City Jails in Massachusetts

All City Jails in Massachusetts

Browse 79 city jails across 13 counties in Massachusetts

79
City Jails
13
Counties

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This page lists all 79 city jails in Massachusetts. You can browse by county below, search for specific facilities, or navigate to related pages.

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About City Jails in Massachusetts

Understanding city jails in the Massachusetts

Welcome to the most complete and up-to-date directory of city jails in Massachusetts. This page lists every active city jail facility operating across Massachusetts, giving families, attorneys, bail bondsmen, and the general public fast, reliable access to local jail information. Whether you need to locate a recently arrested loved one, find contact details for a specific facility, or simply understand how the city jail system works in Massachusetts, everything you need is available right here.

City Jail vs. Prison: What's the Difference?

City jails serve a very different function from state or federal prisons:

  • City Jails: Locally operated facilities that hold individuals for short periods — typically those who have just been arrested, are awaiting trial, are unable to make bail, or are serving sentences of less than one year.
  • County Jails: Similar to city jails but operated at the county level, serving a larger geographic area.
  • State Prisons: Operated by Massachusetts's Department of Corrections for felony offenses with sentences longer than one year.
  • Federal Prisons: Operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons for federal crimes.

If you're unsure where your loved one is held, use our free US inmate locator tool to search across all facility types at once.

How to Find Someone in a City Jail

When a loved one is arrested and taken to a city jail in Massachusetts, finding out exactly where they are being held is the first priority. Because city jails are locally operated, there is no single centralized database — which is exactly why this directory exists. Browse the list below, click on the relevant facility, and use the inmate search feature to locate your loved one quickly.

Booking & Intake Process

The booking process includes fingerprinting, photographing, health screening, and search of belongings. This can take a few hours to most of a day. During this period, the person is generally not accessible by phone or visitors.

Getting Bail

Bail is set by a judge at an arraignment, typically within 24-72 hours of arrest. A licensed bail bondsman can post bail on your behalf for a non-refundable fee of 10-15% of the total bail amount.

Hiring a Lawyer

Securing qualified legal representation as early as possible is critical. A criminal defense attorney can attend bail hearings, negotiate with prosecutors, and begin building a defense strategy from day one.

Calling an Inmate

Most city jails use third-party phone providers with outbound-only calls. Your number must be registered and a prepaid account set up. Read our calling guide for step-by-step instructions.

Sending Money

Inmates can receive money via online transfers, kiosk deposits, or money orders. Funds go to their commissary account for food, hygiene products, and phone credits. Click any facility for specific deposit methods.

Visitation

Visitation policies vary by facility. Some offer in-person visits while others use video only. Always check the specific facility's rules, visiting hours, and pre-approval requirements before making the trip.

Frequently Asked Questions

The total number of active city jails in Massachusetts is 79. This count is updated regularly to reflect any changes in facility status across Massachusetts.

Use the directory list on this page to find the city jail in the area where the arrest took place, then use the facility's inmate search tool to locate the person.

Yes. This page includes a built-in county filter that instantly narrows the list to show only city jails in a specific county within Massachusetts. Select your county from the dropdown above the list, and the results will update in real time.

Yes. Use the state selector tool on this page to switch to a complete directory of city jails in any other US state. Our database covers local jail facilities across all 50 states.

The length of time depends on the charges, bail status, and court scheduling. Pretrial detainees may be held for days, weeks, or even months as their cases move through the court system. Those serving sentences for misdemeanor convictions typically serve less than one year.

City jails in Massachusetts are operated by municipal authorities such as a city police department and typically serve a single city or town. County jails are operated by the county sheriff's office and serve a broader geographic area. Both hold similar populations — pretrial detainees and short-term sentenced inmates — but differ in jurisdiction and operational oversight.

City Jails by County in Massachusetts

View facilities organized by county

Filter City Jails by County

Massachusetts has City Jails spread across dozens of counties, and finding the right one quickly can be challenging without the right tools. Use the county list below to instantly narrow results and view only the City Jails in a specific county within Massachusetts. This is particularly helpful if you are trying to locate someone who was recently arrested in a specific area, or if you are planning a visit and need to find the closest facility to your location.

All City Jails in Massachusetts

Complete listing of city jails

Browse Every City Jails in Massachusetts

The full list of city jails in Massachusetts is displayed below. Each entry includes the jail's name, city, county, address, and contact information. City jails are locally operated facilities typically managed by municipal law enforcement agencies such as city police departments or local sheriff's offices. They primarily house individuals who have been recently arrested, are awaiting arraignment or bail hearings, or are serving short-term sentences.

Facility Name County Action
Deerfield Jail 8 Conway St, South Deerfield, MA 01373
Franklin View Details
Greenfield Jail 321 High St, Greenfield, MA 01301
Franklin View Details
Wendell Jail 9 Morse Village Road, Wendell, MA 01379
Franklin View Details
Holyoke Jail 138 Appleton St, Holyoke, MA 01040
Hampden View Details
Russell Jail 65 Main St, Russell, MA 01071
Hampden View Details
Springfield Jail 200 Trafton Road, Springfield, MA 01108
Hampden View Details
West Springfield Jail 26 Central St, West Springfield, MA 01089
Hampden View Details
Westfield Jail 15 Washington St, Westfield, MA 01085
Hampden View Details
Wilbraham Jail 16 Main St, Wilbraham, MA 01095
Hampden View Details
Southampton Jail Rear of the Southampton Town Hall 8 East St PO Box 239, Sout...
Hampshire View Details
Arlington Jail 112 Mystic St, Arlington, MA 02476
Middlesex View Details
Belmont Jail 460 Concord Ave PO Box 130, Belmont, MA 02478
Middlesex View Details
Carlisle Jail 41 Lowell St, Carlisle, MA 01741
Middlesex View Details
Everett Jail 45 Elm St, Everett, MA 02149
Middlesex View Details
Framingham Jail 1 William Welch Way, Framingham, MA 01702
Middlesex View Details
Lexington Jail 1575 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA 02420
Middlesex View Details
Lowell Jail JFK Plaza 50 Arcand Drive, Lowell, MA 01852
Middlesex View Details
Lowell Jail 50 Arcand Drive, Lowell, MA 01852
Middlesex View Details
Malden Jail 200 Pleasant St, Malden, MA 02148
Middlesex View Details
Newton Jail 1321 Washington St, Newton, MA 02465
Middlesex View Details
Pepperell Jail 59 Main St PO Box 295, Pepperell, MA 01463
Middlesex View Details
Shirley Jail 11 Keady Way, Shirley, MA 01464
Middlesex View Details
Waltham Jail 155 Lexington St, Waltham, MA 02154
Middlesex View Details
Wilmington Jail 1 Adelaide St, Wilmington, MA 01887
Middlesex View Details
Woburn Jail 25 Harrison Ave, Woburn, MA 01801
Middlesex View Details
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City Jails in Other States

Browse city jails in other states

Explore City Jails in Other States

Looking for city jails beyond Massachusetts? We've got you covered. Use the state selectors below to instantly switch to a full directory of city jails in any other US state. Whether you need to look up facilities in a neighboring state or search across the country, our nationwide directory makes it simple to find the information you need in just a few clicks.