St. Mary's County Police Records
St. Mary's County police records are handled by the county sheriff's office in Leonardtown. Sheriff Steven Hall leads the department, which stores incident reports, crash files, and arrest records for the county. You can request police records from St. Mary's County through the NextRequest online portal, by mail, or in person at the sheriff's office. The Maryland Public Information Act covers all record requests here. St. Mary's County keeps fees low at $5 per report, making it one of the more affordable places in Maryland to get police files.
St. Mary's County Police Records Overview
Accessing St. Mary's County Police Records
The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office is located at 23150 Leonard Hall Drive in Leonardtown, MD 20650. The main phone number is (301) 475-4200. Sheriff Steven A. Hall oversees all operations, including the records section that manages police files for the county. St. Mary's County is known as the home of the first sheriff in the United States, and the office carries a long tradition of public service.
Police records from St. Mary's County include incident reports, accident reports, arrest logs, and body camera footage. Each report costs $5, which is less than what many other Maryland counties charge. The department uses a NextRequest portal for online submissions, making it simple to file a request from anywhere. You do not have to visit the office in person unless you prefer to.
The sheriff's office handles all law enforcement records for St. Mary's County. There is no separate county police department here. Everything goes through the sheriff. Whether you need a crash report from Route 235 or an incident file from Lexington Park, the sheriff's office in Leonardtown is your contact.
How to Request Police Records
Filing a request for St. Mary's County police records is covered by the Maryland Public Information Act at §4-101. Any person can ask for records. You do not need to give a reason. The law requires the agency to respond within 10 working days and deliver records within 30 days. St. Mary's County follows this timeline.
The fastest way to file is through the NextRequest portal. You create an account, describe the records you want, and submit online. The system tracks your request and sends updates as the sheriff's office works on it. This is a big step up from the old process of mailing paper forms and waiting for a response. Many counties in Maryland have moved to similar portals, but St. Mary's County was among the early adopters on the Eastern Shore side of the state.
You can also submit requests by mail. Send a written PIA request to the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office at 23150 Leonard Hall Drive, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Include dates, names, and case numbers to help staff find the right files. Walk-in requests are accepted too during business hours. The $5 fee per report applies regardless of how you submit.
The first two hours of staff search time are free under the MPIA at §4-206. After that, the county can charge based on the hourly pay of the person doing the work. Body camera footage fees depend on the length of the clip and the time it takes to review and redact it. St. Mary's County will let you know the cost before they start processing.
Note: St. Mary's County accident reports and police reports both cost $5, which is lower than the state average for Maryland counties.
St. Mary's County Court Records
Court records from St. Mary's County are separate from police records. When a police case results in charges, it enters the court system. The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is a free online tool that covers both the Circuit Court and District Court in St. Mary's County. Search by name, case number, or date to find case details, charges, and outcomes.
The case search shows information about court proceedings but does not include the actual police report. For that, you go to the sheriff's office. If you want a complete picture of a case in St. Mary's County, you may need records from both the sheriff and the court clerk. Each office handles its own set of files.
Police Accountability Records in St. Mary's County
Anton's Law changed how St. Mary's County handles police disciplinary records starting in October 2021. Under Public Safety Article §3-101, internal affairs files are no longer sealed as personnel records. The sheriff's office may now release misconduct investigation records, hearing results, and disciplinary decisions. The county also set up a Police Accountability Board to review complaints and recommend action.
Getting these records still requires a formal MPIA request. The sheriff's office reviews each one and decides what can be shared. Ongoing investigations may still be protected. But the shift in how these files are classified has opened up new access that did not exist before in St. Mary's County or anywhere else in Maryland.
Expungement in St. Mary's County
If you have a police record in St. Mary's County that you want cleared, Maryland offers expungement under Criminal Procedure Article §10-101 through §10-112. Cases that ended in a not guilty finding, a dismissal, or completion of a diversion program may qualify. Once expunged, the record is gone from public view. St. Mary's County agencies must treat it as if it never existed.
Shielding is another option under §10-306. It seals certain misdemeanor convictions from public access but keeps the record on file for law enforcement. Both paths have their own timelines and rules, so check with the St. Mary's County Circuit Court clerk or a legal aid group to see which one fits your situation.
State Resources for Police Records
Residents of St. Mary's County can also access statewide police record tools. The Maryland State Police Central Records Division handles crash reports from state troopers at $4 each. The Maryland Sex Offender Registry lets you search by name, zip code, or county. And the St. Mary's County government site has links to other local services and departments that may hold records you need.
If a state trooper made the report you are looking for, it will be with state police, not the sheriff. Highway crashes on Route 5 or Route 235 in St. Mary's County may fall under state police jurisdiction. Always check which agency responded before filing your request.
Nearby Counties
These counties sit near St. Mary's and each has its own police records process.