Guide
Massachusetts County Sheriff at a Glance
The sheriff list below links 14 Massachusetts county sheriffs to the office's own website or to the sheriff's page on the county website. Each link was opened and checked on October 16, 2026.
Guide
Massachusetts Sheriff and Local Law Enforcement Resources
Counties (14)
- Barnstable County Sheriff's OfficeBourne, (508) 563-4300
- Berkshire County Sheriff's OfficePittsfield, (413) 443-7220
- Bristol County Sheriff's OfficeNorth Dartmouth, (508) 995-6400
- Dukes County Sheriffdukescountysheriff.com
- Essex County Sheriffessexsheriffma.org
- Franklin County Sheriff's OfficeGreenfield, (413) 774-4014
- Hampden County Sheriffhampdencountysheriff.com
- Hampshire County Sheriffhampshiresheriffs.com
- Middlesex Sheriff's OfficeWoburn, (781) 960-2800
- Nantucket County Sheriffnantucketcountysheriffoffice.com
- Norfolk County Sheriffnorfolksheriff.com
- Plymouth County Sheriff's OfficePlymouth, (508) 830-6200
- Suffolk County Sheriff's DepartmentBoston, (617) 635-1000
- Worcester County Sheriffworcestercountysheriff.com
Guide
Research Notes
Continue into related Massachusetts specialty pages and supporting research topics. Use official government sources for certified or admissible records.
- Massachusetts Court RecordsState and county court case research and docket searches
- Massachusetts Criminal RecordsBackground checks, criminal history, and arrest records
- Massachusetts Vital RecordsBirth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates
- Massachusetts Inmate SearchState DOC and county jail inmate lookup
- Massachusetts DMV & Driving RecordsDriver license, vehicle history, and DMV services
- All Massachusetts Public RecordsFull Massachusetts public-records portal directory
Guide
At a Glance
Sheriff research often overlaps with police records, criminal records, inmate searches, court records, and public record directories.
Explore the same record type in other U.S. states. Each state has its own filing system, fees, and access rules.
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Guide
Browse by State
Use these portal-level resources to move between Massachusetts record categories and the national directory.
- Home
- State Records HubAll 50 U.S. states and federal record entry points
- Massachusetts Public Records DirectoryComplete index of public-record resources for Massachusetts
- U.S. County Records DirectoryBrowse public records by county nationwide
- FOIA Request GuideHow to file federal Freedom of Information Act requests
Guide
Federal & National Authoritative Sources
Straight answers
Massachusetts County Sheriff, questions
What's the difference between a sheriff and a police chief?
A sheriff is elected county-wide, runs the county jail, and has jurisdiction over the entire county (including unincorporated areas). A police chief is appointed by a city and has jurisdiction only inside the city limits.
Can the sheriff serve process outside the county?
Generally no. Civil process must be served by a sheriff or process server in the county where the person or property is located. Neighboring counties cooperate but do not have cross-county police powers.
Are jail inmate records public?
Yes, in most Massachusetts counties. Basic booking information is public: name, charge, booking date, bond amount. Medical and mental-health intake is not.
Does the sheriff handle 911 calls?
In many rural counties, yes, the sheriff's office is the primary 911 answering point. In urban counties with a city police department, 911 is usually split by jurisdiction of the caller.