Towson Criminal Records
Towson criminal records are kept by Baltimore County courts, and Towson is the place where those courts physically sit. As the county seat of Baltimore County, Towson is home to both the Circuit Court and the District Court, as well as the headquarters of the Baltimore County Police Department. That makes Towson the central hub for anyone looking to access criminal case files, request copies, or file legal documents related to criminal matters in Baltimore County. Records in the online state system go back to June 1984.
Towson Overview
Jurisdiction and County Records
Towson is an unincorporated community. It has no city government, no city clerk, and no city court. All criminal records for Towson are Baltimore County records. The county page at Baltimore County Criminal Records covers the full county court system, including fee schedules, mailing addresses, and online access details that apply to Towson cases.
One thing worth knowing: Baltimore County and Baltimore City are entirely separate jurisdictions. They share a name but nothing else. A case filed in Baltimore County courts is not the same as a case filed in Baltimore City, and the two systems do not share records. If you are looking for records tied to an address in the city of Baltimore rather than the surrounding county, that search goes through a different court and a different police agency.
For Towson specifically, the county courthouse is right here in town. You do not need to travel far to access records in person.
Courthouse Locations in Towson
Both the Circuit Court and the District Court for Baltimore County are located at the same address in Towson. This is convenient. You can walk into the building and reach either clerk's office without going to a different location.
| Court | Circuit Court for Baltimore County |
|---|---|
| Address | 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204 |
| Phone | 410-887-2601 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Jurisdiction | Felonies, jury trials, appeals from District Court |
| Court | District Court of Maryland - Towson |
|---|---|
| Address | 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204 |
| Phone | 410-260-1600 |
| Jurisdiction | Misdemeanors, traffic, preliminary hearings |
The Circuit Court handles the more serious cases. Felonies are tried here, and it is the court of record for jury trials in Baltimore County. The District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic violations, and certain civil matters. Both feed case data into the statewide online case search system.
Clerks at both courts can confirm whether a case exists by name or case number. They do not give out disposition details or perform background checks over the phone. If you need those details, use the online system or come in person.
The screenshot below shows the Baltimore County Circuit Court website, where you can find clerk contact information and access case records for Towson criminal matters.
Source: Baltimore County Circuit Court
The court's website also links to online payment options and general filing information for people who need to submit documents or pay fees remotely.
Online Criminal Records Search
Maryland operates a free public case search tool that covers all 24 jurisdictions in the state. Baltimore County is one of them. Towson criminal records going back to June 1984 are searchable through this portal at no cost.
To search, go to the Maryland Judiciary Case Search site and enter a name. The default is an exact match search. If you want to catch variations in spelling or partial names, add a percent sign at the end of the last name. For example, typing "Hart%" will return Hart, Hartel, Hartley, and so on. This partial-search feature was set as the default option in December 2021 but can still be toggled.
Results show case numbers, charges filed, filing dates, and final dispositions. Under 2024 rule changes, dismissed charges and acquittals were removed from public results. Cases placed on stet are hidden after three years. These changes affect what you see in the public portal but do not delete the underlying court file.
Note: The online case search shows case-level data only. Full documents inside the court file must be viewed at the Towson courthouse or requested by mail from the clerk.
Baltimore County Police Records
The Baltimore County Police Department has its headquarters in Towson, at 700 E. Joppa Road. This is the central office for the entire county police force. Because Towson is unincorporated, there is no separate Towson police department. All law enforcement in the area is handled by the county.
Arrest records and incident reports are separate from court records. Police hold these files. Courts hold court files. If you need both, you have to request from both places. A case may show up in court records but not in a police report request if the report was sealed or the charge was dropped before arraignment.
| Agency | Baltimore County Police Department |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | 700 E. Joppa Road, Towson, MD 21286 |
| Records Unit | Information and Records Management Unit, 700 E. Joppa Road, Towson, MD 21286-5501 |
| Phone | 410-887-2390 (recorded message for records requests) |
| Report Fee | $15.00 per report (free for crime victims) |
| Submission | By mail only |
| Website | baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/police |
Police report requests must be submitted by mail. The records unit does not accept walk-in requests. Call the recorded message line first to get the current form or instructions, then mail your request with the required fee.
Note: Crime victims can request their own police reports at no cost by noting victim status in the written request and providing a copy of the incident report number if available.
What Criminal Records Show
Criminal records from Baltimore County courts include the charges as filed, the plea entered, the outcome of any trial or hearing, and the sentence if a conviction occurred. Probation terms and any conditions attached to sentencing are also part of the record. Most of this is public under Maryland Rules.
What you can typically see in a public case record:
- Case number and filing date
- Charge descriptions and statute citations
- Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, Alford)
- Disposition (convicted, stet, nolle prosequi)
- Sentence imposed if convicted
- Attorney of record
Records sealed by court order are not visible in the public system. Juvenile records are confidential and do not appear online. The 2024 privacy changes removed acquittals and dismissals from public search results, so some charges that were once visible may no longer show up, even though the underlying files remain in the courthouse.
Requesting Certified Copies
You can get copies of court records in person, by mail, or by using the online case search for basic case data. In person is the fastest way to get copies. The Circuit Court clerk's office at 401 Bosley Avenue is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Maryland's standard fee schedule applies to Baltimore County. A name search costs $7.00. Copies run $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 per document. Bring cash, a check, or a money order. Credit cards are not accepted at the counter in most Maryland circuit courts.
To request records by mail, write to the Circuit Court Clerk at 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204. Include the full name of the subject, date of birth if you have it, and a check covering the search fee. The clerk will mail back the results or notify you that no records were found under that name.
Note: Mail requests can take several days to process depending on the volume of requests the clerk's office is handling at the time.
CJIS Background Checks
The Maryland Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS), part of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, handles official state background checks. These are more complete than a standard court record search because they draw from the full state criminal history database rather than just one county's court filings.
A state background check costs $18. An FBI check that includes federal records runs $38 to $45 total. Contact CJIS 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, fee details, and submission instructions.
The screenshot below shows the CJIS background check information page, which is the state-level resource for official criminal history checks covering Towson and all of Maryland.
Source: Maryland CJIS Background Checks
CJIS checks are the right option when you need an official, certified result rather than an informal case search lookup.
Expungement and Shielding
Maryland allows eligible people to have criminal records expunged or shielded. Expungement removes the record from public access. Shielding hides it from most public searches but keeps it in the court system. Not every charge or conviction qualifies, and the rules depend on the type of offense and the outcome of the case.
Filing for expungement costs $30. Cases that ended in acquittal can be expunged for free. Shielding is available for certain qualifying convictions after a waiting period. Petitions are filed at the court where the original case was heard. For Towson cases, that means the Circuit Court or District Court at 401 Bosley Avenue, depending on the charge level.
The Maryland State Archives criminal records guide explains eligibility in more detail and lists the steps for filing a petition.