Maryland Arrest Records
Maryland arrest records are public documents held by county sheriff offices, local police departments, and the state courts across all 23 counties and Baltimore City. The Maryland Judiciary Case Search gives free online access to criminal court records statewide. For incident reports and arrest documents held by individual law enforcement agencies, you can file a request under the Maryland Public Information Act. This guide covers the main databases, how to request records, what arrest records contain, and how the process works across the state.
Maryland Arrest Records Overview
Maryland Judiciary Case Search
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is the main tool for looking up court records across the state. It covers criminal, traffic, civil, and family cases from both circuit and district courts in all 23 counties and Baltimore City. Access is free at casesearch.courts.state.md.us. Each session requires completing a CAPTCHA before searching. The system shows case summaries, parties involved, charges, court dates, case status, and disposition information including sentencing details. These records are open to anyone. You do not need to explain why you are searching or provide your own information to use the tool.
Since December 7, 2021, the system defaults to exact name searches. A search for "Johnson" returns only records where the name is exactly Johnson. To find partial matches, add a percent sign at the end of a name, like "Johnson%," and the system will return results that start with those letters. You cannot place the wildcard at the start or middle of a search term. This change has caused confusion for many users who get zero results because of a slight spelling difference. Double-check names carefully before assuming no records exist for a person in Maryland.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is not the official court record. The official record stays at the courthouse in the county where the case was heard. For certified copies or access to the full case file, contact the circuit court clerk directly. The portal will not show records that have been expunged or shielded from public view. If a search returns nothing and you believe a record exists, the case may have been expunged, or the search terms may simply not match the way the name is entered in the system.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal is the primary free resource for finding criminal court records statewide, covering all circuit and district court cases from each Maryland county.
The portal is available around the clock, though it may be offline briefly for scheduled maintenance windows.
Maryland State Police Central Records
The Maryland State Police Central Records Division processes requests for MSP records only. It does not hold records from local police departments, county sheriffs, or any other agencies. If the arrest involved a city or county officer, contact that specific agency directly. The MSP Central Records office is located at 1711 Belmont Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21244. The phone number is (410) 653-4246. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. All requests must be in writing and must include the signature of the person requesting the records before they will be processed.
Crash reports are public information and cost $4.00 per copy. Anyone can request them by mail or in person. Payment at the office is accepted by cash, check, money order, or credit card. Mail requests should include a check or money order payable to Maryland State Police. Investigative reports are a different matter. They are not public records. Only the person named in the report or their authorized representative may request an investigative report, and that request must include a stated reason, specific details about the incident, and proof of identity.
The Maryland State Police Public Information Request page walks through the complete process for submitting records requests under the Maryland Public Information Act, including what to include and how fees are calculated.
All MSP Central Records requests must be submitted in writing with a signature before staff will begin processing them.
DPSCS Incarcerated Individual Locator
The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services operates an online inmate locator at dpscs.state.md.us. The database covers individuals currently held in state correctional facilities and those released within the last six months. You can search by first and last name, DPSCS number, FBI number, or state identification number. Results include the current facility, sentence details, parole eligibility date, estimated release date, offense information, and the committing county. This tool is free and available online at any time.
There is a key limitation. The DPSCS locator only covers state prison inmates. County jail inmates, people in pretrial detention facilities, and federal prisoners will not appear in search results. If someone was recently arrested and you cannot find them through the DPSCS system, they are likely in a county detention center. Contact the detention center in the county where the arrest occurred to get current information. For federal inmates, the Federal Bureau of Prisons operates a separate inmate locator at bop.gov.
Note: People serving short sentences at Division of Pretrial and Detention facilities are also excluded from the DPSCS inmate database.
Maryland Public Information Act and Arrest Records
Maryland's Public Information Act gives residents the right to inspect and copy public government records. The law is found in the General Provisions Article, Title 4. It applies to all three branches of state government and to local government agencies across Maryland. The MPIA is similar in purpose to the federal Freedom of Information Act. When you file an MPIA request, the agency must send written notice within ten working days. That notice tells you how long it will take, explains any delay, and gives you an estimate of costs for producing the records.
Not all records are available. The MPIA protects certain categories from disclosure. Personnel records, firearm records, and individual medical or psychological information are restricted. Investigatory records may be withheld if release would be contrary to the public interest under the law. The first two hours of search time are free. After that, agencies can charge a reasonable hourly rate. The fee schedule for Maryland State Police is found under COMAR 29.01.02.13. When a request is denied in whole or part, the agency must provide a written explanation citing the legal basis and explaining how to appeal. The Maryland Attorney General publishes a full legal guide to the MPIA at oag.state.md.us/Opengov/pia.htm.
A "person in interest" holds broader access rights than the general public under the MPIA. This is usually the individual who is the subject of the record. That person can sometimes access documents the agency would otherwise withhold. If you are requesting your own Maryland arrest records or police reports, stating that you are the person in interest in your written request may expand what you can receive.
The Baltimore Police Department's MPIA transparency page lists the specific forms required for different record types, including 911 dispatch audio, body camera footage, CCTV footage, and closed investigation case files.
The Baltimore Police Department's PIA representative is Wayne Brooks at 410-396-2495. General MPIA requests can be sent to dcu@baltimorepolice.org. No upfront payment is required; fees are assessed per request and communicated before processing.
How to Request Arrest Records in Maryland
Each agency processes records requests on its own. There is no single central system for all Maryland arrest record requests. To get records from a specific county or city, contact that law enforcement agency and file an MPIA request. Include the full names of people involved, the date and location of the incident, the type of offense, and the case or incident number if you have it. The more detail you provide, the better your chances of a quick and complete response. Anne Arundel County Police Central Records accepts requests online, by mail to 8495 Veterans Highway, Millersville, MD 21108, or in person at the office, which has tablets available on site for digital submissions. Their records line is (410) 222-8750. Fees are estimated and communicated before records are released.
Several Maryland counties use the GovQuest platform for submitting, tracking, and paying for records electronically. Harford County Sheriff's Office charges $10 per item through the GovQuest portal and $15 per item for other submission methods. Video requests through Harford County require a deposit. If payment is not made within 30 days, the request is closed and the deposit is forfeited. The PIA Liaison for Harford County is Michelle Hanks at 443-409-3403 or hanksm@harfordsheriff.org. Frederick County Sheriff's Office also uses GovQuest at records.govquest.com/frederick-county-sheriff/publicportal. In-person service is available at 110 Airport Drive East, Frederick, MD 21701, and the main line is 301-600-1740. Standard crash reports for Frederick County are handled separately, outside the GovQuest system.
The Anne Arundel County Police Department Central Records page shows how to submit a request online, by mail, or in person at the Millersville office.
If you do not have a case number, include the date, location, incident type, and names of those involved so staff can locate the correct report.
What Maryland Arrest Records Contain
Maryland arrest records typically include the full legal name of the person arrested, date of birth, date and place of arrest, charges filed, the arresting agency, and a case number. Court records in the Maryland Judiciary Case Search show what happened after the arrest: whether charges were dropped, whether the case went to trial, the outcome, and sentencing details if the person was convicted. These records are accessible for any case not expunged or shielded from public view.
Police incident reports hold more detail about what happened during the event itself. They include the responding officer's written account, evidence notes, witness information, and sometimes references to photos or body camera footage. These reports stay with the arresting agency, not the courts. Getting them means filing a separate MPIA request directly to that agency. Some parts of reports may be redacted if the investigation is still active or if third-party personal information is involved. Completed cases are generally more accessible than open investigations.
The Charles County Sheriff's Office serves a county with three district stations. The Waldorf District Station can be reached at 301-932-7777. For Charles County headquarters, call 301-609-6400. Records requests there go through a Freedom of Information Act process. Charles County also has a Detention Center at 301-932-3100 for current custody status. Background checks for the public in Charles County are handled by the Maryland State Police, not the local sheriff, so contact MSP at 301-392-1200 for that type of request.
County Warrant Systems and Fugitive Records
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Criminal Section investigates, locates, and arrests approximately 1,200 fugitives per year for charges ranging from serious felonies to misdemeanors. The section maintains access to three warrant databases: NCIC (National Crime Information Center), METERS (Maryland Electronic Telecommunications Enforcement Resource System), and EJUSTICE, a local system. Deputies operate statewide and can make arrests in other counties and states with the help of other agencies.
The Criminal Section also handles extraditions from other states. When a person with an outstanding Montgomery County Circuit Court warrant is arrested elsewhere in the country, criminal section deputies travel to take custody and return the individual to Montgomery County for court proceedings. The Montgomery County Police Records Division handles records requests separately. Call 240-773-5330, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. If you have information about a fugitive's location, call the confidential tip line at (240) 777-7022.
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office Criminal Section page has additional detail on warrant operations, extraditions, and the databases the office uses to track and arrest fugitives.
Montgomery County Sheriff Maxwell C. Uy, the county's 62nd Sheriff elected in November 2022, oversees all Criminal Section operations including warrant service and extraditions.
Expunged and Shielded Maryland Arrest Records
Maryland law allows individuals to petition for expungement of certain arrest records and court cases. When a record is expunged, it is removed from public databases, including the Maryland Judiciary Case Search. Expungement is available in cases where charges were not filed, a nolle prosequi was entered, the person was acquitted, or the case met specific eligibility requirements under state law. Shielding removes records from public access without permanently destroying them. Both processes result in those records not appearing in public searches.
If a search on the Judiciary Case Search returns nothing and you believe a record should exist, consider two things. First, the record may have been expunged or shielded. Second, the name may not have matched exactly, since the system defaults to exact spelling. Try the % wildcard and check alternate spellings of the name. To confirm whether a specific case was expunged, contact the circuit court clerk in the county where the case was originally filed. They can tell you what information is available to the public and what has been removed.
The Frederick County Sheriff's Office Records Section processes requests through GovQuest, giving users a way to submit, track, and download Maryland records electronically from any device.
Frederick County GovQuest accounts are free to create and allow you to communicate directly with Records Section staff, receive status updates, and pay fees online.
Browse Maryland Arrest Records by County
Each of Maryland's 23 counties maintains arrest records through a sheriff's office or police department. Court records for every county are searchable through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search. Select a county below for local agency contact information, request procedures, and online tools available in that area.
Arrest Records in Major Maryland Cities
Most large communities in Maryland are served by county-level agencies. Some cities have their own police departments with separate records systems. Select a city below to find arrest record resources specific to that area.