DUKES COUNTY PUBLIC RECORDS

What are Dukes County Public Records?

According to Massachusetts Public Records Law, Dukes County public records consist of all books, papers, maps, photographs, recorded tapes, financial statements, statistical tabulations, or other documentary materials or data, regardless of physical form or characteristics, made or received by any public officer or employee of any agency. Dukes County public records include information collected and stored on behalf of the government by private individuals and organizations for future use. Dukes County public records entail all publicly generated records already in existence before or when a public records request was being submitted. However, datasets or information derived in response to a public records request are not considered public records in the County. Some of the information not deemed to be public records according to the State’s law include:

1. Social security details
2. Insurance and medical records
3. Trade secrets or financial information voluntarily provided to an agency to develop governmental policy.
4. Questions and answers, scoring keys and sheets, and other materials used to administer or score a test.
5. Records, including, but not limited to, blueprints, plans, policies, procedures, and schematic drawings related to the internal and structural elements of infrastructures located within the County, the disclosure of which is likely to jeopardize public safety.
6. Home address, personal email, and home telephone number of state employees occupying sensitive positions.

In addition to government agencies, county public records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for extensive searches. Record seekers may use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. Users are able to search third-party websites remotely for multiple records at a time with just the name of the record subject and their last known location, including the city, county, or state. Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.

Dukes County Crime Statistics

The Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) publishes National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) and Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) data from Massachusetts law enforcement agencies, but not at the county level. An overview of the crime statistics revealed that Edgartown recorded 175 crimes in 2020. A breakdown of this figure showed that aggravated assault was the most reported crime with 31 cases followed by 29 cases of simple assault, 21 cases of false pretense/swindle/confidence game, and 18 cases of destruction/damage/vandalism of properties. Other reported crimes include 7 weapons violations, 6 burglary/breaking and entering, 6 incidents of intimidation, 3 incidents of counterfeiting/forgery, 2 cases of rape, and 1 incident of kidnapping. A 5-year review of the crime statistics showed that recorded offenses climbed by 13.64% between 2019 and 2020 but fell by 24.51% between 2018 and 2019. The proportion of reported crime incidents increased between 2017 and 2018 (27.50%) after a decline of 9.6% between 2016 and 2017.

In Oaks Bluff town, 124 crime cases were recorded in 2020. These crimes include the following: 21 simple assault incidents, 17 cases of aggravated assault, 14 reported offenses of destruction/damage/vandalism of property, 10 cases of burglary/breaking and entering, 6 instances of rape, 4 incidents of drug violation, and 3 instances of counterfeiting/forgery and intimidation each. Further analysis of the total number of reported crimes over 5 years suggests a steady decline in reported crime incidents. For instance, total reported crime decreased by 24.39%, 8.89%, and 11.76% for 2019 to 2020, 2018 to 2019, and 2017 to 2018, respectively. Similarly, the total crime index decreased between 2016 and 2017 by 31.31%.

Are Dukes County Criminal Records Public?

Under Massachusett’s Criminal Offenders Record Information Act (CORI), individuals and organizations can request crime history record information from the Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS). However, the level of name-based criminal records checks access varies across different types of requestors. For instance, a person requesting his or her own CORI can access all adult convictions, non-convictions, and pending cases. However, such a person does not have access to any sealed, expunged, juvenile, youthful offender, civil, and non-incarcerable offenses or non-convictions.

Different private and public organizations may access a record subject’s CORI for various purposes, including employment/licensing uses. Some of these organizations include the following: banks, hospitals, insurance companies, property management housing authorities (Required 1), K-12 schools, religious organizations, In-Home Care, Assisted Living Facilities (Required 2), among others. Interested persons can obtain comprehensive details on categories of authorized persons allowed to access Duke County criminal records from the Massachusetts government website. Some of the organizations with a higher level of access to CORI, for example, include organizations involved in summer camps for children, early education and child care, and law enforcement agencies. These agencies have access to the following data: all adult, youthful, and juvenile offenders convictions, non-convictions, delinquent, non-delinquent, pending cases, and sealed offenses.

How to Obtain Dukes County Police Reports and Arrest Records?

Persons who desire to obtain Dukes County police reports and arrest records may make public records requests to the Dukes County Sheriff’s Office, specifically the Records Access Officer. The Records Access Officer may be contacted at the address below:

Dukes County Sheriff’s Office
Mailing: P.O. Box 252, Edgartown,
MA 02539
Physical: 149 Main Street,
Edgartown, MA 02539
Phone: (508) 627-5173
Fax: (508) 627-8496

The Dukes County Sheriff’s Office advises that all requests for police reports and arrest records be made in writing in order to ensure the Sheriff’s Office can wholly and accurately respond to them. In addition, the County’s Sheriff’s Department appeals that records requests be accompanied with a reasonable description of the specific records being requested.

Individuals seeking police reports and arrest records in the County may also choose to visit the physical addresses or websites of the Police Departments of the towns in Dukes County for further information. These Police Departments include the following:

1. West Tisbury Police Department
2. Aquinnah Police Department
3. Chilmark Police Department
4. Gosnold Police Department
5. Oak Bluffs Police Department
6. Edgartown Police Department
7. Tisbury Police Department

Alternatively, eligible requestors of Dukes County police reports and arrest records may obtain a Criminal Offenders Record Information (CORI) Report through the Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice Information Services (DCJIS). Requestors may obtain CORI reports either through the iCORI System or via paper request. iCORI is an online-based service that provides access to the State's criminal offender record information. Requestors seeking to use this service have to register as individual users or an organization. Once registered, users can log in and submit CORI requests at any time. All users access the results of their requests through the system. Results are usually returned in less than 5 minutes.

The State's CORI laws afford different categories of requestors varying levels of access to criminal offenders' record information. For instance, a record subject requesting their own CORI can access all adult convictions, non-convictions, and pending cases. Such a person does not have access to sealed, expunged juvenile offenses. However, all criminal record information, including sealed records, unless expunged, is always available to law enforcement and criminal justice agencies, as well as to some employers and organizations authorized by law. For example, the Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) can access all criminal record data for employment or licensing purposes.

Potential requestors can check their eligibility and type of criminal record history checks they can access through the State's webpage. Eligible requestors must complete the Personal CORI Request Form for CORI paper requests. Then requestors must mail the form to the following address:

Massachusetts Department of Criminal Justice Information Services
200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200
Chelsea, MA 02150
Attn: CORI Unit
Phone: (617) 660-4640
Online: icori.chs.state.ma.us

The DCJIS processes CORI requests within 2 weeks and mails the CORI report to the address listed on the CORI request form. CORI requests attract a $25 fee.

Requestors looking for more materials to assist them in obtaining CORI can visit the following webpage.

How to Find Sex Offender Information in Dukes County

The Massachusetts Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) maintains a Sex Offender Registry of all sex offenders living, working, or attending an institution of higher learning in the Commonwealth, including Dukes County. The Board registers and classifies sex offenders according to their risk of re-offense and the degree of danger they pose. Information about an offender may only be made available to the public if SORB has classified the sex offender as a Level 2 or Level 3 sex offender. Information on Level 1 (low risk) sex offenders cannot be disseminated to the general public as a matter of law.

Requestors can fill out a request form to request information about a sex offender in Duke County. However, whether an offender’s data is available in the public domain depends on their classification level. Level 2 sex offenders classified after July 12, 2013. All Level 3 sex offender flyers are accessible on the Sex Offender Registry Board’s website at www.mass.gov.sorb. The flyers include the offender’s residential, work, secondary, and school addresses, photographs, physical description, and conviction data. In addition, requestors of Dukes County sex offender information can access information resources through the following links:

• Search for sex offenders via a public website
• View Electronic Sex Offenders Registry Information Portal
• Request Sex Offender Information (SORI).

It is noteworthy that the request above (SORI) can be made online, by mail, or in person. Additionally, members of Dukes County and the general public seeking sex offenders information in the County can use the Request for Sex Offender Information Form. For further inquiries on Dukes County Sex Offenders information, interested person may contact the Sex Offenders Registry Board at the following address:

Sex Offender Registry Board
P.O. Box 392,
North Billerica, MA 01862
Phone: (978) 740-6400 (Main Office)
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m
Email: sori.sori@mass.gov

How to Find Dukes County Inmate Records

Individuals interested in Dukes County inmate records may search for these records on third-party websites and databases with access to nationwide inmate records. Dukes County inmate records consist of personal and administrative data on individuals locked up in the Dukes County Jail and House of Corrections (doubles as the Regional Lock-Up for all six Martha’s Vineyard towns). Alternatively, persons interested in acquiring inmate records may conduct inquiries at the physical address below:

Jail, Regional Lock-Up, and House of Correction
149 Main St., P.O. Box 252,
Edgartown, MA 02539
Phone: (508) 627-5173
Fax: (508) 627-8496

Dukes County Court Records

Court records are under the purview of public records that are available to interested residents of Dukes County and the general public. To understand how to access court records in Dukes County, requestors must comprehend how the County’s court system functions. The court system in Dukes County comprises the superior court, district court, probate and family court, and juvenile court. Qualified requestors who have fulfilled the requisite guidelines for accessing the County’s court records may submit their applications to the relevant courts listed below:

Dukes County Superior Court
81 Main Street, P.O. Box 1267
Edgartown, MA 02539
Phone: (508) 627-4668
Fax: (508) 627-7571

Edgartown District Court
81 Main Street, P.O. Box 1284
Edgartown, MA 02539
Phone: (508) 627-3751
Fax: (508) 627-7070

Edgartown District Court serves Aquinnah, Chilmark, Edgartown, Elizabeth Islands, Gosnold, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, and West Tisbury.

Dukes County Probate and Family Court
81 Main Street, P.O. Box 237
Edgartown, MA 02539
Phone: (508) 627-4703
Fax: (508) 627-7664

Edgartown Juvenile Court
12 Mariner’s Way, Unit 4, P.O. Box 550
Edgartown, MA 02539
Phone: (508) 627-8983
Fax: (508) 627-3709

Are Dukes County Court Records Public?

According to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, Dukes County court records are generally available to the public to view, inspect, copy, or have copies of such records after paying a reasonable fee, if any. However, specific legal documents which may contain sensitive information capable of endangering the safety of individuals, governments, organizations, and corporations may be redacted, sealed, or expunged by the courts, thus, making such records available to only a select group of persons or entities. Some of Dukes County court records that do not constitute public records include, but are not limited to, the following:

• All communications between police officers and victims of sexual offenses or abuses.
• Juvenile delinquency case records.
• Drug addiction treatment records
• Fetal death reports
• Patient abuse information
• Police internal affairs record

How to Obtain Dukes County Civil Court Case Records

Dukes County civil court case records are domiciled with the Edgartown District Court and the County’s Superior Court. Generally, the Superior Court has jurisdiction over general civil claims for more than $25,000, while the District Court handles claims less than $25,000. Duke County civil court case records can be obtained through the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access website. Using publicly accessible computer terminals situated in the courthouses, interested persons can search for public case docket and trial court electronic information on civil court case records in the County. Also, civil court case records can be acquired through the following channels:

1. Attorneys’ portal provides special access to electronic case information. The website also details steps on how to navigate the portal.
2. Requestors can also browse the Court Archives for old civil court case records.

Interested persons who wish to view the County’s civil court case records in person are expected to visit the District or Superior Court in the County with jurisdiction over the matter of interest to use the computer terminals designated for such records search. The public access PCs allow searches by name, case type, and case number. The search outcome should produce case information such as party, event, docket, and dispositional details. Requestors should, however, note that case documents cannot be viewed on these computer terminals. To obtain actual case documents for inspection, eligible parties must contact the Office of the Clerk of the Superior Court.

Nonetheless, some records are available to the public on the internet. To view Duke County civil court case records available online, requestors may visit the website of government-approved third-party service provider through the State’s (Mass.gov) website. Requestors are urged to visit or direct their inquiries to the Edgartown District Court or the Superior Court of Dukes County for further queries related to the preceding court case type.

How to Obtain Dukes County Criminal Court Records

Dukes County criminal court records can be obtained from the Edgartown District Court and the Superior Court in the County. Requestors of the County’s criminal court records can access electronic case information online or in person. Interested persons can access electronic case information through the following means:

• To access electronic case information, attorneys have to log in via the Attorneys’ Portal.
• Browse through the Court Archives to access old criminal court records.

Additionally, requestors of Dukes County criminal court case records who wish to view these records in person must visit the District or Superior Court to use the public access computer terminals in these courthouses. The public access PCs use an application that allows searches by name, case type, and case number. The search result page includes information about the party, event, docket, and case disposition. Requestors cannot view case documents through these terminals. Requestors cannot view case documents through these terminals. Actual case documents are available for public inspection in the Clerk’s Office. However, certain Dukes County criminal court case records are open to the public on the internet. Interested individuals should visit the Massachusetts Trial Court Electronic Case Access website using Firefox or Chrome browsers to access this information. The website also provides detailed instructions on accessing available criminal court case records. Some of the criminal court case records available from the Superior Court of Dukes County include bail petitions, criminal complaints, indictments, probation transfers. Scanned and electronically filed criminal court case records images are equally available through the Attorneys’ Portal under the State’s electronic case information system. The physical addresses of the courthouses responsible for criminal court cases in Dukes County are as follows:

Duke County Superior Court
81 Main Street, P.O. Box 1267,
Edgartown, MA 02539
Phone: (508) 627-4668
Fax: (508) 627-7571

Edgartown District Court
81 Main Street, P.O. Box 1284,
Edgartown, MA 02539
Phone: (508) 627-3751
Fax: (508) 627-7070

Interested persons in Dukes County criminal court case records should note that the District Court serves the towns of Aquinnah, Chilmark, Edgartown, Elizabeth Islands, Gosnold, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury, and West Tisbury.

What are Dukes County Vital Records?

Dukes County vital records comprise officially recorded vital events such as divorces, marriages, births, and deaths within the County’s jurisdiction. In Dukes County, the Probate and Family Court is the custodian of Dukes County divorce records. Eligible requestors who wish to obtain these records must provide the case docket number of the divorce case of interest. Parties who do not remember their case docket number should contact the Dukes County Probate and Family Court to search for the case by name or search through the database of a third-party service provider approved by the government. Information required for the case search includes the case type and the first and last name of the divorce party. To obtain certified copies of divorce records/decrees, interested persons must complete the Request for Copies form and mail or bring the form along with the requisite payment to the Dukes County Family and Probate Court at the address below:

81 Main St.,
P.O. Box 237,
Edgartown, MA 02539
Phone: (508) 627-4703 (Clerk’s Office)
Probation Department: (508) 897-5418
Email: dukesprobate@jud.state.ma.us

Dukes County marriage records are generally regarded as public records. However, marriage records of persons born to unmarried parents are usually restricted to the registrant’s parents or spouse and authorized legal representatives. Interested parties can order certified copies of Dukes County marriage records online, by phone, through the mail, or in person from the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS). Requestors are advised to note that the RVRS maintains indexes and records on site at the Registry offices. There is no specific record information or index online. Eligible requestors of Dukes County marriage records will have to make the requisite payments (checks) to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and tender a valid government-issued photo-ID to obtain requested marriage records. Completed marriage record request form should be sent to the following address:

Registry of Vital Records and Statistics (RVRS)
150 Mount Vernon St.,
1st Floor, Dorchester, MA 02125
Phone: (617) 740-2600 (Main)
Online: vit.reordsrequest@state.ma.us (RVRS Customer Service)

Requestors of Duke County marriage records may obtain such records for marriages contracted from 1926 to the present at the RVRS, while earlier records may be obtained from the towns in the County where the marriage took place.

Access to Duke County birth records of unmarried parents is restricted to the following:

• Child
• Parents
• Fathers not listed on the records (requires documentation supporting paternity)
• Legal guardian (requires documentation supporting guardianship)
• Legal representatives (requires documentation supporting representation).

As a sequel to fulfilling eligibility requirements, payment of requisite fees, submission of a valid government-issued picture ID, and the completed birth records request form, requestors may order these records from the Massachusetts RVRS at the address above.

Dukes County death records may be obtained from the Massachusetts RVRS. Certified copies of the county's death records can be accessed from 1926 to the present, while death records from 1841 to 1925 are available from the State Archives. To access death records earlier than 1841, interested persons are advised to visit the city or town in Duke County where the death occurred. To request a death record, the following information will be required:

1. The subject’s name
2. Date of the event
3. Place of the event
4. Proof of identification, preferably a government-issued photo-ID.

Requestors may also be required to provide documentation showing evidence of relation to the subject of the record if the requestor is a legal guardian or representative. The completed application form and a check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are to be sent to the Registry of Vital Records and Statistics.