Search Howard County Criminal Records
Howard County criminal records are kept by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Ellicott City and are searchable online through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search for cases going back to May 4, 1999. This guide walks through how to search Howard County criminal records online, in person at the courthouse, by mail, and through law enforcement channels, along with fees and what the records include.
Howard County Overview
Howard County Circuit Court Clerk
The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Howard County is at 9250 Judicial Way, Ellicott City, MD 21043. Phone is 410-313-2111. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Circuit Court handles felony cases, serious misdemeanor charges filed by the Grand Jury or the State's Attorney, and appeals from the District Court. Juvenile matters involving persons under 18 are also handled in Circuit Court.
To request records in person, go to the clerk's office with a photo ID and either the defendant's name or a case number. For mail requests, address the envelope to: Clerk of the Circuit Court, Howard County, 9250 Judicial Way, Ellicott City, MD 21043. Your request should include the defendant's full name, date of birth if known, the approximate offense date, which specific documents you need, your mailing address, and payment. Including the case number, if you have it, speeds up the process considerably.
The clerk's office does not give out dispositions by phone and does not conduct criminal background checks. The courthouse holds court documents; background checks go through the Maryland Criminal Justice Information System. It helps to understand this distinction before you call, so you contact the right office from the start.
The Howard County Clerk's office page has current contact information and a description of services the public can access.
The clerk's page covers hours, phone contacts, and the types of documents available for public request in Howard County.
Maryland Judiciary Case Search for Howard County
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search covers Howard County records going back to May 4, 1999. The tool is free, available around the clock, and covers all 24 Maryland jurisdictions. You can search by name, case number, or date. No login is required.
Since December 2021, the default is exact name matching. Use a percent sign as a wildcard if you need partial matching. Typing "How%" returns names starting with those letters. This helps when you are not sure of the exact spelling or when a name may have been entered more than one way.
The 2024 access changes apply to Howard County just as they do across Maryland. Dismissed charges, acquittals, and nolle prosequi outcomes are no longer visible in public search results. Stet entries become hidden after three years. Cannabis possession records have been removed. Cases that are active, resulted in conviction, or are still pending remain searchable. If a record you expected to find is not showing up, it may have been removed under these changes rather than being absent from the system.
Note: Howard County's records in Case Search go back to May 4, 1999, and 2024 changes removed dismissed and acquitted charges from public view.
What Howard County Criminal Records Include
A Howard County criminal case file contains the charging document, the complete case docket showing every filed event, attorney information, bond details, and the final disposition. If sentencing occurred, the judgment and commitment order is in the file. Probation violation filings and appeal notices are also part of the record.
The Howard County Case Records page outlines what types of documents are available and how to request them from the Circuit Court clerk. Reviewing this page before submitting a request can help you identify exactly which documents you need and in what format.
Certified copies carry the court seal and a clerk's certification, and they are required for most legal purposes. Standard copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 each. Audio recordings of hearings after July 31, 2014, are available on CD for $25.00 per hearing. For transcripts, use the eScribers portal. Sealed records, expunged files, and juvenile records are not accessible through standard public request channels.
The Howard County Case Records page details what documents are available and the process for requesting certified copies from the Circuit Court.
District Court Criminal Cases in Howard County
The District Court for Howard County is at 3451 Courthouse Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043, phone 410-313-2870. It handles misdemeanor charges, motor vehicle violations, and preliminary hearings for felony cases. If a District Court defendant requests a jury trial, the case transfers to the Circuit Court at 9250 Judicial Way, where it is then maintained by the clerk's office.
District Court records are also searchable through Maryland Judiciary Case Search. Case numbers follow a different format from Circuit Court numbers, and you can tell them apart by the prefix. If a misdemeanor was resolved entirely in District Court and never transferred, the full record will be in the District Court system rather than the Circuit Court files.
Howard County Police Department Records
The Howard County Police Department is located at 3410 Court House Drive, Ellicott City, MD 21043 and can be reached at 410-313-2200. The Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency for the county. Arrest records and incident reports are held by the Police Department, not the courthouse. Court records and police records are separate systems managed by separate offices.
To get a Howard County police report or arrest record, submit a Public Information Act (PIA) request to the Howard County Police Department. The request can generally be submitted in writing or through whatever process the department has in place. Response times vary, but the department is required under Maryland law to acknowledge and respond within set time frames. For cases involving municipal police departments in cities like Columbia or Ellicott City, you may need to contact those agencies separately if they operate their own departments.
Note: Arrest records and incident reports are held by Howard County Police, not the courthouse clerk, and require a separate Public Information Act request.
Criminal Record Background Checks
The Maryland Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) handles official criminal background checks for Howard County and all of Maryland. CJIS is part of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. You can reach them at 410-764-4501 or 1-888-795-0011, email cjis.customerservice@maryland.gov, or write to PO Box 32708, Pikesville, MD 21282-2708.
A Maryland state criminal history check costs $18.00. This produces a formal document covering the full Maryland criminal record for the subject. Adding an FBI check brings the combined cost to roughly $38 to $45. CJIS records go back further than what Case Search shows publicly, and the output is suitable for legal or official use. The Howard County Clerk's office will refer you to CJIS if you call asking about background checks, so it is more efficient to contact CJIS directly.
Fees and Copy Costs
Maryland Judiciary Case Search is free. Fees apply when you request physical documents from the clerk's office.
- Regular copies: $0.50 per page
- Certified copies: $5.00 each
- Audio CD (hearings after July 31, 2014): $25.00 per hearing
- Name search fee: $7.00
Payments at the Howard County Circuit Court clerk's office are generally accepted by check or money order made out to the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Call 410-313-2111 to confirm current payment methods before submitting a mail request.
Expungement and Shielding in Howard County
Expungement removes a Howard County criminal record from public access. Shielding limits who can view a record without fully erasing it. Both processes are handled through the Circuit Court for Howard County in Ellicott City.
The filing fee is $30.00. If you were acquitted, the case was dismissed, or the charge was nolle prossed, the fee is waived. You file a petition in the same court where the original case was heard. After the court accepts the petition, it notifies relevant agencies, and the process takes several months from start to finish. Maryland expanded shielding options in recent years for certain convictions, so it is worth checking whether your record qualifies for shielding as an alternative or supplement to expungement. A legal aid organization or Maryland attorney can walk you through both options.
Historical Howard County Criminal Records
Case Search covers Howard County records from May 4, 1999, forward. For older criminal records, the clerk's office may have prior case files and docket books available by request. Contact them at 410-313-2111 to ask about older materials and what the access process looks like.
The Maryland State Archives holds historical criminal records for all Maryland counties. A search costs $25.00. The Archives can be reached at 410-260-6487 or msa.helpdesk@maryland.gov. Their online criminal records guide lists what they have for each county and explains how to submit a request. For Howard County records before 1999, the Archives is the most reliable external source.
The Maryland Courts Howard County page provides background on court structure and can help orient you when looking for older or historical case information.
Cities in Howard County
Two cities in Howard County have dedicated criminal records pages. Both are served by the Howard County Circuit Court in Ellicott City.
Nearby Maryland Counties
Howard County sits between Baltimore and Washington D.C. and borders five other Maryland counties. Use these links to search records in neighboring jurisdictions.