Search Somerset County Police Records

Somerset County police records are maintained by the county sheriff's office in Westover and the Princess Anne Police Department. Sheriff Ronnie Howard oversees law enforcement records for the county. You can request police records from Somerset County by submitting a written request in person or by mail. There is no online portal for record requests in this county, so you will need to contact the sheriff's office directly. The Maryland Public Information Act gives you the right to ask for these files, and Somerset County must respond within 30 days.

Somerset County Police Records Access

The Somerset County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the county. It sits at 7920 Crisfield Highway in Westover, MD 21871. The phone number is (410) 651-9225. You can email the office at scso@somersetmd.us. Sheriff Ronnie W. Howard runs the department, which handles incident reports, arrest records, crash reports, and calls for service data.

Somerset County is one of the smaller counties in Maryland, and its records process reflects that. There is no online request portal. You file by mail or in person. Written requests go to the sheriff's office at the Westover address. Include as much detail as you can about the record you need. Dates, names, locations, and case numbers all help the staff find your file faster. Somerset County follows the same MPIA rules as every other county in Maryland.

Body camera footage is available on a case-by-case basis. The sheriff's office reviews each request to decide what can be released. Some footage may be redacted or withheld if it involves an ongoing investigation or sensitive content. The cost depends on the length and complexity of the request.

Princess Anne Police Department Records

The Princess Anne Police Department is a separate agency within Somerset County. It handles law enforcement for the town of Princess Anne and keeps its own set of police records. Reports from this department cost $10. If the incident you are looking for happened within the town limits, Princess Anne PD is the right place to ask.

You can reach Princess Anne PD through their website or by visiting their office in town. They follow the same MPIA rules as the sheriff's office. The 30-day response window applies. For incidents outside of Princess Anne but still in Somerset County, the sheriff's office is your contact. It helps to know which agency responded to the call before you file your request.

Crisfield also has its own small police force, but for most of Somerset County, the sheriff's office is the primary law enforcement body. If you are not sure which department handled a specific case, call the sheriff's office first. They can point you to the right place.

How to Get Police Records in Somerset County

The Maryland Public Information Act at §4-101 of the General Provisions Article gives any person the right to request government records in Somerset County. You do not need to say why you want them. The agency must respond within 10 working days and deliver records within 30 days.

Submit your request in writing to the Somerset County Sheriff's Office at 7920 Crisfield Highway, Westover, MD 21871. You can also email scso@somersetmd.us with your request. Be specific about what you need. A request for "all records from 2024" will take much longer than one that cites a specific date and location. The first two hours of staff search time are free under §4-206. After that, the county may charge based on the hourly pay of the employee doing the work. Standard copy fees are $0.25 per page.

Somerset County does not have an online portal, so you cannot track your request digitally. If you need a status update, call the sheriff's office at (410) 651-9225. Keep your request number or a copy of your written request handy when you call.

Court Records in Somerset County

When a Somerset County police case leads to criminal charges, it enters the court system. The Maryland Judiciary Case Search covers the Circuit Court and District Court in Somerset County. Search by name, case number, or date. The tool is free and shows case details, charges, and outcomes. It does not include full police reports, which you still need from the sheriff's office.

Court records and police records serve different purposes. The police report documents what happened at the scene. The court record documents what happened during the legal proceedings. If you want both, you need to contact two offices. The sheriff handles police files, and the court clerk handles case documents in Somerset County.

Police Accountability in Somerset County

Anton's Law took effect in October 2021 under Public Safety Article §3-101 and changed how Somerset County deals with police disciplinary records. Before this law, internal affairs files were sealed. Now they are no longer classified as personnel records, and agencies may release them. Somerset County has a Police Accountability Board that reviews complaints and recommends action on misconduct cases. Body camera rules have also gotten stricter under the same law.

To request misconduct records from Somerset County, file through the same written PIA process you would use for any other police record. The sheriff's office will review it and decide what can be shared. Records from ongoing investigations may still be withheld.

Expungement of Somerset County Police Records

Maryland allows expungement of certain police records under Criminal Procedure Article §10-101 through §10-112. If charges were dropped, you were found not guilty, or you completed a diversion program, you may qualify. Once expunged, the record disappears from public searches in Somerset County. Shielding under §10-306 seals certain older misdemeanor convictions from public view but keeps them on file for law enforcement. Both options have their own rules on which cases qualify and how long you must wait.

State Resources for Somerset County

Beyond the local sheriff's office, Somerset County residents can use statewide tools. The Maryland State Police Central Records Division handles crash reports from state troopers at $4 each. The Maryland Sex Offender Registry is free to search by name or location. The Somerset County government website has links to other departments and services.

State troopers patrol many roads in Somerset County. If a trooper made the report you need, it will be with state police, not the sheriff. Check which agency responded before you file your request.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Somerset and each keeps its own police records.