Access Charles County Criminal Records
Charles County criminal records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in La Plata and have been available electronically since October 26, 1998, with the Charles County Sheriff's Office serving as the primary law enforcement agency and providing additional access points for arrest records and background check services.
Charles County Overview
Circuit Court Clerk - Charles County
The Circuit Court for Charles County is located in La Plata and handles all felony criminal cases in the county, along with appeals from the District Court. The Clerk's office maintains the official case files, processes new filings, and provides public access to court records. Electronic records go back to October 26, 1998, and older paper files are available by direct request from Clerk staff.
In-person access to records is available during regular business hours at the La Plata courthouse. For large requests or specific older files, call ahead before you visit. The office handles certified copy requests and can accept mail-in requests with payment included. Processing times for mail requests typically run one to two weeks.
| Address | 200 Charles Street, La Plata, MD 20646 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 301-932-3201 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Records Online From | October 26, 1998 |
The Charles County Clerk's page has current contact information and links to records access forms.
The page provides direct access to filing information, records request forms, and current office hours for the Charles County Clerk.
The Circuit Court page for Charles County lists all divisions, current staff, and procedures for records access.
Maryland Judiciary Case Search for Charles County
The free Maryland Judiciary Case Search covers Charles County criminal records from October 1998 onward. You search by name, case number, or attorney. Results show the charges filed, case status, court dates, and final disposition including sentencing when applicable. No account or login is needed.
Name searches use exact matching by default since December 2021. Use the percent sign (%) as a wildcard for partial name matching. This is helpful for names with alternate spellings or when you only have part of a name. Searching "Johns%" will return Johnson, Johnston, Johnstone, and similar entries.
The Charles County records portal offers additional search options and guidance specific to this county. It can be a useful starting point when you are not sure which court system handled a particular case.
The portal provides a direct path into Charles County court records and links to the statewide Case Search system.
Note: As of 2024, dismissed charges, acquittals, nolle prosequi entries, stet dockets older than three years, and cannabis possession records have been removed from the public Charles County Case Search index.
What Charles County Criminal Records Include
Charles County criminal records from the Circuit Court show the defendant's full name, case number, charges, court dates, case status, and outcome. Convictions include sentencing information such as incarceration length, probation terms, and any fines imposed. The record also reflects appeals, modifications, and any post-conviction proceedings.
Records from District Court follow the same structure for lower-level criminal matters. Both sets of records appear in Case Search under the same name lookup. If a person had multiple cases in Charles County, all will show up in the same search results. Civil cases also appear in results, so you may need to filter by case type when reviewing.
Some records are restricted. Juvenile cases are sealed under Maryland law and do not appear in any public search. Expunged records are removed from the public index entirely. Shielded records are hidden from public view but remain accessible to courts and law enforcement agencies.
District Court in Charles County
The District Court for Charles County is located on Charles Street in La Plata, near the Circuit Court. It handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, peace orders, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. Most cases that begin in District Court either resolve there or move to Circuit Court for trial.
District Court records are searchable through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search system. In-person access is available at the La Plata courthouse during normal court hours. The District Court does not maintain a separate public records search portal.
| Address | 900 Charles Street, La Plata, MD 20646 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 301-932-3200 |
| Handles | Misdemeanors, traffic violations, peace orders, preliminary hearings |
Charles County Sheriff's Office - Law Enforcement Records
Charles County does not have a county police department. The Charles County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement throughout the county, including incorporated areas. It is the primary source for arrest records, incident reports, and other law enforcement documents that have not yet entered the court system.
The Sheriff's Office maintains an online inmate lookup tool that shows who is currently held in the Charles County Detention Center. For past arrest records and incident reports, a Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) request to the Sheriff's Office is the standard method. Some requests can be made online through the agency's website; others require a written letter.
The Sheriff's Office also operates an Electronic Fingerprinting Unit at the St. Charles Towne Center Mall. This unit provides Livescan fingerprinting for people who need to submit fingerprints for CJIS criminal background checks. Walk-in availability varies, so call ahead or check the Sheriff's Office website for current hours.
The Sheriff's Office page includes links to inmate lookup, public records request procedures, and fingerprinting services.
For full criminal history background checks, contact CJIS at 410-764-4501 or use the CJIS background check portal. The state check costs $18 and combined state and federal checks cost $38-45. Processing takes two to four weeks.
Fees and Copy Costs
Online searches through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal are free. No fee is charged to look up a name or review case details on the website. Fees apply only when you request physical documents or certified copies from the Clerk's office.
- Name search fee: $7.00 per name
- Copy fee: $0.50 per page
- Certified copy fee: $5.00 per document
- Audio CD (court recordings): $25.00
All fees are standardized statewide. Pay at the Clerk's window in cash, check, or money order. For mail requests, make checks payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Charles County and include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Note: CJIS background checks carry separate fees ($18 state-only, $38-45 combined state and federal) and are processed through the Maryland Department of Public Safety, not the court system.
Expungement and Shielding in Charles County
Maryland law allows people to expunge certain criminal records from the public index. Cases that ended in acquittal, dismissal, or a stet docket that has been inactive for more than three years are generally eligible. Some convictions for eligible offense types may also qualify, depending on the charge and the time since sentencing was completed.
To file for expungement in Charles County, you submit a petition to the Circuit Court Clerk at 200 Charles Street in La Plata. The filing fee is $30 for most cases, but acquittals and dismissals have no filing fee. The State's Attorney has 30 days to object after the petition is filed. If no objection is received, the court typically grants the expungement.
Shielding is available as an alternative for some convictions that do not qualify for expungement. A shielded record is hidden from the public Case Search system but is still accessible to courts and law enforcement. This option applies to certain first-time offenders and specific drug-related convictions under Maryland law. The process is similar to expungement but the record is not fully destroyed.
For help navigating eligibility or the filing process, legal aid organizations serving southern Maryland can assist. The Circuit Court Clerk's office can point you to the correct forms.
Historical Criminal Records
Charles County criminal records before October 1998 are not available through Case Search. Paper files held at the Circuit Court go back further, but access to older records depends on how files were indexed before the electronic system was established.
The Maryland State Archives criminal records guide covers historical court records from Charles County and other Maryland jurisdictions. The Archives hold older docket books, judgment records, and other documents useful for historical or genealogical research. A basic search at the Archives costs $25. Contact the Archives at 410-260-6487 or msa.helpdesk@maryland.gov.
Cities in Charles County
Waldorf is the largest community in Charles County and has its own criminal records page with details specific to the area.
Nearby Counties
Charles County borders several other Maryland counties in the southern Maryland region. Criminal records searches for this area may also involve these neighboring jurisdictions.