Baltimore County Criminal Records Search

Baltimore County criminal records are maintained by the Circuit Court in Towson and go back to June 1984 in the online system, placing this county among the earliest covered by Maryland Judiciary Case Search. This page covers how to find Baltimore County criminal records online, how to request case files from the clerk in Towson, how to get police reports, and what the county's records contain. Note that Baltimore County is a separate jurisdiction from Baltimore City, which is an independent city with its own court system.

Baltimore County Circuit Court Records

The Circuit Court for Baltimore County is at 401 Bosley Avenue in Towson, MD 21204. Phone is 410-887-2601. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The clerk maintains criminal case files dating back to 1984, which is an unusually long history for an online system. That gives you over 40 years of court records accessible without needing to contact the State Archives for most cases.

To request records in person, visit 401 Bosley Avenue and bring photo ID. Know the defendant's name, date of birth, or case number before you go. The clerk can pull files from the public terminal. For mail requests, write to the clerk at the same Bosley Avenue address, including the defendant's information, what documents you want, your return address, and payment. Baltimore County criminal case numbers follow the format 03-C-YY-######.

The Baltimore County Circuit Court website provides additional information about clerk services, court locations, and how to access records for this jurisdiction.

The Baltimore County Circuit Court at 401 Bosley Avenue handles criminal case records for the county, separate from Baltimore City's court system.

Search Baltimore County Criminal Records Online

The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is where you start. It is free, requires no account, and covers Baltimore County going back to June 1984. That long history means you can find criminal cases online that in many other counties would require a trip to the State Archives.

The system defaults to exact name matching since December 2021. Use the percent sign as a wildcard (for example, "Brow%" pulls up Brown, Browning, Browne) if you want broader results or are unsure of the spelling. Search results show case status, charges, and case events. What you will not see are dismissed charges, acquittals, or nolle prosequi entries, which were removed from public view under 2024 changes. Cannabis possession charges have also been taken down. Stet charges drop off three years after they are entered.

Baltimore County is one of the few jurisdictions where a researcher can trace criminal case history back four decades using the free online tool alone. That does not apply to sealed or expunged records, but for public criminal history in the county, Case Search is comprehensive.

Criminal Records Content and Copies

Baltimore County criminal case files typically contain charging documents (information or indictment), a full docket of every hearing and event, party names, attorney of record, bond information, and the final disposition with sentencing details if the case was resolved. Certified copies include the court seal and clerk certification. Regular copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 each.

If you need audio from a hearing, the court provides that on CD for $25.00 per hearing. This applies to hearings recorded after the cutoff date for the court's audio recording system. Written transcripts require a separate request through the eScribers portal. Both options take time, so plan accordingly if you need these for a legal deadline.

For a breakdown of what is public and what is not under Maryland law, the court records access page covers the full framework for all 24 Maryland jurisdictions, including Baltimore County.

Maryland's court records access framework applies uniformly across Baltimore County and all other jurisdictions in the state.

Baltimore County District Court

The District Court for Towson is located at 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204, sharing the courthouse complex with the Circuit Court. The phone number is 410-260-1600. District Court handles misdemeanors, minor traffic cases, and preliminary hearings for felonies. When a felony moves to jury trial, it transfers to the Circuit Court upstairs.

Both court levels are searchable through Maryland Judiciary Case Search. District Court cases in Baltimore County appear in the same system under the District Court case number format, separate from the Circuit Court 03-C prefix format.

Baltimore County Police Department Records

The Baltimore County Police Department's Information and Records Management Unit is at 700 E. Joppa Road, Towson, MD 21286-5501. You can call 410-887-2390 to reach their recorded information line. This office handles crime reports and accident reports for incidents within Baltimore County.

Police reports cost $15.00 per report. If you are the victim of the crime the report covers, copies are free. You can request copies by mail. Send your request to the Records Management Unit at the Joppa Road address, including the incident date, location, your relationship to the case, and payment if applicable. Processing times depend on the volume of requests the unit receives.

For Baltimore County Police Department information including online reporting tools and department contacts, the county's official site has the most current details on how to access records and submit requests.

Criminal Background Checks via CJIS

Baltimore County residents and those looking up Baltimore County records through the state background check system should contact the Maryland Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS). The state background check fee is $18.00. CJIS is at PO Box 32708, Pikesville, MD 21282-2708. Phone: 410-764-4501 or 1-888-795-0011. Email: cjis.customerservice@maryland.gov.

A CJIS check covers Maryland statewide criminal history, not just Baltimore County. It can include records that are not publicly visible on Case Search. For situations where you need an official response document, such as court-ordered checks or verification for legal proceedings, CJIS is the appropriate channel. Case Search is suitable for general research; CJIS is for formal purposes.

Expungement of Baltimore County Criminal Records

To petition for expungement of a Baltimore County criminal record, file with the Circuit Court for Baltimore County at 401 Bosley Avenue. The fee is $30.00. If the case ended in acquittal or was otherwise resolved in your favor, there is no filing fee. Shielding is the alternative for eligible cases where full expungement is not available. Shielding limits who can see the record without removing it from court files entirely.

Both options require a formal petition through the court. A denial is possible, and the state's attorney can object. Anyone considering expungement or shielding in Baltimore County should review the eligibility requirements carefully or get legal advice before filing.

Historical Baltimore County Records

Because Case Search goes back to June 1984 for Baltimore County, the need for State Archives research is much less common here than in other counties. Most adult criminal cases from the past 40 years are in the online system. For anything before 1984, the Maryland State Archives criminal records guide is the right starting point. The Archives holds pre-digital court records for all Maryland counties and can be reached at 410-260-6487 or msa.helpdesk@maryland.gov. A basic search costs $25.00.

Cities in Baltimore County

Several major communities in Baltimore County have their own criminal records pages. Dundalk is a large unincorporated community in the eastern part of the county. Towson, the county seat, serves as the hub for court activity in the county.

Nearby Counties

Baltimore County borders four other Maryland counties. Criminal records for those jurisdictions are maintained by their own Circuit Court clerks and are searchable through Maryland Judiciary Case Search.