Baltimore City Criminal Records
Baltimore criminal records are maintained by the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, an independent jurisdiction separate from any Maryland county. You can search case records online through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search, request official background checks through CJIS, or visit the courthouse in person. Baltimore City operates its own courts, its own police department, and its own State's Attorney's Office, making it one of the most self-contained jurisdictions in the state for criminal record purposes.
Baltimore City Overview
Baltimore City: An Independent Jurisdiction
Baltimore City is not part of any Maryland county. It split from Baltimore County in 1851 and has operated as an independent city ever since. This matters when you look for criminal records. Cases filed in Baltimore City are not mixed with Baltimore County cases. The two are entirely separate court systems with separate clerks, separate records, and separate processes. Many people confuse the two, so it helps to know which one you need before you start searching.
The Circuit Court for Baltimore City handles felony cases and more serious criminal matters. The District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic charges, and preliminary hearings. Both sets of records appear in the Maryland Judiciary Case Search tool. When you search by name, results from Baltimore City will show the jurisdiction as "Baltimore City" rather than any county name.
Note: Baltimore City and Baltimore County are completely separate jurisdictions. A case filed in one will not appear under the other's records, even if the addresses look similar.
Courthouse Information
The Circuit Court for Baltimore City sits in the historic Clarence M. Mitchell Jr. Courthouse complex in downtown Baltimore. There are two main buildings that handle criminal court business.
| Circuit Court Clerk | 100 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 |
|---|---|
| Courthouse East | 111 N. Calvert Street, Baltimore, MD 21202 |
| Phone | 410-333-3733 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
The District Court for Baltimore City operates multiple locations throughout the city. Each district handles cases from specific neighborhoods and zip codes. You can walk in to the clerk's office at any district location to request copies of records. Bring a photo ID and know the case number if you have it, because it speeds up the search considerably.
Certified copies of court records cost $5.00 each. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page. These fees apply at the Circuit Court clerk's office. District Court fees follow the same state schedule. If you need records mailed to you, call ahead to confirm the process since some locations prefer written requests.
Online Criminal Records Search
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is the main tool for looking up Baltimore criminal records online. It covers all 24 Maryland jurisdictions, including Baltimore City. The database goes back to 1993 for most case types. Access is free and requires no account or login.
Since December 2021, the default search requires an exact name match. Type a last name and first name exactly as they appear on the record. If you are not sure of the spelling, use a percent sign as a wildcard. For example, typing "Smi%" will return results for Smith, Smits, and other names starting with those letters. The system shows case number, charges, disposition, and hearing dates.
A 2024 policy change removed certain records from public view. Dismissed cases and acquittals no longer appear in public search results. Cases placed on stet (a temporary halt) are hidden after three years. This means the Case Search will not show every case that has ever been filed. It only shows cases that resulted in a conviction or that are still active.
Note: Case Search shows court records only. It does not show arrest records that never resulted in charges being filed in court.
Baltimore Police Department Records
The Baltimore Police Department handles all law enforcement within the city. It is one of the largest municipal police forces on the East Coast. The department maintains arrest records, incident reports, and crime data for Baltimore City.
Incident reports can be requested through the department's public records process. You will need to know the report number or incident date and location. Reports involving ongoing investigations may be withheld or partially redacted. Requests can be submitted online or in writing to the department's records unit.
If you want to see your own arrest history in Baltimore, you can visit a local police station or sheriff's office to be fingerprinted. Your fingerprint ID gets sent to the CJIS Central Repository, and you will receive a copy of your own record. This is the only way individuals can access their own full criminal history through official channels. You cannot use this process to check someone else's history.
Baltimore City State's Attorney Resources
The Baltimore City State's Attorney's Office prosecutes all criminal cases in the city. Their website includes resources for crime victims, case information, and public guides on how the criminal justice process works in Baltimore.
The State's Attorney's Office also publishes criminal history FAQs that walk through common questions about accessing and understanding criminal records in Baltimore City. These cover how to check your own history, what records are public, and how to navigate the court system if you need to request or correct a record.
The office does not perform background checks for employers or landlords. Those requests must go through CJIS. The State's Attorney's Office focuses on prosecution, not record access. However, their public guides are a useful starting point if you are not sure where to look.
What Baltimore Criminal Records Show
A criminal record in Baltimore City can include a range of case types. Circuit Court records cover felonies such as robbery, assault, drug distribution, and homicide. District Court records cover misdemeanors, minor drug charges, traffic violations, and violations of probation.
Each case record typically shows the defendant's name and date of birth, the charges filed, the case number, the date of filing, scheduled hearing dates, and the final disposition. If a case went to trial, the verdict appears. If there was a plea, the plea and sentence appear. Records do not usually show detailed police reports or witness statements. Those are separate from court records.
Public access covers most active and resolved criminal cases. However, juvenile records are sealed by law. Cases involving minors do not appear in public searches. Expunged records are also removed from public view after the court grants the petition.
Note: Records in the Case Search reflect what was filed and decided in court, not what police found at the scene. Arrest records that never led to charges will not appear.
CJIS Background Checks for Baltimore
The Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) runs the official state background check process. CJIS is part of Maryland's Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. A state-only check costs $18. A combined state and FBI check runs between $38 and $45 depending on the purpose.
CJIS can be reached by phone at 410-764-4501 or toll-free at 1-888-795-0011. You can also email cjis.customerservice@maryland.gov or mail requests to PO Box 32708, Pikesville, MD 21282-2708. Fingerprints are required for an official background check. The result covers the full state criminal history on file, not just Baltimore City cases.
Expungement in Baltimore City
Expungement removes a criminal record from public access. In Baltimore City, expungement petitions are filed with the Circuit Court or District Court, depending on where the original case was heard. The filing fee is $30 for most petitions. There is no fee if the case ended in an acquittal or a dismissal for certain reasons.
Maryland also allows shielding, which is different from expungement. Shielding limits who can see a record without fully removing it. Certain convictions qualify for shielding after a waiting period. Both processes require filing paperwork with the court and serving notice on the State's Attorney's Office. The court then sets a hearing date to review the petition.
Legal aid resources in Baltimore City can help with expungement paperwork at little or no cost. The Maryland State Bar Association and local legal clinics regularly run workshops on this topic. If you are not sure whether your case qualifies, a brief consultation with a public defender's office or legal aid attorney can clarify your options.
Historical Criminal Records
The Maryland State Archives holds older criminal records that predate the online Case Search system. For Baltimore City, historical dockets and court ledgers go back many decades. The Archives charges a $25 search fee for historical record requests. You can submit requests online or by mail.
Older records are not digitized in the same way as modern court records. They may exist only on paper or microfilm. The Archives staff can help locate specific case files if you provide a name, approximate date range, and case type. Allow several weeks for a response on historical record searches.
Nearby Cities
Looking for criminal records in other Maryland cities near Baltimore?
The Baltimore City State's Attorney's website offers a look at the office that prosecutes criminal cases in the city. The screenshot below is sourced from stattorney.org.
The page lists resources for victims, case updates, and public guides on how criminal cases proceed through Baltimore City courts.
The Baltimore Police Department website, shown below from baltimorepolice.org, is the starting point for incident report requests and arrest record inquiries within the city.
The site includes links to the department's public records unit, crime maps, and contact information for each police district in Baltimore.