Rockville Criminal Records Lookup
Rockville criminal records are filed and stored at the Montgomery County Circuit Court, which sits in Rockville as the county seat courthouse. With about 70,000 residents, Rockville is the official county seat of Montgomery County and the location of the main court for all felony cases and jury trials in the county. Rockville also has its own municipal police force in addition to county law enforcement coverage. Criminal records in this city go back to 1979 in Maryland's free online case search system, giving the public direct access to case-level data for both Circuit Court and District Court filings.
Rockville Overview
County Records and Jurisdiction
Rockville is the county seat of Montgomery County. All criminal records for the city are part of the Montgomery County court system. The fact that the county courthouse sits within Rockville makes in-person access more direct here than for most other Montgomery County communities.
The Montgomery County Criminal Records page covers the full county system, including fee schedules, access rules, and additional court contacts that apply to all Montgomery County communities including Rockville. Rockville has both city police and county police operating within its borders, which can affect which agency holds specific arrest records.
Courthouse Locations
Two courts handle Rockville criminal matters. The Circuit Court is the main felony court and sits in downtown Rockville. The District Court on Jefferson Street handles misdemeanors and preliminary hearings locally.
| Court | Montgomery County Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850 |
| Phone | 240-777-9400 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Jurisdiction | Felonies, Grand Jury cases, jury trials, appeals from District Court |
| Court | District Court of Maryland - Rockville |
|---|---|
| Address | 191 E. Jefferson Street, Rockville, MD 20850 |
| Jurisdiction | Misdemeanors, traffic, preliminary hearings |
The Circuit Court clerk does not give out disposition details by phone and does not conduct background checks. To get case information, use the online portal or visit the clerk's office in person at 50 Maryland Avenue.
Online Criminal Records Search
The Maryland Judiciary offers a free public case search tool covering all 24 jurisdictions, including Montgomery County. Rockville criminal records dating to 1979 are searchable online at casesearch.courts.state.md.us.
The image below shows the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal. This is the main public tool for finding Rockville and Montgomery County criminal case records.
Source: Maryland Judiciary Case Search
Type the full last name and first name for an exact match. To search with a partial name, add a percent sign to the end of the term (for example, "Wash%" to find Washington, Washburn, and similar names). This has been the standard partial-search method since December 2021.
Results show case numbers, charge descriptions, filing dates, and case outcomes. Under 2024 changes to Maryland court rules, dismissed charges and acquittals were removed from public Case Search results. Stet cases are hidden from public view after three years. Those records still exist in the court file but do not appear in the online portal.
Note: Montgomery County records in the online system go back to 1979. Records before that date are not in the portal and must be requested directly from the Circuit Court clerk.
Local Law Enforcement Records
Rockville has two law enforcement agencies. The Rockville City Police Department covers the incorporated city limits. The Montgomery County Police and the Montgomery County Sheriff also operate in the area, serving county-level functions and some city calls.
The image below is from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office website. The Sheriff serves court-related functions for all of Montgomery County, including Rockville.
Source: Montgomery County Sheriff
Arrest records are separate from court records. City police and county police both generate arrest reports, but the records are held by each agency. Court case records, which show what happened after the arrest, are held by the courts and accessible through Case Search.
| Agency | Rockville City Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 2 W. Montgomery Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850 |
| Website | rockvillemd.gov/police |
| Agency | Montgomery County Police |
|---|---|
| Records Center | 100 Edison Park Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20878 |
| Phone | 240-773-5330 |
| Website | montgomerycountymd.gov/pol |
| Agency | Montgomery County Sheriff |
|---|---|
| Website | montgomerycountymd.gov/sheriff |
What Criminal Records Show
Montgomery County criminal court records are public under Maryland Rules. These records show charge descriptions, case numbers, pleas, dispositions, and sentencing information. Most cases in Case Search include enough detail to understand the basic outcome.
Here is what typically appears in a public case record:
- Case number and filing date
- Charge description and statute cited
- Plea entered by the defendant
- Disposition (guilty, acquitted, dismissed, stet)
- Sentence if a conviction occurred
- Attorney of record
Sealed files, juvenile records, and records restricted by court order are not visible. Since 2024, acquittals and dismissals were removed from the public Case Search portal. The records still exist in the court file but are no longer surfaced in a public name search. Stet cases go dark after three years.
Requesting Criminal Records
Case Search is free for online access. Copies at the courthouse cost money. Maryland courts charge $7.00 for a name search, $0.50 per page for copies, and $5.00 per certified document. The Circuit Court in Rockville does not accept credit cards at the counter. Bring cash, a check, or a money order.
For in-person requests, visit the clerk's office at 50 Maryland Avenue during business hours. Staff can pull recent files while you wait. Older archived files may take more time. Having the case number speeds up the process.
Mail requests go to the Montgomery County Circuit Court Clerk, 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850. Include the full name of the person you are searching, a date of birth if available, and a check or money order for the search fee. The clerk will mail results back within a reasonable time or notify you if no records were found.
CJIS Background Checks
The Maryland Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) handles official statewide background checks. These checks go beyond what Case Search shows and pull from the state's full criminal history database.
State checks cost $18. An FBI check that adds federal records runs $38 to $45 total. Call CJIS at 410-764-4501 or toll-free at 1-888-795-0011. Email is available at cjis.customerservice@maryland.gov. Current forms and submission instructions are on the CJIS background checks page.
Expungement and Shielding
Maryland allows people to expunge or shield eligible criminal records. Expungement removes the record from public access. Shielding restricts who can view it. The two options work differently and apply to different case types.
Expungement costs $30. Cases ending in acquittal can be expunged at no cost. Shielding is available for certain misdemeanor convictions after a waiting period. Because the Montgomery County Circuit Court is located in Rockville, petitions for expungement of Rockville cases are filed right here at 50 Maryland Avenue.
The Maryland State Archives criminal records guide covers eligibility rules, waiting periods, and the forms needed to file a petition.