Silver Spring Criminal Records
Silver Spring criminal records are maintained by Montgomery County courts, which handle all criminal cases filed in this community. Silver Spring is one of the largest unincorporated communities in Maryland, with roughly 82,000 residents spread across a dense, urban area just north of Washington, D.C. The Montgomery County Circuit Court in Rockville holds felony records, while the District Court branch in Silver Spring handles misdemeanors and related filings. Both courts feed into the state's free online case search system, giving the public direct access to docket entries, dispositions, and charge information.
Silver Spring Overview
Jurisdiction and County Records
Silver Spring is an unincorporated community. It has no municipal government of its own. All criminal records for Silver Spring are created and stored by Montgomery County agencies and courts. The county page at Montgomery County Criminal Records covers the full county system, including court contacts, fee schedules, and access rules that apply equally to Silver Spring residents.
Because Silver Spring is unincorporated, it falls entirely under county jurisdiction. There is no separate city court or city clerk. All filings go to either the Montgomery County Circuit Court or one of the county's District Court locations, including the branch on 2nd Avenue in Silver Spring itself.
Courthouse Locations
Two courts handle criminal cases for Silver Spring. The Circuit Court sits in Rockville and takes all felony cases and misdemeanor appeals. The District Court branch in Silver Spring handles misdemeanors, traffic matters, and preliminary hearings locally.
| Court | Montgomery County Circuit Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850 |
| Phone | 240-777-9400 |
| Jurisdiction | Felonies, jury trials, appeals from District Court |
| Court | District Court of Maryland - Silver Spring |
|---|---|
| Address | 8552 2nd Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910 |
| Jurisdiction | Misdemeanors, traffic, preliminary hearings |
Clerks at both courts can tell you whether a case file exists, but they do not perform background checks over the phone. Disposition details are not disclosed by phone either. You will need to visit in person or use the online system to get case details.
Online Criminal Records Search
The Maryland Judiciary operates a free public case search tool that covers all 24 jurisdictions in the state, including Montgomery County. Silver Spring criminal records going back to 1979 are searchable through this portal.
The screenshot below shows the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal, which is the main tool for finding Silver Spring criminal records online.
Source: Maryland Judiciary Case Search
Use the portal to look up cases by name, case number, or filing date. The default search uses an exact name match. To search with a partial name, add a percent sign at the end (for example, type "Smi%" to catch Smith, Smits, and similar names). This method became the default in December 2021.
Results show case numbers, charge descriptions, filing dates, and dispositions. Under 2024 rule changes, dismissed charges and acquittals were removed from public view. Cases placed on stet (informal suspension) are hidden from public results after three years. These changes affect what you see but do not change what records exist inside the court file.
Note: The Case Search portal shows case-level data only. Full court documents must be viewed at the courthouse or requested by mail.
Local Law Enforcement Records
The Montgomery County Police Department provides law enforcement in Silver Spring. Because Silver Spring is unincorporated, there is no separate Silver Spring police force. All patrol, arrest, and incident reports are generated by county officers.
The screenshot below is from the Montgomery County Police Department website, which handles Silver Spring law enforcement records.
Source: Montgomery County Police Department
Arrest records and incident reports are separate from court records. The police hold these files, not the courts. You can request police records through the county's Public Information Act process.
| Agency | Montgomery County Police Department |
|---|---|
| Records Division | 100 Edison Park Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20878 |
| Phone | 240-773-5330 |
| Website | montgomerycountymd.gov/pol |
Arrest records show the charge at the time of arrest. They do not show the final outcome. Court records from Case Search give you the full picture, including what happened at trial or how the case was resolved.
What Criminal Records Show
Maryland criminal records in Montgomery County courts include charges filed, plea information, trial outcomes, sentencing details, and probation terms. Most of this data is public under Maryland Rules. Records are available from 1979 forward in the online system.
What you can typically see in a public court record:
- Case number and filing date
- Charge descriptions and statutes cited
- Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, Alford)
- Disposition (convicted, acquitted, dismissed, stet)
- Sentence imposed if convicted
- Attorney of record
Records sealed by court order are not visible. Juvenile records are confidential and do not appear in the public system. The 2024 privacy changes mean acquittals and dismissals are no longer shown in public Case Search results, though the underlying court files still exist.
Note: Case Search results reflect current public access rules and may not include all charges that were once publicly listed prior to 2024 changes.
Requesting Criminal Records
You can get court records in three ways: online through Case Search, in person at the courthouse, or by mail. Online access is free for case-level data. Copies cost money.
The standard fee schedule for Maryland court records applies to Montgomery County. Name searches run $7.00. Copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document. The Circuit Court clerk's office does not accept credit cards at the counter. Bring cash, a check, or a money order.
To request by mail, send a written request to the Circuit Court Clerk at 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850. Include the full name of the person whose records you want, a date of birth if known, and a check for search fees. The clerk will mail back what it finds, or notify you that nothing was found.
In-person requests let you view the file on the same visit. Staff can pull files quickly for cases that are not archived. Older files may take more time or require a scheduled appointment.
CJIS Background Checks
The Maryland Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) at the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services runs official state background checks. These go deeper than court records alone. CJIS checks cover the full criminal history on file with the state.
A state background check costs $18. An FBI check (federal records included) runs $38 to $45 total. To start, contact CJIS by phone at 410-764-4501 or toll-free at 1-888-795-0011. You can also email cjis.customerservice@maryland.gov. The CJIS background check page has current forms and instructions.
Expungement and Shielding
Maryland allows eligible people to expunge or shield criminal records. Expungement removes the record from public access entirely. Shielding keeps the record but hides it from most public searches. Not every case qualifies.
Filing for expungement costs $30. Cases that ended in acquittal can be expunged for free. Shielding is available for certain convictions after a waiting period. The Maryland State Archives criminal records guide explains the eligibility rules and the process in more detail.
Expungement petitions are filed at the court where the case was heard. For Silver Spring cases, that typically means either the Montgomery County Circuit Court or the Silver Spring District Court, depending on the charge level.