Dukes County Background Check Records

Dukes County covers Martha's Vineyard, an island off the coast of Cape Cod with a small year-round population that swells each summer. Running a background check here works much the same as anywhere in Massachusetts, but the island setting means local offices handle a compact caseload and access can depend on ferry schedules. Whether you need court records, criminal history through CORI, or police reports from one of the island's six towns, this page walks through every source available in Dukes County. The state's iCORI system is the fastest route for most people looking up criminal records tied to this county.

Dukes County Sheriff's Office

The Dukes County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the island. It handles civil process, warrant service, court security, and inmate transport. The sheriff's records unit can provide documentation tied to civil matters and service of process. For most criminal background check requests in Dukes County, the state CORI system is the primary tool, but the sheriff's office can assist with questions about local law enforcement records and civil process history.

The sheriff maintains two locations to serve the island. The main office sits at 149 Main Street in Edgartown, while the civil process department operates out of 9 Flight Path in Vineyard Haven. If you need records from a civil matter, such as service of a summons or a court order, the civil process office is the right contact. Records requests can also be sent by email to records@dcsoma.org. The sheriff's website at dukescountysheriff.com has contact forms and general information about office services.

The Dukes County Sheriff's Office website provides information on civil process, court security services, and how to contact records staff on Martha's Vineyard.

The site lists office hours, civil process fees, and contact details for both the Edgartown and Vineyard Haven locations. It is worth reviewing before you make the trip across the water.

Dukes County Courts

All of Dukes County's courts share a single address at 81 Main Street in Edgartown. This is unusual for a Massachusetts county, but it makes sense given the island's size. You will find the Superior Court, District Court, and Probate and Family Court all at the same building. Court records held here are searchable through the Massachusetts Trial Court's free public access system at masscourts.org, which covers District, Superior, Probate, and Family Court case information statewide.

The Edgartown District Court handles misdemeanors, small claims, and civil matters under $50,000 for the island. Criminal arraignment records from this court feed into the CORI database managed by DCJIS. If someone was charged with a crime in Dukes County, the case likely started here. The Superior Court handles more serious felony matters and larger civil cases. The Probate and Family Court deals with estate matters, guardianship, and domestic issues. The Juvenile Court is at a separate address: 12 Mariner's Way, Unit 4, reachable at (508) 627-8983. Court staff can help direct you to the right department once you arrive in Edgartown.

Note: Court public access terminals are available during business hours at the Edgartown courthouse for anyone who wants to search records in person.

Local Police Departments in Dukes County

Martha's Vineyard has six towns, each with its own police department. Each department keeps its own incident reports and local records. These records are not always in the CORI system, but they are public under Massachusetts General Laws chapter 66, section 10, which governs public records access statewide. You can request records directly from each town's department. Response times vary. The Regional Emergency Communications Center handles non-emergency dispatch calls at 508-693-1212.

Police records from these departments can include incident reports, call logs, and arrest logs. Arrest records that led to court charges will show up in CORI. Records of incidents that did not end in charges may only exist at the local department level. If you need documentation from a specific town in Dukes County, contact that town's department directly. Written public records requests get a response within ten business days under state law.

How to Get Dukes County Background Check Records

Getting a background check tied to Dukes County starts with knowing which agency has the records you need. Court records go through the Trial Court system. Criminal history goes through DCJIS. Police reports go to local departments. Each source has its own process, and it helps to be specific about what you are looking for before you start.

The state's iCORI portal at icori.chs.state.ma.us is the main tool for pulling criminal record information tied to any Massachusetts county, including Dukes. You can request your own CORI report for $25 using a Massachusetts driver's license or state ID. The result comes back right away when you go online. If you do not have a Massachusetts ID, you can mail in a notarized request form with a $25 money order to DCJIS at 200 Arlington Street, Suite 2200, Chelsea, MA 02150. Mail requests take two to three weeks. More information on the process is at mass.gov.

For court case records, the free public search at masscourts.org works for most needs. You can search by name or case number and see basic case details at no cost. If you want full documents or certified copies, you will need to contact the clerk at 81 Main Street in Edgartown. In-person visits during business hours are the most direct way to get copies of specific case files in Dukes County.

The iCORI portal is the fastest way to check criminal history for anyone with a record in the Massachusetts court system.

The Massachusetts CORI information page covers what records are available, how access levels work, and who can request what, including details specific to individuals requesting their own records.

Reviewing the CORI overview page before you begin can save time and help you choose the right request type for your situation.

CORI and Massachusetts Criminal Records

CORI stands for Criminal Offender Record Information. It is the formal name for Massachusetts criminal history data. All criminal arraignments that happened in Massachusetts courts, including Edgartown District Court and Dukes County Superior Court, go into the CORI database. The Department of Criminal Justice Information Services manages this system from its Chelsea office. DCJIS can be reached at (617) 660-4600.

The CORI system runs two types of checks. A name-based check uses a person's name and date of birth to search Massachusetts court records. This costs $25 for a personal request or $50 for an open-access public request. A fingerprint-based check, called SAFIS, is more thorough and can match records across state and FBI databases. Fingerprint checks are required for certain licensed professions and are not available for general public requests. Under M.G.L. c. 6, section 172, DCJIS is the agency responsible for maintaining and distributing CORI records throughout the state.

Individuals can also ask to have old records sealed. Under M.G.L. c. 276, section 100A, misdemeanors can be sealed after a three-year waiting period and felonies after seven years. To start that process, visit the DCJIS website or contact the clerk at the court where the case was heard. Sealing removes the record from most CORI searches but not from all law enforcement access.

The iCORI login page is where individuals and registered organizations go to submit CORI requests online.

First-time users will need to create an account. The process takes just a few minutes and requires a valid Massachusetts ID for individual requests.

Sex Offender Registry in Dukes County

The Sex Offender Registry Board (SORB) tracks registered sex offenders across all Massachusetts counties, including Dukes. Level 2 and Level 3 offenders are publicly searchable. Level 1 offenders are considered low risk and their information is not available to the general public. You can search the registry by name or by location on the SORB website. The board's phone number is (978) 740-6400, and staff are available Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM.

If you want to check whether a registered offender lives in a specific town on Martha's Vineyard, the SORB website allows geographic searches. This information is separate from CORI and does not require a fee to access for Level 2 and Level 3 registrants. The registry is updated regularly by local police departments and the board itself. Dukes County's small year-round population means the number of registered offenders here is relatively low compared to mainland counties.

Towns in Dukes County

Dukes County has six towns: Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury (Vineyard Haven), West Tisbury, Aquinnah, and Chilmark. All court matters for these towns are handled at 81 Main Street in Edgartown. None of the towns in Dukes County meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site, but all of them are served by the same county court system and the statewide CORI process. Local police in each town can assist with public records requests for incidents that occurred within their jurisdiction.

Nearby Counties

Dukes County sits off the coast and is closest to Barnstable County on the Cape. If you are looking for records from the mainland area nearest to Martha's Vineyard, these counties are the closest options. All have their own county pages with local court and sheriff information.