The Barnstable County Sheriff is an elected county official responsible for operating the county correctional facility, providing regional emergency communications (9-1-1 dispatch), conducting criminal investigations, serving civil court documents, and — increasingly — supporting reentry and rehabilitation programs that reduce recidivism across Cape Cod.
What Does the Sheriff’s Office Do?
Unlike local police departments (which patrol streets and respond to calls), the Sheriff’s Office operates the county jail, runs the regional 9-1-1 dispatch center, serves civil process documents, and conducts crime scene investigations. The Sheriff is elected countywide for a six-year term. The office manages the 588-bed Barnstable County Correctional Facility adjacent to Joint Base Cape Cod, which houses inmates serving sentences of 2.5 years or less.
Current Officeholder
Donna D. Buckley, Esq.
Sheriff Donna Buckley took office on January 4, 2023, after winning the November 2022 general election with 59,034 votes. She is the first woman elected Sheriff in Barnstable County’s 331-year history, and only the second woman ever elected Sheriff in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. She is also the first Democrat to hold the office in over two decades.
A Falmouth resident, Sheriff Buckley holds a Juris Doctorate from Suffolk University Law School. She began her career as in-house counsel for the National Association of Government Employees and the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, later running her own law office and working at the Massachusetts Teachers Association. She has completed the National Sheriffs’ Institute Leadership Development Course in Quantico, Virginia, and is a member of the National Sheriffs’ Association and the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association.
Key Accomplishments
The Bridge Center — Public Safety 2.0
In April 2025, Sheriff Buckley unveiled The Bridge Center, a community facility at the Barnstable County court complex that provides structured post-release wraparound services. The center offers clinical care, job training, housing navigation, education pathways, parenting supports, and other stabilizing resources designed to reduce recidivism — all without requiring new taxpayer investment or additional state funding.
The Bridge Center represents two years of systems planning and reorganization. It establishes a model where clinical and practical supports begin on the first day of incarceration and continue through release — creating a continuous path from custody to community reintegration.
The office partnered with WellStrong and the Michael English House to enhance support for addiction recovery and vocational opportunities for justice-involved individuals on Cape Cod.
Healthcare & Staff Training Reform
In August 2023 — within her first year in office — Sheriff Buckley terminated the correctional facility’s contract with Wellpath, a private prison healthcare company that had staffed only 20% of the providers it had promised. The office transitioned to a more effective healthcare model for incarcerated individuals.
Implemented training for corrections officers in mental health first aid and cognitive behavioral therapy, recognizing that many incarcerated individuals on Cape Cod are dealing with substance use disorders, mental health challenges, or both.
Policy Changes
On her first day in office, Sheriff Buckley terminated the Sheriff’s Office’s 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — the only such agreement with a sheriff’s office in New England. This was a central campaign promise. She stated: “This program has not proven to keep us safer and causes many living on Cape Cod to live in fear.” The move followed a lawsuit filed by Lawyers for Civil Rights. Under the current federal administration’s policies, Buckley has maintained that her staff will not act as immigration officers or voluntarily enter into ICE agreements, stating: “ICE’s work is ICE’s work.”
Accountability & Incidents
In June 2024, Deputy Gregory Djaoen was arraigned in Falmouth District Court on two counts of assault and battery, one count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, and one count of intimidation of a witness, after an inmate reported being assaulted on May 25–26, 2024. The investigation was conducted by Massachusetts State Police and prosecution handled by the Cape & Islands DA’s Office. Sheriff Buckley attended the arraignment and stated: “I condemn in the strongest language possible the acts of violence and intimidation that are alleged here today.” She immediately removed Djaoen from the facility upon learning of the allegations. Djaoen had a prior arrest for a road rage incident while employed at the facility.
In August 2025, a Boston Herald investigation found that multiple Massachusetts sheriff’s departments, including Barnstable, used taxpayer-funded procurement cards for transactions at casino-associated hotels. The Barnstable department reported approximately $9,400 in charges at Mohegan Sun and a Las Vegas hotel; a department spokesperson stated the charges were for hotel rooms at the Daigle Law Group’s Use of Force Summit in December 2024. Separately, a state Inspector General review found the budget process for Massachusetts sheriffs “deeply flawed,” with sheriffs statewide running a collective $162 million deficit in FY2025. Buckley told GBH News that the investigation could bring needed transparency and that her office faces a deficit largely due to increased correctional officer salaries and a growing prison population.
Divisions & Services
Correctional Facility
588-bed facility adjacent to Joint Base Cape Cod (built 2004). Houses inmates serving sentences of 2.5 years or less. Programs include medical care, substance abuse treatment, education, job training, religious services, and reentry preparation.
Regional 9-1-1 Dispatch
Regional Emergency Communications Center providing 9-1-1 dispatch services for multiple Cape Cod towns. Located at Joint Base Cape Cod. A $300K feasibility study is underway for a potential new center at Cape Cod Community College.
Criminal Investigations
Bureau of Criminal Investigations provides crime scene analysis and investigative support to local law enforcement agencies across Cape Cod.
Civil Process
Service of civil court documents — summonses, subpoenas, restraining orders, eviction notices, and other legal papers throughout Barnstable County.
The Bridge Center
Post-release reentry resource center at the Barnstable County court complex. Clinical care, job training, housing navigation, education, parenting support, and community stabilization services.
Inmate Programs
In-custody programming including substance abuse treatment, GED and educational programs, vocational training, cognitive behavioral therapy, and religious services — all designed to reduce recidivism.
Contact Information
Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office
📍 6000 Sheriff’s Place, Bourne, MA 02532
The Barnstable County Correctional Facility is located adjacent to Joint Base Cape Cod.