Find Hampshire County Released Inmates
Hampshire County released inmate records are kept by the Hampshire County Sheriff's Office in Northampton. The county runs the Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction, which holds inmates at several security levels. If you want to find out when someone was released from the Hampshire County jail, you can call the facility, send a written request, or check the online inmate search tool. Released inmate data from Hampshire County includes booking details, charges, and release dates. The sheriff's office also runs a Pre-Release Center that helps inmates transition back into the community. This page explains how to search for released inmates in Hampshire County and what records are open to the public.
Hampshire County Overview
Hampshire County Sheriff's Office
The Hampshire County Sheriff's Office handles all jail operations and released inmate records in Hampshire County. Sheriff Patrick J. Cahillane leads the office. His approach puts a strong focus on rehabilitation, education, and reintegration for people who pass through the jail. The office manages the Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction at 205 Rocky Hill Road in Northampton. This is the only county jail in Hampshire County, and every release gets processed through this location.
You can reach the sheriff's office by phone at (413) 584-5911. The fax line is (413) 584-2695. Administrative hours run Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. If you need to check on an inmate's status outside of those hours, VINELink is available around the clock at the same phone number. The Hampshire County Sheriff's Office page on Mass.gov also lists contact details and basic information about the facility and its programs.
The jail has multiple security levels. It runs max, medium, and minimum security units along with special housing and a medical and mental health wing. Not all inmates are held at the same level. Released inmate records reflect which unit a person was housed in and what programs they took part in during their time at the facility. This matters because some releases happen through the Pre-Release Center, which operates under different rules than the main jail.
| Agency | Hampshire County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Sheriff | Patrick J. Cahillane |
| Main Phone | (413) 584-5911 |
| Fax | (413) 584-2695 |
| Address | 205 Rocky Hill Rd, Northampton, MA 01060 |
| Admin Hours | Mon-Fri 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
Hampshire County Released Inmate Search
The Hampshire County Sheriff's Office runs an online inmate search tool that lets you look up people who have been held at the jail. This is more than what some Massachusetts counties offer. You can search by name to find booking records and check if someone is still in custody or has been released. The tool pulls from the jail's records system, so it covers both current and past inmates held at the Hampshire County facility in Northampton.
The inmate search page lets you look up records from the Hampshire County jail. Enter a name to see booking and release information for people who have been processed through the facility.
If the online tool does not give you what you need, you can also call the jail at (413) 584-5911. Staff can tell you if someone is still being held or has been let go. They may share the release date and type of release if the person is no longer in custody. For older records, the sheriff's office keeps inmate files for at least 7 years after release. That means you can still look up people who got out of the Hampshire County jail years ago.
The Hampshire County Sheriff's Office website is the main source for jail and released inmate information in the county. The site covers programs, facility details, and how to contact staff about inmate records.
Hampshire County Released Inmate Records
Hampshire County released inmate records fall under Massachusetts public records law. Under M.G.L. Chapter 66, Section 10, you have the right to request records from the sheriff's office. The Records Access Officer for Hampshire County is Thomas Mitchell. You can reach him at Thomas.Mitchell@hsd.state.ma.us or by phone at (413) 582-7721. If he is not available, Jo-Anne Leahy also handles records requests at Jo-Anne.Leahy@hsd.state.ma.us or (413) 582-7736.
Records request hours are Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 4 PM. You need a government-issued photo ID to pick up records in person. The cost is $0.05 per page, and the first two hours of staff time to find and prepare your records are free. The office has 10 business days to respond to your request. This is in line with the state public records law timeline.
Records you can get from Hampshire County about released inmates include:
- Booking records with charges and intake details
- Release dates and type of release
- Housing unit and security level
- Program participation during incarceration
- Daily population logs
Some records may be held back. Under M.G.L. Chapter 66, Section 10A, agencies can withhold records if releasing them could hurt an active investigation or violate someone's privacy. Medical and mental health records from the jail are not public. Sealed court records also stay sealed. But basic release data, like when someone got out and what they were held for, is usually available if you ask.
The Hampshire County Sheriff's contact directory lists the records access officers and other staff you may need to reach when requesting released inmate information.
Hampshire County Pre-Release Center
Hampshire County runs a Pre-Release Center at the same address as the main jail on Rocky Hill Road. This is a minimum security program. Inmates who qualify can take part in work release, education, vocational training, and substance abuse treatment. The goal is to help people get ready for life after release. Many released inmates from Hampshire County go through this center before they are fully let go.
The Pre-Release Center is a big part of how Hampshire County handles the transition from jail to the community. Sheriff Cahillane has made reintegration a core focus of his office. Inmates in the pre-release program may already be working jobs or attending classes in the community while still technically in custody. Their release records show this. If you are looking for someone who was in the pre-release program, the records will note that they were in minimum security at the Pre-Release Center rather than the main jail units.
Female inmates from Hampshire County are not held at the Northampton facility. They are housed at the Western Massachusetts Regional Women's Center in Chicopee through an inter-agency agreement. If you are searching for a released female inmate from Hampshire County, you may need to contact that facility as well. The Hampshire County Sheriff's Office can point you in the right direction.
Note: The Community Justice Support Center, which serves 20 cities and towns in Hampshire County, can also help with questions about released inmates who are reintegrating into the community.
Hampshire County Court Records
Court records are a separate source of information about people who have been through the Hampshire County jail system. The Hampshire Superior Court handles serious criminal cases. You can reach them at (413) 584-5810. The Northampton District Court covers less serious charges and can be reached at (413) 584-7400. Both courts keep records of cases that led to jail time, and those records can help fill in gaps if the sheriff's office does not have everything you need.
Court records show the charges, the plea, the verdict, and the sentence. If someone was released from the Hampshire County jail, the court file will have details about why they were there in the first place. Under M.G.L. Chapter 218, Section 27A, district courts handle misdemeanors and certain felonies. Superior court cases involve more serious crimes. The type of court that handled the case tells you something about the severity of the charges the released inmate faced.
The Mass.gov page for the Hampshire County Sheriff's Office provides an official state resource for finding contact information and basic details about the county jail and its operations.
In 2025, Hampshire County made headlines when historic prisoner records from Shays' Rebellion were found in the archives. These records date back to 1784 through 1830. While they are not relevant to a modern inmate search, they show that Hampshire County has kept jail records for well over two centuries. The current system is far more detailed and accessible than those old ledgers, but the tradition of record keeping runs deep in this county.
Cities in Hampshire County
Hampshire County does not have any cities with populations large enough to have their own pages on this site. The county seat is Northampton. Other communities include Amherst, Easthampton, and Hadley. Released inmates from all of these areas are processed through the Hampshire County Jail and House of Correction in Northampton. Contact the sheriff's office at (413) 584-5911 for records on released inmates from any Hampshire County community.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Hampshire County. If you are not sure which county handled an arrest, check the location where it took place. Each county has its own jail system with separate released inmate records.