Access Nantucket County Criminal Court Records

Nantucket County criminal court records are kept at the courthouse on 16 Broad Street in Nantucket Town. This island county is the smallest in Massachusetts, with roughly 14,000 year-round residents. Both the Superior Court and the District Court share the same building, which makes record searches simple. Getting to the courthouse requires a ferry ride or a flight from the mainland. For people who cannot visit in person, the MassCourts online portal and mail-in requests provide alternatives for searching criminal case records in Nantucket County.

Nantucket County Criminal Courts

Nantucket has two courts for criminal matters, and both are in the same building at 16 Broad Street. The Superior Court handles serious felonies. The District Court covers misdemeanors and lesser felony charges. Having both courts under one roof is convenient. You only need to visit one location to check any criminal case filed in the county.

The Nantucket Superior Court can be reached at (508) 228-2689. The District Court has its own line at (508) 228-4627. Both are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Like Dukes County, the courts here may operate on a reduced schedule at times because of the island setting. Call ahead to confirm hours before you travel. You can also reach the clerk by email at nantucket.clerksoffice@jud.state.ma.us.

Nantucket is the smallest county in Massachusetts by both area and population. The court sees fewer cases than any other county in the state. This low volume has a practical benefit. Clerks can often process record requests faster. Wait times are shorter. The small staff knows their caseload well and can help you find what you need with less hassle than a busy urban courthouse.

Search Nantucket Criminal Court Records Online

The MassCourts portal covers Nantucket County courts. It is free to use. You can search by case number to pull up docket sheets, charges, hearing dates, and outcomes. Criminal case searches usually need a docket number. Name searches are mainly for civil cases. If you have the number, the system gives you results right away.

The screenshot below shows the MassCourts search interface used for looking up Nantucket County criminal court records.

For Nantucket residents and visitors alike, online access is important. The island is 30 miles out to sea. The Steamship Authority runs ferries from Hyannis on Cape Cod, and the trip takes about two hours on the slow boat or one hour on the fast ferry. Flights are available from several mainland airports. Given the travel involved, checking records online first makes a lot of sense. You can confirm a case exists, check its status, and decide if you need to make the trip for certified copies.

If you do not have a case number, call the clerk at (508) 228-2689. They can look it up by name on their internal system. You can also write to them at 16 Broad Street, Nantucket, MA 02554. Include your full name, address, a copy of your ID, a check for the fees, and a stamped return envelope. Mail requests take 2 to 3 weeks on average.

The statewide iCORI system runs full criminal background checks across all Massachusetts counties for $25 per search. One free self-check is available per year.

Nantucket County Prosecution and Law Enforcement

The Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office prosecutes criminal cases in Nantucket County. This is the same DA that covers Barnstable and Dukes counties. The Nantucket branch is right inside the courthouse at 16 Broad Street. Call (508) 228-0010 to reach them directly. Prosecutors travel to the island for court sessions and handle everything from traffic offenses to serious felonies.

Below is a look at the Cape and Islands District Attorney's Office, which handles criminal prosecution across Nantucket, Dukes, and Barnstable counties.

The Nantucket County Sheriff's Office is at 20 South Vine Street in Nantucket. Their number is (508) 228-7263. The sheriff runs the county jail, handles prisoner transport, and provides court security. The Nantucket Police Department handles most local law enforcement. Arrests by the police result in criminal complaints filed at the District Court. From there, the case moves through the system and becomes part of the public court record.

Like Dukes County, Nantucket sees a seasonal spike in criminal activity. Summer tourism pushes the island's population well past its year-round count. OUI arrests, noise complaints that turn into charges, and other summer-related offenses fill the docket during peak months. By fall, the pace slows down considerably.

Nantucket County Criminal Record Fees

Fees at the Nantucket courts match the statewide schedule. There is no island premium. Copy costs are the same as what you would pay in Boston or Worcester.

Basic, unattested copies run $0.05 per page. Attested copies cost $2.50 per page. A certificate of a court order, decree, or ruling is $20. Transcript of judgment copies are $50 each. If you need a transcript of a hearing or trial, those cost $3 to $5 per page. The CORI background check through the state system is $25.

You can pay in person by cash, check, money order, or credit card. For mail requests, send a check or money order payable to the Clerk of Courts. Include your request details, a copy of your photo ID, and a stamped return envelope. If you qualify for a fee waiver based on income, file an Affidavit of Indigency with the court.

Note: Mail requests to Nantucket may take slightly longer during summer months when court volume increases.

What Nantucket Criminal Court Records Include

Criminal records from Nantucket County follow the standard Massachusetts format. The docket sheet is the core document. It shows the defendant's name, date of birth, charges with statutory citations, all hearing dates, motions, and the case outcome. Each entry is dated and coded. The format is the same whether the case is in Superior Court or District Court.

Charges reference the relevant section of Massachusetts General Laws. A drug possession charge would cite M.G.L. c. 94C. An assault case would reference Chapter 265. The record also shows bail conditions, attorney information, and any probation terms. If the defendant was sentenced, the record spells out the sentence length and conditions. Plea agreements are documented too.

Massachusetts law allows for sealing and expungement of criminal records. Under M.G.L. c. 276, Section 100A, convictions can be sealed after specific waiting periods. Misdemeanor convictions have a 3-year wait. Felonies require 7 years. Dismissed charges and not guilty findings can be sealed right away under Section 100C. Once sealed, the record will not show up in public searches on MassCourts or through a standard CORI check.

Felony records at the Superior Court level are retained for 25 years or permanently. District Court misdemeanors stay for 10 years after the final disposition. Older records may end up in the Massachusetts Archives in Boston.

Legal Resources for Nantucket County

Nantucket has a very small legal community. Finding a criminal defense attorney on the island can be a challenge, especially outside of summer. Many defendants end up working with lawyers from Cape Cod or Boston who travel to the island for court dates. The Massachusetts Bar Association can help at (617) 654-0400. Their referral service connects you with attorneys who handle cases in Nantucket County.

Free legal resources are available online. The MassLegalHelp website covers criminal records, sealing procedures, and your rights. All court forms can be downloaded at no cost from mass.gov/courts. The court clerk can give you blank forms and explain the filing process, though they cannot offer legal advice. If you need help with record sealing or expungement and cannot afford a lawyer, ask the clerk about the Affidavit of Indigency to get appointed counsel.

Towns in Nantucket County

Nantucket County is unique in Massachusetts. The entire county is a single town. There are no other municipalities. The Town of Nantucket covers the whole island. This means every criminal case on the island goes to the same courthouse at 16 Broad Street. There is no confusion about jurisdiction or which court to visit.

Nearby Counties

Nantucket is an island, so there are no bordering counties in the traditional sense. The closest counties by water are Dukes County (Martha's Vineyard) and Barnstable County (Cape Cod).