Start with Maryland Judiciary Case Search, then move to the courthouse when you need the complete file
Maryland makes a large amount of District Court, circuit court and appellate case information searchable online through the Judiciary’s Case Search system. The online record is useful for locating a criminal case, seeing charges, case numbers, hearing information and dispositions, but Maryland courts emphasize that Case Search is only a summary of the official court file. Certified documents and records that are not remotely available must be obtained from the court that maintains the case.
Use Maryland Judiciary Case Search for statewide criminal court cases
Maryland Judiciary Case Search provides public access to computerized case information from Maryland’s courts.
The Judiciary states that Case Search includes detailed information from District Court and circuit court case-management systems, including Maryland District Court criminal and traffic cases and circuit court criminal cases.
Open Maryland Judiciary Case SearchOpen the official Judiciary portal
Accept the Case Search user agreement. The portal uses CAPTCHA controls to prevent automated scraping and protect the integrity of court data.
Search the defendant’s name
Enter the exact name first. Maryland now defaults to exact-name matching rather than automatically searching broad variations.
Filter by court or case type when useful
Narrowing the search by jurisdiction and criminal case information can reduce unrelated matches.
Open the matching case
Compare case number, defendant information, court location, charge and filing dates before deciding that the result belongs to the person you are researching.
Read the disposition
Do not stop at the charge. Check whether each count resulted in conviction, dismissal, acquittal, nolle prosequi, stet, probation before judgment or another outcome.
Maryland’s exact-name search can hide a result if you search it the wrong way
Maryland changed Case Search so that ordinary name searches default to exact matching.
If you need a partial last-name search, Maryland instructs users to enter at least the first character of the surname followed by the % symbol.
Full surname
Start with the complete legal first and last name when you know the spelling.
Use the % wildcard
Maryland allows a partial name search using characters followed by %.
No % at the front
The Judiciary says the wildcard cannot be placed at the beginning or in the middle of a word.
What information appears in a Maryland criminal case result?
Maryland Case Search can display a useful summary of the court file, but what appears depends on the case, court, access rules and historical coverage.
| Information | What it helps you determine | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| Case number | Identifies the specific Maryland court file. | Save it before requesting documents. |
| Party / defendant | Identifies the person named in the case. | Verify DOB or other identifiers where lawfully displayed. |
| Charge | Shows the alleged criminal offense. | A charge is not proof of conviction. |
| Hearing dates | Shows scheduled or completed court activity. | A hearing does not itself establish the outcome. |
| Docket / document entries | Shows important filings and court activity. | Case Search does not provide every document in the file. |
| Disposition | Shows how a charge or case was resolved. | Review each charge separately. |
Some Maryland criminal charges can still be public even when Case Search stops showing them
This is one of the most important Maryland-specific details.
Maryland’s court-access guidance states that some criminal information is no longer displayed remotely through Case Search even though the underlying court record may still be available for public inspection at the courthouse.
Examples include certain charges with outcomes such as:
- nolle prosequi
- dismissal
- acquittal / not guilty
- stet after the applicable remote-access period
District Court and circuit court criminal records are not interchangeable
Maryland has two main trial-court levels that can handle criminal matters.
Many misdemeanors and preliminary criminal matters
The District Court handles many criminal, traffic and related cases. Maryland District Court criminal and traffic cases are included in Case Search.
Felonies and other serious criminal proceedings
Circuit courts handle felony matters, grand-jury and State’s Attorney filings, jury-trial matters, and appeals from the District Court in applicable cases.
How to read Maryland criminal-case outcomes correctly
| Term | General meaning | What not to assume |
|---|---|---|
| Guilty / Convicted | A conviction was entered. | Read sentencing and later appellate activity separately. |
| Not guilty / Acquitted | No conviction was entered on that charge. | Do not describe it as a conviction. |
| Nolle prosequi | The prosecutor elected not to continue that charge. | Other charges in the same case may have different outcomes. |
| Dismissed | The charge or case was dismissed. | Review the entire case, not one line in isolation. |
| Stet | The charge was placed on an inactive docket subject to Maryland procedure. | It is not the same as a conviction. |
| PBJ | Probation before judgment. | Do not automatically describe PBJ as a conviction. |
Maryland criminal cases can contain multiple counts. Read the outcome of each count rather than summarizing the entire case from the first listed charge.
When you should go beyond Case Search and inspect the courthouse file
Maryland’s official guidance says court records are generally maintained at the courthouse where the case was heard. With limited exceptions, members of the public may inspect public records in the clerk’s office.
A courthouse search is particularly useful when:
- a criminal charge disappeared from remote Case Search
- you need the actual complaint or charging document
- you need a certified disposition
- an older case has limited online information
- you need a document that Case Search only lists by title
- you need to confirm whether the online summary is complete
Use the official Maryland Courts Directory to find the clerk’s office serving the county or Baltimore City.
Find a Maryland courthouseHow to obtain plain or certified Maryland criminal court records
Once you find the case online, write down the exact case number before contacting the clerk. That is normally the fastest way to identify the correct physical or electronic file.
Be prepared to provide:
- defendant’s name
- case number
- court and county
- document name
- approximate filing date if known
- return mailing/contact information
| Service | Current general fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Photocopy | $0.50 per page | Current District Court clerical schedule and common circuit-court fee schedules. |
| Certified copy | $5 certification fee plus copy charges | Useful when an authenticated record is required. |
| Exemplified copy | $10 exemplification fee plus copy charges | Used for higher-level authentication when specifically requested. |
| Electronic District Court recording | $10 per case | Current District Court cost schedule. |
Need the hearing itself? Maryland District Court proceedings are recorded
Maryland’s District Court is a court of record. Proceedings are recorded, and members of the public may request recordings subject to applicable access rules.
The current District Court cost schedule lists:
- electronic recording: $10 per case
- recording on physical media: $15 per case
- transcript deposit: $75
- transcript pricing: $3 per page for original and one copy under the current schedule
Older Maryland criminal cases may have thinner online histories
Maryland Judiciary explains that the amount of historical Case Search information varies by jurisdiction because automated court systems were implemented at different times and evolved differently.
Maryland criminal appeals are also searchable
Maryland Case Search includes public information for the Appellate Court of Maryland and Supreme Court of Maryland, including qualifying appeals, petitions and other appellate matters.
If a criminal conviction was appealed, review both the original trial-level record and the appellate case so you do not miss a reversal, remand or later decision.
Maryland court records are different from a CJIS criminal-history background check
Maryland’s statewide fingerprint-supported criminal-history repository is maintained by the Criminal Justice Information System Central Repository within the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
CJIS compiles Maryland criminal-history information from criminal-justice agencies into a chronological record commonly called a RAP sheet.
CJIS specifically says that it cannot perform a background check on another citizen without the authorization required under Maryland law.
Maryland CJIS Background ChecksYou can request your own Maryland criminal-history background check
Maryland permits a person to request an individual review of their own criminal-history record. This is fingerprint-supported, which provides much stronger identity matching than searching a name in the Judiciary portal.
DPSCS currently lists a state-only mail-in background check at $18. In-person CJIS processing adds the current fingerprint service charge, making the listed state-only in-person amount $38.
Customer service
6776 Reisterstown Road, Suite 217
Baltimore, MD
Baltimore: 410-764-4501
Toll-free: 1-888-795-0011
Customer service hours published by DPSCS: Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Use DPSCS to find someone currently in Maryland correctional custody
Maryland DPSCS operates an Incarcerated Individual Locator.
The locator provides housing-location information for people committed to the custody of the Commissioner of Correction and currently housed in qualifying Maryland correctional facilities.
Open Maryland Incarcerated Individual LocatorFor conviction details, return to the corresponding Maryland court record rather than treating the custody locator as a replacement for the criminal docket.
Expungement can remove a Maryland case from public court and law-enforcement records
Maryland defines expungement as a process that removes qualifying information from court and law-enforcement records.
Eligibility depends on the disposition, offense and other statutory conditions.
Many non-conviction outcomes
Maryland currently charges no expungement filing fee for qualifying acquittal, dismissal, PBJ, nolle prosequi, stet or not-criminally-responsible dispositions filed under the relevant form.
Eligible guilty dispositions
Maryland currently lists a $30 nonrefundable filing fee for eligible guilty dispositions, subject to fee-waiver procedures.
Some qualifying cases
Certain cases in which all charges ended in acquittal, not guilty, dismissal or nolle prosequi may qualify for automatic expungement after the statutory period.
Shielding is different from expungement
Maryland distinguishes between expungement and shielding.
When a qualifying criminal record is shielded, it is removed from general public view and will no longer appear through public Case Search in the ordinary way, but the record can remain accessible to law enforcement and other entities authorized by law.
Juvenile delinquency records are not ordinary public criminal records
Maryland’s access rules generally restrict juvenile delinquency case records from public inspection unless a court order or specific law provides otherwise.
That means an ordinary Maryland Judiciary Case Search should not be treated as a complete juvenile-history lookup tool.
What to do if Maryland Case Search contains inaccurate information
The Maryland Judiciary’s Case Search portal instructs users who believe information is inaccurate to provide written notice to the court where the original record was created or filed.
If the problem appears on a separate CJIS fingerprint-supported criminal-history record, contact DPSCS CJIS rather than assuming a court website correction automatically fixes the statewide RAP sheet.
Federal criminal cases in Maryland are not part of Maryland Judiciary Case Search
Maryland Case Search covers Maryland state courts. Federal criminal cases are maintained by the federal judiciary.
Use PACER to search federal district and appellate court cases.
Search federal cases with PACERMaryland criminal-record search tips that save time
Start exact
Maryland defaults to exact-name searching, so use the person’s legal spelling first.
Use % correctly
Put the wildcard after known letters for partial searches; do not place it at the beginning.
Save the case number
Once found, use the case number instead of repeatedly searching a common defendant name.
Check every charge
Maryland cases can contain multiple counts with different dispositions.
Missing from Case Search?
Some non-conviction criminal records may remain inspectable at the courthouse even after remote display stops.
Need proof?
Order the court document or certified disposition rather than relying on a screenshot.
Older case?
Historical coverage varies by jurisdiction. Call the clerk if the online history seems unusually short.
Your own RAP sheet?
Use CJIS fingerprint review rather than trying to reconstruct your full history from Case Search.
Federal matter?
Switch to PACER. Maryland Judiciary Case Search does not include federal criminal cases.
Maryland criminal court records: frequently asked questions
1. Is Maryland Judiciary Case Search free?
Yes. Maryland Judiciary Case Search provides free public online access to qualifying court-case information, subject to access rules and CAPTCHA controls.
2. Does Maryland Case Search include criminal cases statewide?
It includes public case information from Maryland District Court and circuit court case-management systems, including criminal cases. Historical coverage can vary by jurisdiction and some protected or remotely restricted records do not appear.
3. How do I perform a partial name search in Maryland?
Case Search defaults to exact names. For a partial surname, enter at least the first known character followed by the % symbol. Maryland says the wildcard cannot be placed at the beginning or middle of a word.
4. Why did a Maryland criminal case disappear from online Case Search?
The case may have been expunged, shielded or sealed, or the particular charge may no longer be remotely displayed under Maryland’s access laws. Some records that disappear remotely may still be publicly inspectable at the courthouse.
5. Can I use Maryland Case Search as a criminal background check?
Maryland Judiciary specifically warns that Case Search should not be used as a background-check product. A fingerprint-supported Maryland criminal-history check is handled through DPSCS CJIS for qualifying purposes.
6. Can I request someone else’s Maryland CJIS background check?
Not as an ordinary private requester without proper authorization. DPSCS states that CJIS criminal-history information is secure and is not available to the public without legally sufficient authorization.
7. How do I get a certified Maryland criminal court record?
Contact the clerk’s office at the court where the case was filed or heard. Provide the case number and identify the document you need. Current Maryland schedules generally add a $5 certification fee to the applicable copy charge.
8. Can I search Maryland prison inmates online?
Yes. DPSCS operates an Incarcerated Individual Locator for qualifying people currently housed under Maryland correctional custody. It is not a complete historical list of everyone ever incarcerated.
9. Does expungement remove a Maryland case from public view?
Qualifying expungement removes case information from court and law-enforcement records under Maryland law. The Judiciary recommends keeping your expungement documents because the underlying record may no longer be obtainable afterward.
10. Are federal criminal cases included in Maryland Case Search?
No. Federal criminal cases are separate from Maryland state court records and should be searched through PACER and the appropriate federal court.
Official Maryland sources used for this guide
- Maryland Judiciary — Case Search
- Maryland Courts — Court Records
- Maryland Judiciary — Case Search FAQ
- Maryland Judiciary — Case Search Notices
- Maryland Courts — Access to Court Records
- Maryland District Court — Access to Judicial Records
- Maryland Courts — Adult Expungement
- Maryland Courts — Cleaning Up Your Record
- Maryland DPSCS — Background Checks
- Maryland DPSCS — Fingerprint Services
- Maryland DPSCS — CJIS FAQ
- Maryland DPSCS — Incarcerated Individual Locator
- PACER — Federal Court Records