Dukes County Inmate Population

Dukes County maintains a small jail on Martha's Vineyard that holds male detainees under Sheriff Robert W. Ogden. The Dukes County Jail and House of Correction sits on Main Street in Edgartown and has a maximum capacity of just 40 inmates, with an average daily count of about 15. This makes it one of the smallest county jails in Massachusetts. Women arrested in Dukes County are sent to the Barnstable County Correctional Facility in Bourne on the mainland. There is no online inmate search for Dukes County, so you need to call or email the sheriff's office to check on someone in custody. This page explains how to search the Dukes County inmate population and what resources are available.

Dukes County Sheriff's Office

Sheriff Robert W. Ogden has led the Dukes County Sheriff's Office since January 4, 2017. The county was incorporated in 1683, making this one of the oldest law enforcement agencies in the state. Despite that long history, the operation today is small. The jail sits at 149 Main Street in Edgartown, with a mailing address of PO Box 252, Edgartown, MA 02539.

The main phone number is 508-627-5173. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The facility only holds male detainees. It does not have room or staff for a female housing unit. Women arrested in Dukes County get transported to the Barnstable County Correctional Facility in Bourne, which handles female inmates for all of Cape Cod and the islands.

The screenshot below shows the Dukes County Sheriff's Office website.

The site covers programs, visiting, and general contact information for the office.

Searching the Dukes County Inmate Population

There is no online inmate search for Dukes County. The sheriff's website does not have a roster or lookup tool. To find out if someone is in custody, you have a few options.

Call the jail at 508-627-5173 during business hours. Staff can check if a person is being held and give you basic custody details. You can also email records@dcsoma.org with your request. Going to the facility in person during office hours works too. Bring a valid ID if you visit.

VINELink may also show results for Dukes County inmates. This free tool lets you search by name and register for release alerts. It is run at the state level and covers most Massachusetts counties. Keep in mind that because Dukes County is so small, the data may not always be current.

For court case information, use MassCourts. This free tool shows docket entries from Edgartown District Court and Dukes County Superior Court. It covers charges, hearing dates, and case outcomes. If you think the person has been moved to a state prison, use the DOC inmate search on mass.gov. Remember that women from Dukes County are held at Barnstable County, so call 508-563-4300 to ask about a female inmate.

Public Records for the Inmate Population

Massachusetts public records law gives you access to records about the Dukes County inmate population. Under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, any person can request records from a government agency. The law covers most documents made or received by county offices, as defined in M.G.L. c. 4, § 7.

The Records Access Officer for the Dukes County Sheriff's Office is Special Sheriff Kayla Pachico. Contact her at records@dcsoma.org or by phone at 508-627-5173. The fax number is 508-627-8496. Written requests are recommended over phone requests. The office asks that you put your request in writing so there is a clear record of what you asked for. Allow 10 business days for a response, though the small size of the office means it may take longer for large or complicated requests.

If your request is denied, you can appeal to the Supervisor of Records. The state public records portal has the forms and instructions for filing an appeal. You have 90 days from the date of the denial.

Visiting Inmates at Dukes County Jail

Visiting at the Dukes County Jail requires advance registration. You need to sign up at least 24 hours before your visit. The sheriff's website has a Visit Request Form that you can download. Fill it out and return it to the Jail Control Room, which is at the Pine Street entrance of the facility.

Because the jail is so small, visiting rules can be more flexible than at larger facilities, but they can also change with little notice. Call 508-627-5173 to confirm times and rules before you make the trip. This is especially important if you are coming from off-island, since getting to Martha's Vineyard requires a ferry or plane ride. Missing a visit because of a schedule change would be a costly mistake.

Under M.G.L. c. 276, § 100A, the sheriff has full authority to set visiting rules and other policies at the county jail. Each county does things differently, and Dukes County's small size means it runs things on a more personal scale than the bigger mainland jails.

Programs and Services

The Dukes County Jail runs a range of programs for its small inmate population. Education is a focus. Inmates can work toward a HiSET diploma, which is the equivalent of a GED. The jail also provides Edovo tablets that offer self-paced educational content, legal resources, and entertainment. These tablets give inmates access to learning tools even when group classes are not in session.

Treatment programs include addiction counseling, anger management, and the Path of Freedom mindfulness program. The facility runs a reading club and parenting classes as well. Vocational training helps inmates build skills they can use after release. The jail's size means that programs run with small groups, which can mean more personal attention from instructors and counselors.

The Road Crew labor program puts inmates to work with the State Department of Public Works. Inmates on this crew do road maintenance and other outdoor work around the island. It gives them something productive to do and helps them build a work routine. Medical care is provided through an on-site Health Services Unit that handles basic health needs for the inmate population.

Statewide Inmate Population Resources

The Massachusetts Sheriffs' Association website has links to all 14 county sheriff offices. Dukes County is the smallest county jail operation in the state, but it follows the same state laws and reporting rules as every other county.

For statewide searches, the DOC search tool on mass.gov covers state prisons. VINELink covers most county jails. MassCourts handles court records from every Massachusetts court. If you are not sure where someone is being held, try all three. Start with the county where the arrest happened and work outward from there.

Cities in Dukes County

Dukes County covers Martha's Vineyard and the Elizabeth Islands. Towns include Edgartown, Oak Bluffs, Tisbury (Vineyard Haven), West Tisbury, Chilmark, and Aquinnah. None of these communities meet the population threshold for a dedicated page on this site. All male inmates from Dukes County are held in Edgartown, while female inmates go to Barnstable County.

Nearby Counties

Dukes County is connected to the mainland by ferry. The nearest counties on the mainland and islands handle their own inmate populations separately.