Find Criminal Records in Wicomico County
Wicomico County criminal records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Salisbury and are searchable online through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search system, with electronic records available from August 7, 2000. The Clerk's office, established in 1868, is one of Maryland's oldest public institutions and processes criminal, civil, and juvenile case files for this Eastern Shore county that serves as the regional hub for the lower shore.
Wicomico County Overview
Circuit Court Clerk - Wicomico County
The Circuit Court for Wicomico County in Salisbury handles all felony criminal cases, serious misdemeanors, and appeals from the District Court. The Clerk's office files, processes, and maintains criminal case records alongside civil and juvenile actions. Beyond criminal records, this office also records land deeds, mortgages, plats, and conveyances, issues business and marriage licenses, and administers oaths to Notaries Public, county officials, judges, and Governor appointees.
The office has been operating since 1868. That is a long continuous record of public service. Walk-in requests during business hours are the fastest option. Calling ahead for large or older files is a good idea so staff can locate them before you arrive. Mail requests are accepted and typically take one to two weeks to process.
| Address | 101 North Division Street, Room 105, Salisbury, MD 21801 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 410-543-6551 |
| wicomico.clerk@mdcourts.gov | |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Records Online From | August 7, 2000 |
The Wicomico County Clerk's page has current contact details, forms, and guidance on submitting records requests. You can also email the office directly at wicomico.clerk@mdcourts.gov for general questions.
Maryland Judiciary Case Search - Wicomico County
The free Maryland Judiciary Case Search covers all 24 jurisdictions in Maryland, including Wicomico County. Electronic records for Wicomico go back to August 7, 2000. No account is needed. Search by name, case number, or attorney name and view charges, court dates, case status, and dispositions at no charge.
Since December 2021, the system defaults to exact name matching. If you are unsure of spelling or searching a common name, use the percent sign (%) as a wildcard. Searching "Jon%" returns Jones, Johnson, Jonas, and similar names. Wicomico County case numbers follow the standard Maryland format with the county code for Wicomico and a two-digit year.
Note: As of 2024, dismissed charges, acquittals, and nolle prosequi entries no longer appear in public Case Search results. Stet dockets are hidden from public view after three years. Cannabis possession convictions have also been removed from the public index.
What Wicomico County Criminal Records Show
A Wicomico County criminal record from the Circuit Court includes the defendant's full legal name, the charges filed, all hearing and trial dates, current case status, and the final outcome. Conviction records show the sentence: jail or prison time, probation, fines, and any other conditions. If charges were reduced through a plea deal, the record reflects the final charge and disposition, not what was originally filed.
Some records are not public. Juvenile records are sealed. Expunged records do not appear in Case Search. Shielded records are hidden from public view but remain accessible to law enforcement and government agencies. The 2024 rule changes removed dismissed charges and acquittals from the public index, so results for older cases may look different from what was visible a few years ago.
District Court records for misdemeanor and traffic-related criminal matters in Salisbury and the rest of the county also appear in the same Case Search system. There is no separate lookup for District Court records. For more detail on Maryland court records access generally, see the Maryland Courts court records page.
District Court in Wicomico County
The District Court for Wicomico County is in Salisbury on Baptist Street, close to the Circuit Court. It handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, peace orders, and preliminary hearings for felony matters before they go to Circuit Court. All records from this court appear in the Maryland Judiciary Case Search system.
| Address | 201 Baptist Street, Salisbury, MD 21801 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 410-713-3500 |
| Handles | Misdemeanors, traffic violations, peace orders, preliminary felony hearings |
| Records Access | Maryland Judiciary Case Search |
In-person access to District Court files is available at the Baptist Street location during regular business hours.
Law Enforcement Records - Wicomico County Sheriff's Office
The Wicomico County Sheriff's Office is a key source for arrest records and incident reports that have not yet resulted in court filings. The Sheriff's Office covers unincorporated areas of the county and maintains separate records from the court system. These records are not in Case Search and must be requested directly from the agency.
The Sheriff's Office is located at 401 Naylor Mill Road in Salisbury and can be reached at 410-548-4891. The department's website at wicomicosheriff.com has more information on the agency and how to contact them. Formal requests for arrest or incident records typically require a written Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) request.
The City of Salisbury has its own police department covering calls within city limits. Other towns in the county have their own agencies. Each keeps its own arrest and incident log separate from the Sheriff's records.
For certified criminal history checks that cover statewide records, the Maryland CJIS handles official background checks. Call 410-764-4501 or 1-888-795-0011, or visit the CJIS background check portal. The state check costs $18; adding an FBI fingerprint check brings the total to roughly $38-$45.
Fees and Copy Costs
Using Case Search online is free. No account is needed and there is no charge to view records. Fees apply when you need physical copies or certified documents from the Clerk's office at 101 North Division Street.
- Name search fee: $7.00 per name
- Copy fee: $0.50 per page
- Certified copy: $5.00 per document
- Audio CD of court proceedings: $25.00
These rates are statewide under Maryland rules and apply in every circuit court. Pay in person by cash, check, or money order. Mail payments go to the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Wicomico County at 101 North Division Street, Room 105, Salisbury, MD 21801.
Expungement and Shielding in Wicomico County
Maryland allows expungement for certain criminal records. Cases that ended in acquittal, dismissal, or a stet docket inactive for more than three years are generally eligible. Some convictions for lower-level offenses may also qualify depending on the charge and the time that has passed since sentencing.
To file in Wicomico County, submit your petition to the Circuit Court Clerk at 101 North Division Street, Room 105, in Salisbury. The filing fee is $30 for most petitions. Acquittals and dismissals cost nothing to expunge. After you file, the State's Attorney has 30 days to object. If no objection is filed, the court typically grants the request and sends removal notices to all agencies that hold the record.
Shielding works differently. It hides records from public view without permanently removing them. Law enforcement and courts can still access shielded records. This option applies to certain first-time convictions and drug offenses. The petition is filed at the same Clerk's office as an expungement petition.
Historical Criminal Records - Wicomico County
Criminal records before August 7, 2000, are not in Case Search. Paper records at the Circuit Court may cover earlier periods; call the office to check what is available for the years you need. For older historical research, the Maryland State Archives criminal records guide is the best starting point.
The State Archives in Annapolis holds court records from counties across Maryland going back to the colonial period in some cases. Wicomico County was established in 1867, so county-level records begin around that time. A basic search at the Archives costs $25. Contact them at 410-260-6487 or email msa.helpdesk@maryland.gov.
For records after August 2000, Case Search is your first stop. For anything older, the Archives or the Clerk's paper files are the places to look.
Nearby Counties
Wicomico County is on Maryland's lower Eastern Shore. Criminal records for individuals with cases in neighboring jurisdictions can be found through the same Maryland Judiciary Case Search system.