Find Inmates in Hampshire County Jail Roster

The Hampshire County jail roster is managed by the Hampshire County Sheriff's Office under Sheriff Patrick J. Cahillane, located at 19 East Street in Northampton. There is no online search portal for Hampshire County. All inmate lookups are done over the phone. This guide covers how to call for custody status, what information you can request, how to file a formal public records request, and what to do when someone may have been moved to state custody. The county serves the Northampton and Amherst area, including several major colleges that bring a large seasonal population.

Hampshire County Sheriff's Office

The Hampshire County Sheriff's Office is at 19 East Street, Northampton, MA 01060. Sheriff Patrick J. Cahillane oversees the facility. The main phone number is (413) 584-5911. Staff can be reached by fax at (413) 584-3292. The office holds both pretrial detainees who have not posted bail and sentenced inmates serving terms of up to two and a half years. Anyone arrested in Hampshire County and held in custody will appear in the county system.

Hampshire County sits in the Pioneer Valley and covers a mix of small cities, college towns, and rural communities. UMass Amherst, Hampshire College, Smith College, and Mount Holyoke College all draw large student populations to the area. That seasonal influx affects booking volumes throughout the academic year, particularly during high-traffic periods. The Northampton facility is the single county jail for this area, so all county inmates are held there.

The sheriff's office website at hampshiresheriffs.com provides department news, inmate services information, and contact details. There is no live inmate search on the site. For current custody status, you need to call directly. The site does list programs available to inmates and general facility policies.

Visit the Hampshire County Sheriff's Office website to review department information, contact details, and available inmate services. The site gives a clear overview of the office's services and how to reach specific departments within the facility.

Hampshire County Jail Roster Phone Inquiry

To check the Hampshire County jail roster, call (413) 584-5911. Ask staff for inmate information and provide the person's first and last name along with their date of birth. If you know the approximate booking date, share that as well. Having specific details cuts down on confusion when names are common or when multiple people with similar names are in the system.

During the call, staff can confirm whether someone is currently in custody, what charges they are being held on, what bail amount has been set, and when their next court hearing is scheduled. Current housing location within the facility is also available. This is the main way to access Hampshire County jail roster data, and it works the same way whether you are a family member, attorney, or other interested party.

Hampshire County has no connection to the VINELink notification system. That tool is available through Essex County and the Massachusetts DOC, but not through Hampshire County. If you need ongoing updates on someone's custody status, you will need to call the office periodically. Staff can take brief custody inquiries during regular business hours.

Note: Call during regular business hours when possible, as staffing levels outside standard hours may slow response times on custody inquiries.

Records Request at Hampshire County Sheriff

Written records beyond a phone confirmation require a formal public records request. The Hampshire County Sheriff's Office accepts requests by mail, phone, or in person at the Northampton facility. To submit by mail, send your written request to Hampshire County Sheriff's Office, 19 East Street, Northampton, MA 01060. Include the name of the subject, a relevant date range, and your return contact information.

By phone, call (413) 584-5911 and ask to speak with the records department or the public records officer. In-person requests can be made at the facility during business hours. Keep your request specific. A clear description of which records you need will help staff identify the right documents and process your request more efficiently.

The contact page at hampshiresheriffs.com/contact lists the current department contacts and provides guidance on how to direct different types of inquiries. Using the contact page helps you reach the right person the first time instead of bouncing between departments.

Under M.G.L. c. 66, § 10, the office is required to respond to public records requests within ten business days. If your request is complex or involves a large number of documents, the office may take additional time, but they must notify you of any delay. Most routine requests for jail roster data or booking records are handled within the standard ten-day window.

Public Records Rights in Massachusetts

Massachusetts public records law gives any person the right to inspect or copy records held by a government agency. M.G.L. c. 66, § 10 applies directly to county sheriff's offices like Hampshire County. Booking records, custody logs, and jail roster data are generally treated as public records. Some categories of information may be withheld, including medical records or records tied to active investigations, but these exemptions are specific and must be cited if a request is denied.

You are not required to explain why you want records. The agency cannot condition a response on you providing a reason. If your request is denied in full or in part, the office must identify the specific exemption it relies on. You can then appeal to the Secretary of State's office. The Massachusetts Public Records Portal explains the appeal process and provides forms for filing a complaint.

County correctional facilities operate under M.G.L. c. 126, which sets the legal framework for how jails in Massachusetts run. This includes record-keeping requirements, inmate rights, and public access standards that apply to Hampshire County and all other county jails in the state.

When Someone Leaves Hampshire County Custody

Hampshire County holds people who are awaiting trial or serving shorter sentences. If someone has been convicted and sentenced to more than two and a half years in state prison, they will be transferred to a facility operated by the Massachusetts Department of Correction. Once transferred, they will no longer appear in the Hampshire County jail roster. Calling the sheriff's office in that case will result in no record found for that person.

For state prison inmates, use the Massachusetts DOC Inmate Search. The DOC database covers all state facilities and is completely separate from the county system. If you are not sure whether someone is in county custody or state custody, start with the Hampshire County phone inquiry. If staff cannot locate the person, the next step is the DOC database. The two systems together cover most people in custody in Massachusetts.

Court records for Hampshire County cases are searchable through MassCourts. If you want to track the progress of a case after someone is released from jail, MassCourts provides docket entries, case status, and upcoming hearing dates for the county court system.

Cities in Hampshire County

Hampshire County includes Northampton, Amherst, and several other communities. None of the county's cities currently meet the qualifying population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Contact the Hampshire County Sheriff's Office at (413) 584-5911 for inmate lookups in this area.

Nearby Counties

Hampshire County borders several other western Massachusetts counties, each with its own sheriff's office and jail roster process. Use the links below to find inmate information in neighboring areas.