Access Nantucket County Arrest Records
Nantucket County arrest records are held by the Nantucket Police Department, which serves as the primary law enforcement agency on the island. Unlike most Massachusetts counties, Nantucket does not have a separate Sheriff's Office with a county jail. The Nantucket Police handle day-to-day law enforcement, take people into custody, and maintain arrest logs. State court tools and the iCORI system give you additional ways to find records tied to Nantucket cases.
Nantucket County Overview
Nantucket's Unique County Structure
Nantucket County is one of the most unusual jurisdictions in Massachusetts. The county and the town of Nantucket are the same governmental unit. There is no separate Sheriff's Office operating a county jail. Law enforcement on the island falls primarily to the Nantucket Police Department, with backup from the Massachusetts State Police barracks. This structure means that your search for arrest records starts and ends with just a few agencies rather than the layered system you find in most Massachusetts counties.
Because there is no county jail run by a Sheriff, people arrested on Nantucket who need to be held beyond a brief period may be transported to a mainland facility. This is a practical reality of island geography. The Nantucket Police hold people short-term in their own lockup, but longer-term detention involves transport. If you are looking for someone who was arrested on Nantucket and did not get released quickly, their custody records may be with a mainland facility rather than on the island.
The island's small year-round population means the Police Department is a compact agency, but it handles a wide range of incident types. The department manages everything from OUI arrests to more serious offenses. Its records division operates during regular business hours and accepts requests by phone, in person, or in writing.
Nantucket Police Department
The Nantucket Police Department is at 4 Fairgrounds Road, Nantucket, MA 02554. The main line is (508) 228-1212. The records division is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The department's website is at www.nantucket-ma.gov/police.
To get records, you can call the main number and ask to be connected to records staff. You can also submit a written request to the department. Give as much detail as possible: the name of the person, the approximate date of the incident, and the type of offense. Staff will let you know what is available and whether any fees apply.
Under MGL c. 41, § 98F, police logs are public records. The department must make its arrest logs available. These logs show who was arrested, the date, and the charge. They do not include full narrative reports, but they give you a starting point for identifying a case.
Under MGL c. 66, § 10, agencies must respond to public records requests within 10 days. Copies cost $0.05 per page. The first two hours of staff time are free, and $25 per hour applies after that. Most records requests from the police department are straightforward and handled without extended delay.
Note: Under MGL c. 41, § 97D, domestic violence incident reports are not public records. The Nantucket Police will not release these reports regardless of the case outcome.
Massachusetts State Police on Nantucket
The Massachusetts State Police maintain a barracks on Nantucket at (508) 228-0706. State Police handle some incidents on the island and can also assist town police. If an arrest was made by the State Police rather than the Nantucket Police, the records stay with the State Police.
State Police records from Nantucket are available through the State Police public records page. Submit your request in writing and include the name, incident date, and location. Turnaround times vary depending on the age and complexity of the case. State Police records go back many years and are maintained in a central system separate from the Nantucket Police Department.
The State Police also handle certain types of investigations that go beyond the capacity of a small island department, including major crimes, drug trafficking, and cases requiring specialized units. Records from those investigations follow State Police procedures.
Nantucket District Court
Nantucket District Court is at 16 Federal Street, Nantucket, MA 02554, phone (508) 228-4270. This is the only trial court on the island and handles criminal arraignments, misdemeanor cases, and preliminary hearings on more serious offenses. The District Attorney's Office for Nantucket County shares the same address.
Court records from Nantucket cases are available through the MassCourts public access portal. You can search by name or case number to find charges, hearing dates, and case outcomes. Sealed records will not appear. The portal is accessible from anywhere and does not require an in-person visit to the island courthouse.
For certified copies of documents or full docket sheets, contact the Nantucket District Court clerk directly. Fees apply for copies. Because Nantucket is an island, getting documents by mail is often more practical than an in-person visit. The clerk's office can process requests by mail and send copies to you.
More serious felony cases from Nantucket are transferred to a mainland Superior Court for trial. If a case was indicted by a grand jury, the court records moved to a Superior Court. The MassCourts portal tracks cases across all courts, so you can follow a case that moved from Nantucket District Court to a mainland Superior Court through the same search.
iCORI and Statewide Criminal Records
The state's iCORI system covers all arrest and disposition data in Massachusetts, including records from Nantucket. Under MGL c. 6, § 167, iCORI tracks arrests, charges, and incarceration for people 18 and older. Nantucket cases appear in iCORI the same as cases from any other county.
Access rules under MGL c. 6, § 172 are the same statewide. Non-conviction records are immediately available to the subject. Misdemeanor records carry a five-year wait from the date the case ended. Felony records carry a ten-year wait. Courts and prosecutors have broader access. If you are checking your own record, you see everything.
iCORI is an online system and is fully accessible to island residents. You do not need to be on the mainland to use it. Create an account at the iCORI website and follow the instructions to submit a request. Results come back quickly for most searches. For a broader view of publicly available arrest data, the statewide arrest records directory is a useful reference tool.
Record Sealing and Expungement
Massachusetts law gives people a path to seal or expunge certain records. Sealing hides a record from public view but keeps it accessible to courts and law enforcement. Expungement removes the record entirely from state systems. Both options are available to Nantucket County residents.
Under MGL c. 276, § 100A, petitions to seal a misdemeanor require a three-year wait after the case ends. Felony records require a seven-year wait. The clock starts from the last day of any incarceration, probation, or parole. Under MGL c. 276, § 100C, records from dismissed cases and not guilty findings seal automatically once the case closes, without any petition required.
Expungement under MGL c. 276, §§ 100E-100U is available in limited situations, mostly for cases involving people who were young at the time of the offense. The Nantucket District Court clerk can provide petition forms and guidance. Because the court handles a smaller docket than mainland courts, staff are often accessible for questions and can explain the process directly.
Note: Once a record seals, it will no longer appear in iCORI public searches or the MassCourts portal. If a record that should have sealed automatically under MGL c. 276, § 100C continues to show up, contact the Office of the Commissioner of Probation to request a correction.
Seasonal Considerations
Nantucket's year-round population is about 14,000 people, but the island draws tens of thousands of visitors during summer months. The Police Department sees its busiest period from June through September. Records from summer incidents may take longer to process because the department is handling a higher volume of activity during that time.
If you are searching for records from a summer incident, expect some delay in the response. Mail requests are the most reliable method since the department can process them in order without requiring anyone to travel to the island. Give specific details in your request to help staff locate the right records quickly.
State Police activity also increases in summer. Any records from State Police involvement during peak season follow the same request process as other times of year, but State Police central records staff handle a large volume and turnaround can take several weeks for older records.
Other State Resources
The Sex Offender Registry Board lists Level 2 and Level 3 sex offenders statewide. You can search by name or location to find registered offenders living or working on Nantucket. The registry applies to island residents the same as anywhere else in the state. Registration requirements follow state law regardless of where someone lives.
The Department of Correction holds records for anyone serving more than two and a half years at a state prison. If someone arrested on Nantucket received a long sentence, they are at a mainland DOC facility. DOC records are separate from local police and court records. You can search the DOC inmate locator for current custody status.
The state's CORI laws page is worth reading before you make a formal records request. It explains what records are available, who can see them, how to challenge inaccuracies, and what the difference is between sealed and expunged records. The state updates this page when laws change, so it reflects current rules.
Nantucket County Community
Nantucket County consists entirely of the town and island of Nantucket. There are no other municipalities in the county. The island does not have any towns that qualify for dedicated city pages on this site based on population. For arrest records from any incident on Nantucket, use the Nantucket Police Department, the State Police, the District Court, and the statewide tools described throughout this page.