Find Barnstable County Criminal Records

Barnstable County criminal records are held at the Superior Court and three district courts spread across Cape Cod, from the main courthouse on Main Street in Barnstable to the Orleans court serving the Lower Cape. This page walks you through how to find Barnstable County criminal records through the courts, the Sheriff's Office, and the state CORI system, along with who to contact and what each office can provide.

Barnstable County Superior Court

The Barnstable County Superior Court sits on Main Street in Barnstable, right in the center of Cape Cod. This is where serious felony criminal cases for Barnstable County are heard and where the most complete criminal case records are kept. Clerk of Courts Susan L. Moran oversees the clerk's office, and Chief Probation Officer James Polin manages the probation department. The court offers free parking within the court complex, which is convenient given the limited downtown parking in some Cape towns.

If you need help with accessibility at the Barnstable County Superior Court, ADA Coordinator Christine Higginbotham can be reached at (508) 375-6683 or by email at christine.higginbotham@jud.state.ma.us. The Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority, reachable at (800) 352-7155, provides public transit service to the area if you're coming without a car.

The official court page is at mass.gov/locations/barnstable-county-superior-court.

The Barnstable County Superior Court page at mass.gov has current hours and any service updates for the clerk's office and probation department.

The Barnstable County Superior Court on Main Street holds permanent criminal case records for Cape Cod and serves as the primary court for felony matters across the county.

Barnstable County District Courts

Three district courts handle criminal cases at the local level across Barnstable County. Most misdemeanors and arraignments stay at the district court. Felony charges can be transferred to Superior Court after a probable cause hearing. The district court that applies depends on where the offense took place, not where the defendant lives.

The free public docket tool at masscourts.org is your fastest option for checking whether a case is in the Barnstable County system. Enter the name or case number and the system will show you which court holds the file and what stage the case is in.

You can also find general guidance on filing and requesting records at the Massachusetts court system page at mass.gov.

Barnstable County Criminal Records: What's in a File

Criminal case records held at the Barnstable County courts document a case from start to finish. At the district court level, you'll find the initial complaint or citation, arraignment details, bail conditions, and the schedule of hearings. If a case is resolved by plea, the record shows the plea agreement and the sentence imposed. If it goes to trial, you'll find the verdict and any sentencing orders. Cases sent up to Superior Court have additional filings there, including indictments, pre-trial motion papers, and trial transcripts.

A CORI pulls from the statewide database and covers all of this plus more, including cases that ended in dismissal, not-guilty verdicts, and continued-without-a-finding dispositions. Probation status and open warrant data are in the report too. Superior Court criminal files are kept permanently. District Court criminal records are held for 10 years after a case closes. Juvenile records are sealed until age 27.

Barnstable County Sheriff's Office

The Barnstable County Sheriff's Office operates its main facility on Sheriff's Place in Bourne. Sheriff Donna D. Buckley leads the department. The Sheriff manages the county jail and handles custody records for people held in Barnstable County.

The Sheriff's website at bsheriff.net has an online inmate lookup tool. You can search by name or booking number, and the database is updated daily. If you'd rather call, the main number is (508) 563-4300. VINELink at vinelink.com provides automated custody alerts if you want to be notified when someone's status changes.

For public records requests specifically to the Sheriff's Office, the page at bsheriff.net/public-info/public-records/ explains what to submit and how. You can also email publicrecords@capecod.gov with your request.

The Barnstable County Sheriff's Office in Bourne provides daily-updated inmate lookup and public records request services for Cape Cod residents seeking custody and detention information.

Barnstable County CORI Reports

CORI reports covering Barnstable County criminal history are issued through the statewide iCORI system managed by DCJIS in Chelsea. You do not request a CORI through the local court; you go through the state portal. A CORI report covers all Massachusetts court records linked to a person, so a single report will show both Barnstable County cases and any records from other Massachusetts courts.

To get started, visit the CORI information page at mass.gov. Create an iCORI account and submit your request online. Your first request each year for your own record is free. After that, each request costs $25. The full detail on what CORI reports contain and who can access them is on the Massachusetts law about CORI page.

If you can't afford the $25 fee, ask a clerk at the Barnstable District Court or Superior Court for an Affidavit of Indigency. If approved, the fee is waived.

Sealing and Expungement on Cape Cod

People with Barnstable County criminal records may be able to seal them under Massachusetts law. The main sealing statute is MGL c. 276 § 100A. For misdemeanor convictions, you need to wait five years from the end of your sentence. For felony convictions, the waiting period is ten years. Once your waiting period is met, you file a petition at the court that handled the original case. There is no fee to file for sealing in Massachusetts.

Cases that ended in dismissal or a not-guilty finding are different. Under § 100C, these can typically be sealed without any waiting period at all. If your Barnstable County case was dismissed or you were found not guilty, you may be able to act now.

Expungement under MGL c. 276 §§ 100E through 100U is a complete removal of a record from the state system. It's available only in specific situations, such as offenses that are no longer crimes or cases involving juvenile defendants. Not every Barnstable County record will qualify for expungement, but the clerk at the Barnstable District Court or Superior Court can walk you through the eligibility requirements and the forms needed to file.

Barnstable County Government Records Note

One thing worth knowing: the Barnstable County government office does not hold arrest records, criminal histories, or court case materials. That's handled by the courts and the Sheriff's Office. If you contact the county government looking for criminal records, they will direct you to the Superior Court or a district court.

The county's Public Records Access Officer is Robin Young, reachable at (508) 375-6648 or publicrecords@capecod.gov. The county also accepts online public records requests at capecod.gov/public-record-guidelines/. That office handles county government records, not court records.

Cape Cod Police Records

Police incident reports and arrest records from Cape Cod towns are held at the department level. These records are subject to the Massachusetts Public Records Law. Most departments accept written requests by mail or in person. Some have online request options. You need to contact the specific department that made the arrest or filed the report.

Include the subject's full name, date of birth, and approximate incident date when submitting any police records request. A copy of your photo ID is usually required. Response times vary by department, but the state requires a response within 10 business days for most public records requests.

Barnstable County Court Record Fees

Copies of court records in Barnstable County follow state fee schedules. Standard copies cost $1 per page from the clerk. Certified copies run $5 to $20 depending on the document type. The Superior Court offers free parking within the court complex, which is a nice help since courthouse parking on Cape Cod can be difficult.

CORI fees through iCORI are set by the state at $25 per standard request. If you qualify under the Affidavit of Indigency process, that fee can be waived. Ask the clerk at any Barnstable County court for the form before you pay online.

Cities in Barnstable County

Barnstable County communities are served by the Barnstable and Falmouth District Courts. The county includes Hyannis, Falmouth, Yarmouth, and other Cape Cod towns, but none of these communities exceed the qualifying threshold for individual city pages. For records in any of these towns, use the district court that serves that area.

Nearby Counties

Barnstable County connects to the mainland via Plymouth County to the north. Dukes County, which covers Martha's Vineyard, is accessible by ferry to the south.