>Barnstable County Arrest Records Online

Barnstable County, Massachusetts Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Barnstable County, Massachusetts?

Arrest records in Barnstable County, Massachusetts are considered public documents pursuant to Massachusetts Public Records Law (M.G.L. c. 66, § 10). This statute establishes that most government records, including arrest records, shall be accessible to members of the public upon request. The Massachusetts Public Records Law operates under the presumption that all government records are public unless specifically exempted by statute. This framework ensures governmental transparency and accountability by providing citizens with the right to access and review records maintained by state and local government entities, including law enforcement agencies operating within Barnstable County.

The custodians of these records, typically the Barnstable County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments within the county, are required by law to provide reasonable access to these documents. However, certain information within arrest records may be redacted in accordance with privacy protections established under M.G.L. c. 4, § 7(26), particularly when disclosure would constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy or potentially compromise ongoing investigations.

Barnstable County Sheriff's Office
6000 Sheriff's Place
Bourne, MA 02532
Phone: (508) 563-4300
Official Website

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Barnstable County?

Barnstable County arrest records are increasingly available through online platforms, though the comprehensiveness of digital access varies by jurisdiction. The Massachusetts Criminal Offender Record Information (CORI) system, governed by M.G.L. c. 6, § 172, provides the statutory framework for the dissemination of criminal record information, including arrest data. While not all arrest records are immediately accessible online, several Barnstable County law enforcement agencies have implemented digital record management systems that facilitate public access to certain arrest information.

The Barnstable County Registry of Deeds maintains an online public access portal where citizens may search for various county records. Additionally, individual police departments within Barnstable County, such as those in Barnstable, Yarmouth, and Falmouth, maintain their own online databases or publish regular arrest logs on their respective websites. These digital resources enhance public accessibility while reducing administrative burden on records custodians.

It should be noted that online records may not contain complete arrest information, as certain details may be withheld in compliance with privacy laws or investigative protocols. For comprehensive arrest record information, requestors may need to submit formal public records requests to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

How to Look Up Barnstable County Arrest Records in 2025

Members of the public seeking Barnstable County arrest records may utilize several established methods to obtain this information. The following procedures are available for accessing arrest records within the county:

Submit a formal public records request to the appropriate law enforcement agency that made the arrest. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or through online portals where available, in accordance with M.G.L. c. 66, § 10.
Visit the Barnstable County Courthouse located at 3195 Main Street, Barnstable, MA 02630, to access court records related to arrests. The courthouse maintains public terminals for searching case information.
Access the Massachusetts Court Electronic Case Access system for information on cases that have proceeded to court following an arrest.
Contact the Barnstable Police Department at 1200 Phinney's Lane, Hyannis, MA 02601 (Phone: 508-775-0387) for arrests within the Town of Barnstable.
Utilize the Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS) iCORI system for official Criminal Offender Record Information checks, which may include arrest data.
Review published police logs and press releases on municipal police department websites, which frequently contain information about recent arrests.

When requesting arrest records, individuals must provide sufficient identifying information about the subject of the search, including full name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest if known. Pursuant to 803 CMR 2.00, fees may apply for certain record searches and reproductions.

Contents of a Barnstable County Arrest Record

Barnstable County arrest records typically contain standardized information as prescribed by Massachusetts law enforcement protocols. These records generally include the following elements:

Complete legal name of the arrested individual and any documented aliases
Demographic information including date of birth, gender, race, and physical descriptors
Residential address at time of arrest
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
Statutory charges filed, including Massachusetts General Laws chapter and section references
Name and badge number of the arresting officer(s)
Booking photographs (mugshots) taken during processing
Fingerprint impressions collected during booking
Arresting agency and booking location
Case or incident number assigned to the arrest
Preliminary court appearance information
Bail or detention status following arrest

It should be noted that pursuant to M.G.L. c. 6, § 167-178B, certain sensitive information may be redacted from publicly available arrest records, particularly in cases involving juveniles, sexual assault victims, or when disclosure might compromise ongoing investigations. Additionally, arrest records may be updated to reflect case dispositions, though this information is more commonly found in court records rather than the initial arrest documentation.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Barnstable County

Massachusetts law provides mechanisms for the expungement of certain arrest records under specific circumstances. Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 276, § 100E-100U, as amended by the Criminal Justice Reform Act of 2018, eligible individuals may petition for expungement of arrest records maintained by Barnstable County law enforcement agencies and courts.

Expungement eligibility criteria include:

Cases resulting in no conviction (dismissals, not guilty findings, nolle prosequi)
Cases involving mistaken identity or unauthorized use of personal identifying information
Offenses that are no longer criminalized under Massachusetts law
Cases where the arrest occurred before the individual's 21st birthday (subject to waiting periods and offense limitations)

The expungement process requires filing a petition with the Commissioner of Probation and the court where the case was adjudicated. If granted, expungement results in the permanent deletion of records from public access and from criminal justice information systems. Unlike sealing, which merely restricts access to records, expungement effectively erases the record as if the arrest never occurred.

Barnstable District Court
3195 Main Street
Barnstable, MA 02630
Phone: (508) 375-6600
Massachusetts Court System

Individuals seeking expungement should be aware that federal records, including those maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, may not be affected by state-level expungement orders. Additionally, certain agencies may retain non-public records of expunged arrests for limited administrative purposes as permitted by statute.

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Barnstable Brewster Truro Yarmouth