Find Sex Offenders in Bristol County
Bristol County is one of the more densely populated counties in southeastern Massachusetts, with roughly 550,000 residents across its three county seats of New Bedford, Fall River, and Taunton. The county has over 700 Level 2 and Level 3 registered sex offenders on the public registry. You can search for sex offenders in Bristol County using the free state portal or by visiting any local police department. This page covers how to search, which agencies handle registration, and what support is available to victims.
Bristol County Overview
Searching the Bristol County Sex Offender Registry
Massachusetts runs a free public search portal for registered sex offenders at sorb.chs.state.ma.us. You can search by name, city, or zip code. Every Level 3 offender in Bristol County is listed there. Most Level 2 offenders are also in the online database. The search shows each person's name, photo, address, and offense. There is no login required and no fee.
Fall River alone has approximately 109 registered sex offenders in recent data, and New Bedford's numbers are comparable given its population. These cities consistently rank among the higher-density registry areas in southeastern Massachusetts. Searching by zip code is often the most efficient way to get a street-level view of who is registered near a specific address.
One exception: Level 2 offenders who were classified before July 12, 2013 are not always available online. For those cases, you need to go in person to the police department in the city or town where the offender lives. Bring a valid ID. The desk officer will look it up for you.
The Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) maintains the statewide system. Their number is (978) 740-6400. Toll-free: 1-800-93-MEGAN. You can also search the national database at nsopw.gov if you want to check someone across state lines.
Bristol County DA and Prosecution
District Attorney Thomas M. Quinn III leads the Bristol County DA's office. The office is at the courthouse at 441 County Street, New Bedford, MA 02740, and can be reached at (508) 997-1773. The DA's website is bristolda.com.
The image below is from the Bristol County DA's website, which covers the office's approach to sex crime prosecution and victim resources in the county.
The DA's office prosecutes sex crimes throughout Bristol County, including cases involving registered offenders who fail to comply with their registration requirements. Under MGL c.6 §178H, a first-time failure to register carries up to five years in prison and a $1,000 fine. A second offense means a mandatory minimum of five years.
The county also has a Children's Advocacy Center that handles forensic interviews for child sexual abuse cases. The center uses trained interviewers and has a support dog program for child victims during interviews. This is part of a coordinated response that involves the DA's office, police, and child protective services.
New Bedford Police and Registry Access
The New Bedford Police Department is at 871 Rockdale Avenue, New Bedford, MA 02740. Their main number is (508) 991-6300. New Bedford PD handles sex offender registration for the city and can provide Level 2 records to residents who request them in person.
The image below is from the New Bedford Police Department's website, where residents can find information about local public safety resources and sex offender registry access.
The New Bedford PD website at newbedfordpd.com has a FAQ and links section with additional public safety resources. Level 3 offenders in New Bedford are available online through the SORB portal. For Level 2 records, visit the station and ask for the public registry information.
New Bedford PD FAQ and Local Resources
The New Bedford Police maintain a FAQ and links page at newbedfordpd.com/faq-links/ with answers to common questions about public records and safety resources in the city.
This page is a useful starting point if you are unsure where to go or what to ask. It also links out to other agencies involved in public safety across Bristol County.
Note: New Bedford's police department handles both in-person registry requests and general public safety inquiries for the city, which is the most populous in Bristol County.
Other Police Departments in Bristol County
Bristol County has several other active police departments that handle sex offender registration and public record requests for their communities. Fall River PD is at 685 Pleasant Street, Fall River, MA 02721, phone (508) 676-8511. Taunton PD is at 23 Summer Street, Taunton, MA 02780, phone (508) 823-5000. Attleboro PD is at 12 Union Street, Attleboro, MA 02703, phone (508) 222-1212.
Each department maintains its own records for offenders registered in that city or town. For Level 3 offenders, the SORB online search is faster. For Level 2 cases, especially older classifications, go to the department directly. All departments in Bristol County follow the same state rules under MGL c.6 §§178C-178Q.
Community Notification in Bristol County
When a Level 3 sex offender moves to or registers in a Bristol County community, local police are required by law to notify residents in the surrounding area. This can take the form of flyers, door-to-door notice, or information posted on the department's website. The notification is meant to give people near the offender a chance to take precautions.
For Level 2 offenders, the law allows police to notify organizations rather than individual residents. Schools, daycare centers, and community groups may be told about a Level 2 offender if the department determines there is a need. The public can also access Level 2 information through SORB's online portal or at the police station.
Level 1 offenders have no public notification at all. Their information is kept confidential under Massachusetts law. The three-tier system is set out in detail on the Massachusetts law about sex offenders page.
Court Locations in Bristol County
Cases involving sex offenders in Bristol County move through courts in New Bedford and Fall River. The Superior Court in New Bedford is at 441 County Street, New Bedford, MA 02740. The Fall River Superior Court is at 441 North Main Street, Fall River, MA 02720. District Court cases in Taunton are heard at 40 Broadway, Taunton, MA 02780. These are the venues where sex crime prosecutions and failure-to-register cases are handled.
If an offender challenges their SORB classification, that process goes through SORB hearings rather than the regular trial court system. Victims have a right to be heard during classification hearings. SORB's Victim Services line at (978) 740-6440 can explain how that process works. You can also submit information to SORB that may affect how an offender is classified.
Registration Requirements and Penalties
Sex offenders in Bristol County must register with the police department in the city or town where they live. They must also report if they work or attend school in the county. Under §178F½, Level 2 and Level 3 offenders must show up in person once a year to verify their address and other information. Missing that annual check-in is a violation. So is failing to report a change of address within two days of moving.
The penalties for not registering are real. A first offense under §178H can mean up to five years in state prison and a fine of $1,000. A second offense carries a mandatory minimum of five years. The Bristol County DA prosecutes these cases. Local police also conduct periodic compliance checks to confirm offenders are living where they say they are.
Cities in Bristol County
Three qualifying cities in Bristol County have dedicated sex offender registry pages with local police contacts and courthouse details.
Other cities and towns in Bristol County include Attleboro, Dartmouth, North Attleborough, Mansfield, Seekonk, Swansea, and Rehoboth. These communities do not have separate pages here, but registered sex offenders in each can be found through the SORB portal or at the local police department.
Nearby Counties
Bristol County borders three other Massachusetts counties, each with its own registry resources and law enforcement contacts.