Montgomery County Criminal Records

Montgomery County criminal records are kept by the Clerk of the Circuit Court in Rockville and are searchable through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search. Montgomery County has the earliest online records in Maryland, with cases going back to 1979. This guide covers how to search Montgomery County criminal records online and in person, what law enforcement records are available through the county police, fees, expungement, and historical access.

Montgomery County Circuit Court Clerk

The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County is at 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850. The main phone number is 240-777-9400. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Circuit Court handles jury trials, serious felony cases, major civil matters, and appeals from the District Court. All criminal case files for Circuit Court matters are maintained by the clerk's office in Rockville.

Montgomery County implemented Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) in October 2021. This shift to an electronic filing and records system means that case documents are managed digitally. For public access, Case Search remains the primary online tool, and the clerk's office at the courthouse handles in-person and mail requests for certified copies and other documents.

To request records in person, visit the clerk's office at 50 Maryland Avenue with a photo ID and either a case number or the defendant's full name. For mail requests, send your letter to the same address in Rockville. Include the defendant's name, date of birth, approximate offense date, a list of specific documents needed, your return address, and payment. The more identifying information you include, the faster staff can locate the file.

Two things to know before you call. Dispositions cannot be given over the phone. And the clerk's office does not perform criminal background checks. For background checks, the clerk will direct you to the Maryland State Police at 1-888-795-0011, which is the CJIS line. Contact CJIS directly rather than starting at the courthouse if a background check is what you need.

The Montgomery County Circuit Court website has current information on court services, case access, and how to contact the clerk's office.

The Montgomery County Circuit Court site provides access to case information, court forms, and contact details for the clerk's office in Rockville.

Maryland Judiciary Case Search for Montgomery County

Montgomery County has the oldest online criminal records in Maryland. Case Search covers this county from 1979, which is earlier than any other jurisdiction in the statewide system. That means you can find cases stretching back more than four decades without needing to contact the clerk or the Archives for a large portion of the county's criminal history.

The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is free and available around the clock. You can search by name, case number, or date. Since December 2021, the system uses exact name matching by default. Use a percent sign as a wildcard to search partial names. Typing "Mont%" returns names starting with those letters. This is useful for Montgomery County's large and diverse population, where name spellings can vary widely.

The 2024 access changes apply fully to Montgomery County. Dismissed charges, acquittals, and nolle prosequi outcomes are no longer visible in public Case Search results. Stet entries are hidden after three years. Cannabis possession records have been removed. Cases that remain visible are active matters, convictions, and pending charges still classified as public under Maryland law. Given the volume of cases in Montgomery County, these changes affect a significant number of records. If a case you are searching for does not appear, check whether it may have been removed under one of these categories rather than assuming it is missing.

What Montgomery County Criminal Records Include

A Montgomery County criminal case file contains the charging document, the full case docket showing every event, attorney details, bond conditions, and the disposition. For cases that went to sentencing, the judgment and commitment order is part of the file. Probation violations and appeal notices appear there as well when applicable.

Certified copies of case documents carry the court seal and a clerk's certification. These are required for legal matters like showing proof of a case outcome in another jurisdiction. Standard copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 each. Hearing audio recorded after July 31, 2014, is available on CD for $25.00 per hearing. Transcripts are ordered through eScribers.

Sealed records, expunged files, and juvenile records are not accessible through standard public channels. Montgomery County, with its high case volume, has a significant number of records affected by expungement and shielding orders over the years.

District Court Criminal Cases in Montgomery County

Montgomery County has two District Court locations. The Rockville District Court is at 191 E. Jefferson Street, Rockville, MD 20850. The Silver Spring District Court is at 8552 2nd Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910. District Court handles misdemeanors, motor vehicle violations, and civil claims under $30,000. It also handles preliminary hearings for felony charges before they move to the Circuit Court.

District Court criminal records are searchable through Maryland Judiciary Case Search. The same search rules apply. District Court case numbers use a different prefix than Circuit Court numbers. If a misdemeanor was resolved in District Court without being transferred, its record stays in the District Court system and will not have a Circuit Court counterpart. Both sets of records appear through the same Case Search interface.

Montgomery County Police Department Records

Montgomery County has its own police department, the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD). The Police Records Center is at 100 Edison Park Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. Phone is 240-773-5330. Records Center hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Police reports cost $10.00 per report.

In addition to MCPD, the cities of Rockville and Gaithersburg each have their own municipal police departments, as does Takoma Park. If an incident occurred within those city limits and was handled by a municipal department rather than MCPD, you need to contact that specific agency for its records. MCPD handles incidents in unincorporated parts of the county and in communities that do not have their own departments.

Arrest records and incident reports are held by the relevant law enforcement agency, not by the Circuit Court clerk. To get a police report from MCPD, submit a Public Information Act (PIA) request to the Police Records Center. There is a records request portal online, though access to the portal can sometimes be intermittent. In that case, a phone call to 240-773-5330 or a written request submitted by mail to the Records Center is the reliable fallback.

The Montgomery County Police Department website has information on how to request police reports and what records are available from the Records Center in Gaithersburg.

Criminal Record Background Checks

The Maryland Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) handles formal criminal background checks for Montgomery County and all of Maryland. Phone: 410-764-4501 or 1-888-795-0011. Email: cjis.customerservice@maryland.gov. Mail: PO Box 32708, Pikesville, MD 21282-2708.

A Maryland state criminal history check costs $18.00. Adding a federal FBI check brings the combined cost to roughly $38 to $45. CJIS produces a formal criminal history report that covers the full Maryland criminal record for the subject, including records that may not be visible in Case Search. The Montgomery County Circuit Court clerk will refer you to the Maryland State Police at 1-888-795-0011 for background check requests, which routes to CJIS. Contacting CJIS directly is more efficient.

Fees and Copy Costs

Maryland Judiciary Case Search is free. Fees apply when you request physical copies from the clerk's office or police reports from MCPD.

• Regular copies (Circuit Court): $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
• Police report (MCPD): $10.00 per report

For clerk's office requests, payment is generally by check or money order made out to the Clerk of the Circuit Court. Call 240-777-9400 to confirm current payment methods before submitting a mail request to the Montgomery County courthouse.

Expungement and Shielding in Montgomery County

Expungement removes a Montgomery County criminal record from public view. Shielding restricts access without a full removal. Both are handled through the Circuit Court for Montgomery County at 50 Maryland Avenue in Rockville.

The filing fee is $30.00. If you were acquitted, the charge was dismissed, or the case was nolle prossed, the fee is waived. You file a petition in the same court where the original case was heard. After filing, the court notifies relevant agencies and the process runs for several months. Montgomery County handles a high volume of expungement petitions given its population size and case history. Maryland's shielding law also provides an option for certain types of convictions where expungement is not available. A legal aid organization or Maryland attorney can help determine which process applies to your Montgomery County criminal record.

Montgomery County Open Data Portal

Montgomery County maintains an open data initiative that includes various public datasets. The Montgomery County Open Data Portal offers data on county services and may include aggregate information relevant to public safety and courts. This is separate from the Maryland Judiciary Case Search and does not contain individual case records, but it can provide statistical context and county-level information not available through the court system.

The Open Data Portal is a county resource for public information and datasets, separate from the Maryland judiciary's case search system.

Historical Montgomery County Criminal Records

Montgomery County has online criminal records in Case Search going back to 1979, making this the best-covered county in Maryland for historical online access. That said, for cases from before 1979, or for any records not captured in Case Search, the clerk's office and the Maryland State Archives are the right resources.

The Maryland State Archives criminal records guide lists what historical materials they hold for each county. A search costs $25.00. The Archives can be reached at 410-260-6487 or msa.helpdesk@maryland.gov. Their guide is worth reviewing before submitting a request so you know what is likely available and in what format.

Cities in Montgomery County

Montgomery County includes several large communities that have dedicated criminal records pages. All are served by the Circuit Court in Rockville for felony and serious criminal matters.

Nearby Maryland Counties

Montgomery County borders three other Maryland counties. Use these links to search records in neighboring jurisdictions.