Find Maryland Police Records Online
Maryland police records can be found through local law enforcement agencies and the state court system. Each of the 24 counties in Maryland keeps its own set of police reports, incident logs, and arrest records at the sheriff's office or county police department. The Maryland Judiciary Case Search lets you look up criminal and traffic cases from all Circuit and District Courts for free. You can also file a request under the Maryland Public Information Act to get specific police records from any agency in the state. Whether you need an accident report, a copy of an incident file, or want to check court cases, Maryland gives you more than one way to search.
Maryland Police Records Overview
Where to Find Maryland Police Records
Police records in Maryland are spread across many agencies. County sheriff's offices and police departments hold incident reports, arrest logs, and crash reports. The type of record you need tells you where to go. A crime report comes from the local agency that took the call. A court case file sits with the clerk at the Circuit or District Court. Maryland does not have one single spot for all police records, so knowing which office to call saves you time and effort.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is the best free tool for looking up criminal, civil, and traffic cases statewide. It covers all Circuit and District Courts in Maryland. You can search by name, case number, or filing date. The tool shows case info but not full document images. For police reports and incident files, you need to go to the agency that made the record. Each county in Maryland runs its own records section with its own process and fees.
The Maryland State Police Central Records Division in Baltimore handles crash reports from state troopers. They also store crime stats and uniform crime reporting data. You can reach them at (410) 281-2700. Motor vehicle crash reports from state police cost $4 each.
How to Request Police Records in Maryland
The Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) gives you the right to ask for police records from any government agency. This law is in the General Provisions Article, starting at §4-101. You do not need to give a reason for your request. Any person can ask. The law says agencies must respond within 10 working days and provide records within 30 days. Some agencies let you extend that window with your consent, but they must tell you in writing.
Most police departments and sheriff's offices in Maryland accept written requests. Some have moved to online portals like NextRequest or GovQuest, which makes the process faster. When you file a request, describe the records you want as clearly as you can. Give dates, names, case numbers, or any other details that help the agency find the right files. A vague request may slow things down or lead to extra search fees after the first two free hours of staff time.
Copy fees across Maryland are usually $0.25 per page. The first two hours of search time are free at most agencies. After that, they can charge based on the hourly pay of the staff member who does the work. Some records cost a flat fee instead. Crash reports, for example, often run $5 to $15 depending on the county. Crime victims in some Maryland counties pay nothing at all for their own reports.
Note: Fee waivers may be available for people who cannot afford the cost or when the request serves a clear public interest in Maryland.
Types of Police Records in Maryland
Maryland law enforcement agencies create and store many types of records. Incident reports are the most common. An officer writes one each time they respond to a call. These reports list the date, time, location, and a summary of what took place. Arrest records show who was taken into custody, the charges, and the booking details. Both types are held at the local agency that made them.
Other kinds of police records in Maryland include the following:
- Motor vehicle crash reports
- Body-worn camera footage
- 911 dispatch audio recordings
- CAD (Computer-Aided Dispatch) data
- Use of force reports
- Internal affairs investigation files
Court records are separate from police reports but closely tied to them. When an arrest leads to charges, the case goes to court. The Maryland Judiciary Case Search shows you those court records for free. It covers criminal cases, traffic violations, and civil matters across all Maryland courts. Juvenile cases and sealed or expunged records will not show up in the system.
Police Accountability and Records Access
Maryland changed how police disciplinary records work in 2021. A new law called Anton's Law took effect on October 1 of that year. It is part of the Public Safety Article at §3-101 and was named after Anton Black, a 19-year-old who died during a police encounter in Caroline County in 2018. Before this law, internal affairs files were treated as sealed personnel records. No one outside the department could see them. That changed with the passage of this act.
Under Anton's Law, records tied to misconduct investigations, hearings, and disciplinary decisions are no longer classified as personnel files. Agencies may now release them, though they are not required to. The law also set up Police Accountability Boards in each county to review complaints. It strengthened body camera rules too. This was a big shift in how Maryland handles police records tied to officer conduct, and it gave the public more tools to hold agencies accountable.
Some agencies have charged high fees for these misconduct records. Montgomery County once quoted $95,000 for a single request. The ACLU has filed suits to push back on those costs. In practice, access varies from county to county in Maryland.
Maryland Criminal History Checks
The Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) Central Repository runs fingerprint-based criminal history checks in Maryland. Their office is at 6776 Reisterstown Road, Suite 102, Baltimore, MD 21215. You can also mail requests to P.O. Box 32708, Pikesville, MD 21282-2708. The fee is $38 for a state criminal history check. Call (410) 764-4501 or the toll-free line at 1-888-795-0011 for questions. Email them at cjis.customerservice@maryland.gov. These checks pull from a central database that covers all Maryland law enforcement agencies.
The Maryland Sex Offender Registry is a free online tool run by the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. You can search by name, zip code, county, or city. Email alerts are available so you can track changes. The DPSCS website also has an inmate locator and other public safety tools for Maryland.
Expungement of Police Records in Maryland
Maryland law lets people remove certain police and court records through expungement. The rules are in the Criminal Procedure Article at §10-101 through §10-112. If you were found not guilty, had your charges dropped, or completed a diversion program, you may qualify to have those records wiped clean. Once a record is expunged, it no longer shows up in searches and agencies must act as if it never existed.
Shielding is a related process under §10-306 of the Criminal Procedure Article. It seals certain older misdemeanor convictions from public view. The record still exists, but most people cannot see it. Law enforcement can still access shielded records in Maryland. Both expungement and shielding help keep old police records from following people around, but each has its own set of rules about which cases qualify and how long you must wait to apply.
Maryland State Police Records
The Maryland State Police handle law enforcement across the state. Their Central Records Division at 1711 Belmont Avenue in Baltimore is the main office for getting state police reports. Call (410) 281-2700 or fax (410) 298-3198. They hold crash reports, investigative files, and crime data from MSP troopers.
Crash reports from state troopers cost $4 each. Uniform Crime Reporting data and statewide crime stats are also available through this office. For local police records in Maryland, you go to the county or city agency instead. The state police only hold records from their own cases and investigations, not from local departments or sheriff's offices.
Browse Maryland Police Records by County
Each county in Maryland has its own sheriff's office or police department that handles police records. Pick a county below to find local contact info and how to request records in that area.
Police Records in Major Maryland Cities
Many cities in Maryland are served by county police agencies. Pick a city below to learn where to get police records in that area.