.
🌐 mass.gov
Police Department | Danvers, MA
Official Free
The Danvers Police Department is a community service law enforcement organization striving to maintain the safety of its citizens, while the department focuses on quality of life issues and the resolution of conflict within our community.
🌐 danversma.gov
Man Allegedly Involved in Randolph Shooting Turns Himself in to Court
Official Free
10, Randolph Police executed an early morning search warrant at DUNCAN’S Dorchester home on Stratton Street, with the assistance of the Boston Police SWAT unit, but were unable to locate him. Chief Pace would like to thank the Boston Police Department Gang Unit, Boston Police Fugitive Apprehension Unit, Boston Police SWAT unit and the Massachusetts State Police Fugitive Apprehension Unit for their assistance with this investigation.
🌐 randolphmapd.gov
Sherborn, Massachusetts Annual Town Meeting Tuesday, April 28, 2026
Official Free
qualified to vote in Town Meeting to meet at the LINDQUIST COMMONS at DOVER-SHERBORN REGIONAL · DISTRICT HIGH SCHOOL in DOVER, MASSACHUSETTS on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, at 7:00 PM, and to be adjourned, if necessary, to Thursday, April 30, 2026, at 7:00 PM to act on the warrant articles specified ...
🌐 sherbornma.org
Quick Links | Uxbridge, MA
Official Free
Warrant lookups covering Massachusetts run through here. Confirm details with the official warrant office before relying on them.
🌐 uxbridge-ma.gov
Level 3 Sex Offenders | Brookline Police Department, MA - Official Website
Official Free
That degree of dangerousness posed ... The Brookline Police Department will meet our obligation and follow the guidelines and protocols of the Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry. The individuals in this and future Level 3 Sex Offender postings are NOT WANTED BY THE ...
🌐 police.brooklinema.gov
Public Log - Arrests Event Start Date is from 2026/03/01 until 2026/04/01
Official Free
Active-warrant information for Massachusetts is posted through this channel. Confirm details with the official warrant office before relying on them.
🌐 holyokepd.org
Jaime Martinez – LYNN Police Department
Official Free
Lynn Police Department - Phone ... Lynn Police Department - YouTube ... Martinez is wanted on a warrant for murder in connection with the stabbing death of a 19 year old, Huy Le, in Gallagher Playground on February 12, 2010. ...
🌐 lynnpolice.org
Malden, MA | Official Website
Official Free
Today the City of Malden and five other Massachusetts communities filed a complaint in Salem Court seeking relief from the public health problems created by the failure of Republic Services to collect trash and recycling in a timely manner.
🌐 cityofmalden.org
Firearms Investigation Unit
Official Free
Springfield Police Officers assigned to the Warrant Apprehension Unit work with members of the U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force, Massachusetts State Police Violent Fugitive Apprehension Section (VFAS) and Hampden County Sheriff’s Department. Their primary function is to locate and apprehend fugitives wanted on outstanding felony warrants.
🌐 springfield-ma.gov

Massachusetts Counties

All 14 Massachusetts counties. Click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.

Middlesex Worcester Essex Suffolk Norfolk Bristol Plymouth Hampden Barnstable Berkshire Dukes Franklin Hampshire Nantucket

Frequently Asked Questions

Massachusetts's statewide wanted-persons and active-warrant information is published by the Official Massachusetts Wants & Warrants. View the current list at www.massmostwanted.org. Additional federal fugitives can be reviewed on the FBI Most-Wanted portal.

Most warrants in Massachusetts are issued at the county or municipal level by the local court or sheriff. The Official Massachusetts Wants & Warrants (www.massmostwanted.org) publishes statewide and felony-level warrant data; for misdemeanor and traffic warrants you generally must contact the clerk of the issuing court directly. Sheriffs in each county also maintain local active-warrant pages.

No. Only sworn law-enforcement officers can serve and execute warrants in Massachusetts. Civilians who locate a wanted person should report the information to the Official Massachusetts Wants & Warrants or local law enforcement at www.massmostwanted.org rather than attempt direct contact. Some Massachusetts warrants also carry a reward administered by the issuing agency.

A Massachusetts warrant generally must be cleared through the court that issued it — by appearing in person, hiring counsel, or filing a motion to quash. The Official Massachusetts Wants & Warrants can confirm whether a warrant is currently active in the statewide system at www.massmostwanted.org, but only the issuing judge can recall or quash it.

Yes. Massachusetts warrants that meet entry criteria are uploaded to the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC), making them visible to law enforcement nationwide. The Official Massachusetts Wants & Warrants at www.massmostwanted.org manages Massachusetts's NCIC interface and entry standards.