Find Barnstable County Recent Arrests

Recent arrests in Barnstable County are handled by local Cape Cod police departments and the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office based in Bourne. The county covers all of Cape Cod, from Bourne at the canal bridge to Provincetown at the tip. Arrest records here are public under Massachusetts law, and you can search them through the sheriff's office, the court system, or the state CORI database. Barnstable County also holds inmates from Nantucket and Dukes counties, so its facility processes arrests from a wider area than most people expect.

Barnstable County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Donna D. Buckley runs the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office, which is the primary law enforcement and corrections agency for Cape Cod. The office is at 6000 Sheriff's Place in Bourne. You can call them at (508) 563-4300. The sheriff also serves as General Counsel and Records Access Officer, so records requests go right to the top. Her direct line for records matters is (508) 563-4311, and her email is dbuckley@bsheriff.net.

The Barnstable County Sheriff's Office website has tools for inmate search, visit scheduling, and general information about recent arrests processed through the facility. All arrest data released by the sheriff must meet CORI rules under M.G.L. c. 6, § 172.

The image above shows the official Barnstable County Sheriff's Office website, your starting point for arrest and inmate lookups on Cape Cod.

Barnstable County Correctional Facility

The Barnstable County Correctional Facility opened in 2004 and replaced a much older building from 1935 in Barnstable Village. It is a medium-security facility with 588 beds spread across twelve housing pods. The facility sits on Sheriff's Place in Bourne, right near the Cape Cod Canal. People arrested anywhere on Cape Cod end up here for booking and detention.

Each pod has recreation space, and the building includes a library, classrooms, and a chapel. Medical care is available on site. The facility also runs substance abuse treatment, educational classes, job training, and reentry programs. The Barnstable County Community Corrections Center at 770 Attucks Lane in Hyannis serves as an alternative to jail for some offenders. Call (508) 375-6982 to reach that center. The Bridge Center, part of a Public Safety 2.0 project, works on addiction recovery and job placement through partnerships with WellStrong and Michael English House.

Note: Inmates from Nantucket County are held at this facility because Nantucket has no jail of its own.

Search Barnstable County Arrest Records

You have several ways to look up recent arrests in Barnstable County. The sheriff's website at bsheriff.net has an inmate lookup tool. Enter a name, date of birth, or inmate ID to see custody status, booking date, charges, and expected release date. This search is free.

You can also call the facility at (508) 563-4300 and ask to speak with the records department. Give them a name and date of birth, and they can provide basic information over the phone.

The screenshot above shows an inmate search tool used to find recent arrest data in Barnstable County.

For court records tied to arrests, use the MassCourts portal. Search by name or case number. Cases from Barnstable County go through three district courts: Barnstable District Court at 3195 Main Street in Barnstable, Falmouth District Court at 161 Jones Road, and Orleans District Court at 237 Rock Harbor Road. The Barnstable County Superior Court, also at 3195 Main Street, handles serious felonies. Its phone number is (508) 375-6710.

The state iCORI system runs background checks that include arrests. A personal check costs $25 and an open access check is $50. You need a valid Massachusetts ID to set up an account.

Barnstable County Public Records Requests

To get a copy of arrest records from Barnstable County, send a written request to Donna Buckley, General Counsel, at 6000 Sheriff's Place, Bourne, MA 02532. You can also email dbuckley@bsheriff.net or visit in person during business hours, Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The sheriff's office must respond within 10 business days under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10.

Public arrest records from Barnstable County can include the current inmate roster, booking information, charges filed, mugshots (with some exceptions), bail amounts, court dates, and expected release dates. Medical and mental health records, Social Security numbers, and victim information are not available to the public.

Sealing Barnstable County Arrest Records

Arrest records in Barnstable County stay on file forever unless you seal or expunge them. Massachusetts changed its sealing rules in 2018 to make it easier. Misdemeanor convictions can now be sealed after 3 years instead of the old 5-year wait. Felonies take 7 years, down from 10. You file a petition with the Commissioner of Probation under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A.

If your Barnstable County arrest did not lead to a conviction, you may seal the record right away. Dismissed cases and not guilty findings fall under § 100C. Since the 2023 Commonwealth v. J.F. decision, not guilty findings are sealed on their own without any petition. You can check your eligibility to seal records through the state website. The Massachusetts Probation Service handles sealing requests. Call (617) 557-0225 for questions.

Note: Certain firearms crimes and offenses under G.L. c. 268 can never be sealed in Massachusetts.

Barnstable County Programs

The Barnstable County Sheriff's Office runs several community and inmate programs. The Public Safety Explorers Program gives kids ages 10 to 14 a free look at public safety careers during school breaks. Inside the jail, inmates can take baking courses through a partnership with Pie in the Sky Bakery, work on community service crews, and participate in oyster and shellfish propagation projects along Cape Cod's coastline.

The facility received a $30,000 grant from the State Office of Grants and Research for its Residential Substance Abuse Treatment program. Educational programs include GED prep and general adult education. These programs help reduce repeat arrests in Barnstable County by giving inmates skills and support before release.

Towns in Barnstable County

Barnstable County includes 15 towns across Cape Cod. None meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page, but all arrests in these communities go through the same sheriff's office and correctional facility in Bourne.

Major towns include Barnstable, Falmouth, Sandwich, Yarmouth, Dennis, Mashpee, Bourne, Brewster, Harwich, Chatham, Eastham, Orleans, Wellfleet, Truro, and Provincetown. Each town has its own police department that handles arrests locally before detainees are transferred to the county facility.

Nearby Counties

Barnstable County borders Plymouth County on the mainland side. It also coordinates with the island counties for detention services. If you are not sure which county handled an arrest, check where it took place.