Barnstable County Criminal History Records

Barnstable County criminal history records cover all 15 towns on Cape Cod, from Bourne at the canal down to Provincetown at the tip of the peninsula. The county seat is the town of Barnstable, where the Superior Court, Probate Court, and the main District Court are all located at 3195 Main Street. Criminal records here are part of the state CORI system run by DCJIS and can also be searched through the MassCourts public docket tool. This page explains how to find criminal history tied to Barnstable County through official sources.

Criminal History Records in Barnstable County

Barnstable County is the only county in Massachusetts made up entirely of a peninsula. It covers all of Cape Cod plus the Elizabeth Islands. The 15 towns here range from densely built Falmouth and Barnstable to small communities like Truro and Wellfleet. Despite having a smaller year-round population than many inland counties, Barnstable County courts handle a significant volume of cases, particularly during the summer months when the population swells with seasonal residents and visitors.

Criminal history records for Barnstable County are part of the statewide CORI database. CORI stands for Criminal Offender Record Information, and it is run by DCJIS, the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services. Under M.G.L. c. 6, § 167, CORI includes records of arraignments, criminal complaints, indictments, and case dispositions. A CORI record is created when a person is arraigned in a Massachusetts court. Cases that do not reach arraignment do not appear in the CORI system.

Records that are sealed under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A will not appear in most CORI requests. Public access under M.G.L. c. 6, § 172 covers cases with convictions and open, pending matters. Dismissed cases have more limited public availability depending on when they were filed. These rules apply the same way in Barnstable County as in every other Massachusetts county.

The Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office prosecutes cases across Barnstable County as well as the island counties of Dukes and Nantucket. This DA's office covers a distinct geographic area and plays a central role in the county's criminal justice system. Court records from all Barnstable County courts are searchable through MassCourts. For CORI record requests, use the iCORI portal. Both are explained below.

Barnstable County Superior Court

The Barnstable County Superior Court is at 3195 Main Street in Barnstable, MA 02630. Phone: (508) 375-6761. This court handles serious felony cases, jury trials, and major criminal matters for all 15 towns in Barnstable County. It is the highest trial court in the county and holds the most complete records for serious criminal cases. All Superior Court records are public and can be searched through MassCourts or requested in person at the clerk's office on Main Street.

Criminal history records from Superior Court include indictments, plea records, trial findings, and sentencing orders. These are typically the most detailed records in the system because superior court cases are fully litigated. If you are researching a felony case tied to any town on Cape Cod, this court is the right place to look.

The official state page for this court lists current hours, services, and directions. See the Barnstable County Superior Court listing on mass.gov.

The mass.gov page above confirms the court's address at 3195 Main Street in Barnstable and shows clerk contact details and available services.

Barnstable Probate and Family Court

The Barnstable Probate and Family Court is also at 3195 Main Street in Barnstable, sharing the building with the Superior Court and the Barnstable District Court. Phone: (508) 375-6761. While this court focuses on estates and family matters, it also issues restraining orders and harassment prevention orders, which are part of a person's legal history in the state system. These orders appear in court records and can be relevant when researching someone's full court history in Barnstable County.

Having all three courts at one address is somewhat unusual. It makes the 3195 Main Street courthouse the central hub for all formal court activity in Barnstable County. The Probate and Family Court clerk can provide copies of records at the standard rates: $2.50 per page for certified copies and $0.05 per page for non-certified copies.

The state page for this court has current hours and contact details. See the Barnstable Probate and Family Court listing on mass.gov.

The probate court page above confirms the court's shared location at 3195 Main Street in Barnstable and provides details on the court's services and hours of operation.

District Courts in Barnstable County

Barnstable County has three district courts spread across the length of the Cape. District courts handle arraignments, bail hearings, misdemeanors, and lower-level felony cases. Most criminal cases in Barnstable County begin and often end in district court. Records from all three courts are searchable through MassCourts.

The three district courts in Barnstable County are:

• Barnstable District Court - 3195 Main Street, Barnstable MA 02630. Phone: (508) 375-6761. Located at the main courthouse complex, this court serves Barnstable and the mid-Cape towns.
• Falmouth District Court - 161 Jones Road, Falmouth MA 02540. Phone: (508) 495-1500. Serves Falmouth and the towns in the southwestern part of the county, including Bourne and Sandwich.
• Orleans District Court - 237 Rock Harbor Road, Orleans MA 02653. Phone: (508) 255-8300. Serves Orleans and the Outer Cape towns, including Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Harwich, Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet, and Yarmouth.

Because the county stretches about 70 miles from Bourne to Provincetown, having three court locations spread across the Cape makes access more practical for residents in different areas. If you are looking for a case and do not know which district court handled it, search by name on masscourts.org. The system will show which court has the docket you need.

Copy fees at all three district courts follow the statewide rate. Certified copies cost $2.50 per page. Non-certified copies cost $0.05 per page. Pay at the clerk's window when you visit in person. Hours are generally Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Sheriff's Office and District Attorney

The Barnstable County Sheriff's Office is at 6000 Sheriff's Place in Bourne, MA 02532. Phone: (508) 563-4300. Sheriff James M. Cummings leads this office. The Sheriff's Office runs the county correctional center and maintains custody records for people held in Barnstable County. For general information about the office or its programs, visit barnstablecountysheriff.com. The jail is in Bourne near the Cape Cod Canal, which puts it at the entrance to the Cape.

The Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office handles criminal prosecution for Barnstable County as well as the islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. DA Robert J. Galibois leads this office. The DA's main office is at 3231 Main Street in Barnstable, MA 02630. Phone: (508) 362-2131. The DA's office is right next to the main courthouse. They handle cases from arraignment through trial and sentencing across all of the Cape and Islands courts.

The DA does not offer a public criminal history search tool. For criminal record access, use iCORI or MassCourts. Neither the sheriff nor the DA maintains a database that members of the public can search directly for individual criminal history records.

One thing worth noting about Barnstable County: seasonal population spikes affect the court system. During summer, the DA's office and the district courts handle a higher volume of cases as the Cape's population grows. This does not affect how records are stored or accessed, but it does mean court staff may be busier during those months. If you plan to visit in person during the summer, it can help to call ahead first.

How to Get Barnstable County Criminal Records

The main ways to access criminal history for Barnstable County are iCORI, MassCourts, and in-person requests at the courthouse in Barnstable, Falmouth, or Orleans. Each method gives you a different type of information.

iCORI Online Portal: The state's official CORI request system is at icori.chs.state.ma.us. To get your own criminal history record, create an account, verify your identity, and submit a request. The fee is $25 for a personal CORI. DCJIS processes most online requests within 24 to 48 hours. You can also make a CORI request by mail. Send your request to DCJIS at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea MA 02150. Mail requests take about 10 business days. A step-by-step guide is at mass.gov. Information about the CORI law is at mass.gov/info-details/massachusetts-law-about-criminal-records-cori. DCJIS's main site is at mass.gov/orgs/department-of-criminal-justice-information-services.

MassCourts Case Search: Go to masscourts.org to search court dockets for free. You can search by name or docket number. The system covers all three Barnstable County district courts and the Superior Court. Results show case status, charges, hearing dates, and outcomes. No account is needed. Some older records may not appear online. For those cases, contact the clerk at the relevant court directly.

In-Person Requests: You can visit any of the three Barnstable County courthouses in person. The main courthouse at 3195 Main Street in Barnstable handles Superior Court, Probate, and Barnstable District Court records. Falmouth District Court is at 161 Jones Road. Orleans District Court is at 237 Rock Harbor Road. Bring a photo ID and the name of the person or case number you want to look up. Certified copies cost $2.50 per page. Non-certified copies cost $0.05 per page. Staff at the clerk's office will search records and make copies for you. Standard hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

The Massachusetts court system website has general information at mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-court-system. This is a good starting point if you are not sure which court or which system to use for your search.

Communities in Barnstable County

Barnstable County is made up entirely of towns. None of the 15 communities in the county currently have individual city pages on this site, as each falls below the population threshold for a dedicated page. All criminal cases from Barnstable County towns are filed at one of the three district courts or at the Superior Court, all located within the county.

The 15 towns in Barnstable County are: Barnstable, Bourne, Brewster, Chatham, Dennis, Eastham, Falmouth, Harwich, Mashpee, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Truro, Wellfleet, and Yarmouth. If you are looking for records tied to any of these towns, use the MassCourts search or the iCORI system. For in-person visits, choose the district court that serves the town in question.

Nearby Counties

Barnstable County borders two other Massachusetts counties. Plymouth County to the north is the main land connection to the rest of the state. Dukes County, which covers Martha's Vineyard, is separated by water but shares the same DA's office.