Find Felony Records in Frederick

Frederick felony records are filed at the Frederick County Circuit Court, located in downtown Frederick at 100 W. Patrick Street. Frederick City has no separate municipal police department. Law enforcement is handled by the Frederick County Sheriff's Office and the Maryland State Police. This page explains where to find criminal records, how to request police reports, and what the records contain for cases involving Frederick residents.

Frederick Felony Records Overview

Frederick is the county seat of Frederick County and one of Maryland's larger cities. It has a city government, but it does not operate its own police department. The city contracts with the Frederick County Sheriff's Office for law enforcement within city limits. Maryland State Police also have jurisdiction in parts of the area.

Because Frederick City has no municipal police, all incident reports, arrest records, and related law enforcement documents are held by the Frederick County Sheriff's Office. Court records for felony cases are maintained at the Frederick County Circuit Court, which sits in downtown Frederick at the same address as the county courthouse.

This setup means that searching for Frederick felony records is really the same as searching Frederick County records. The county is the primary record-keeping body for everything from police reports to court filings. Online case searches through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search will return results for all Frederick County courts.

How to Search Frederick Felony Records

The Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us is the main public tool for finding felony cases in Frederick. It is free to use and covers all Maryland courts. The site was redesigned in February 2024 with a cleaner search interface.

Select "Frederick County Circuit Court" when searching for Frederick felony cases, or search statewide and filter by court afterward. Search by the person's name. Add a date of birth if the name is common. Results are capped at 500 per search query.

Each case record shows the charges filed, court dates, motions history, and final disposition. If the case resulted in a conviction, sentencing details are included. Dismissed or nolle prosequi cases also appear, showing the outcome.

For cases not in the online system, visit the Frederick County Circuit Court clerk's office at 100 W. Patrick Street, Frederick MD 21701. Call (301) 600-1950 to confirm hours before visiting. Copies of court documents are $0.50 per page.

MDEC e-filing is available for certain case types through the Maryland MDEC portal at mdecportal.courts.state.md.us. Attorneys and some self-represented parties can use this system to file and track cases.

The Maryland Judiciary Case Search shown below is the starting point for any Frederick felony records lookup.

Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us by name and filter results to Frederick County Circuit Court for the most targeted results.

Frederick County Sheriff Records

The Frederick County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement for Frederick City and the surrounding county. The main office is at 110 Airport Drive E, Frederick MD 21701, reachable at (301) 600-2071. This is where you go for police reports tied to incidents in Frederick City.

To request an incident or arrest report, contact the Sheriff's Office records unit. You will need to know the date and general location of the incident, plus any names involved. A case or report number, if you have it, speeds up the search significantly. Written requests are typically required for formal records.

The Frederick County government website at frederickcountymd.gov has contact pages for all county departments. The Sheriff's Office page at frederickcountymd.gov/sheriff includes guidance on how to request records and what forms to use.

Processing time follows the Maryland Public Information Act, which allows agencies up to 30 days for complex requests. Many standard report requests are filled in a shorter time. Fees may apply for copies, depending on the volume of material.

The Frederick County Sheriff's Office shown below is the primary law enforcement agency for all of Frederick City.

Visit frederickcountymd.gov/sheriff for records request instructions and contact details for the Sheriff's records unit.

Frederick County Circuit Court Records

All Frederick City felony cases are heard at the Frederick County Circuit Court at 100 W. Patrick Street, Frederick MD 21701. The clerk's office number is (301) 600-1950. This court handles serious criminal charges for the entire county, including the city of Frederick.

The Circuit Court file for a felony case contains the charging document, all motions and orders, hearing dates, and the final judgment. You can review case files in person at the clerk's office or access them through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search. The clerk can also certify copies of court documents if you need them for legal purposes.

The Frederick County State's Attorney's office is at 100 W. Patrick Street, Frederick MD 21701, and can be reached at (301) 600-1545. The State's Attorney handles all felony prosecutions for Frederick County. Their charging decisions and plea agreements are reflected in the court record once filed.

The Frederick County Circuit Court handles all felony filings for Frederick City, as shown on the Maryland Courts website below.

More details on the court, including the clerk's address and contact information, are at courts.state.md.us/circuit/frederick.

What Frederick Felony Records Include

A felony case record from the Frederick County Circuit Court lists the defendant's name, date of birth, and assigned case number. Every charge is recorded with the statute cited and the offense class under Maryland law.

The full hearing history is in the record. That includes the initial appearance, bail hearing, arraignment, pretrial conferences, and any trial or plea proceedings. For plea cases, the record shows the agreed terms. For trial cases, it shows the verdict and sentencing.

Dispositions are labeled clearly. Guilty pleas, jury verdicts, nolle prosequi entries, and dismissals all appear in the record. A stet docket entry means the case was set aside, which is different from a dismissal. Bond conditions, attorney names, and judge assignments are also part of the public record.

Maryland Public Information Act in Frederick

Maryland's Public Information Act applies to all Frederick County agencies. If you want records from the Sheriff's Office, the county government, or any other public body in Frederick, you can submit a formal MPIA request. Agencies must acknowledge your request within 10 working days and provide records or a denial explanation within 30 days.

Court records are separate. They are governed by Maryland Rules 16-901 through 16-912, which provide broad public access. You do not need to file an MPIA request to see court records. Just go to the clerk's office or search online.

The Maryland Attorney General's MPIA guide at marylandattorneygeneral.gov has detailed information on how to write a request, what agencies can charge, and what to do if they deny your request. Frederick County agencies follow the same statewide rules.

Laws Governing Frederick Felony Records

Maryland Criminal Procedure § 10-101 makes court records presumptively public. Anyone can look at or copy court records at the Frederick County Circuit Court, subject to exceptions for sealed, expunged, or juvenile records. This law applies to all Maryland courts.

Maryland Rules 16-901 through 16-912 set out the specific rules for court record access. Certain records are restricted from public view under these rules, including records that are shielded or sealed by court order. Criminal records that have been expunged are removed from the public Case Search database.

Expungement is governed by Criminal Procedure §§ 10-300 through 10-306. For most felony convictions, the waiting period is 15 years before you can petition for expungement. Senate Bill 432, effective October 1, 2025, changed eligibility rules for some categories of offenses. The current statute is at mgaleg.maryland.gov.

Expungement in Frederick

People with felony convictions in Frederick County can petition for expungement at the Frederick County Circuit Court after the required waiting period. For most felonies, that is 15 years from the end of the sentence, including any probation. The clerk's office at 100 W. Patrick Street has petition forms available.

Dismissals, acquittals, and nolle prosequi outcomes can often be expunged much sooner -- sometimes three years or less. Not all offenses are eligible. Crimes of violence and certain drug offenses remain on the record permanently under current law.

The 2025 changes from Senate Bill 432 expanded eligibility for some non-violent offenses that were not previously covered. Anyone who was denied expungement in the past may want to check their eligibility under the new rules.

Frederick County Resources

Frederick City's felony records are filed and maintained through Frederick County. The county page below has additional information on court access, law enforcement contacts, and record request procedures.

Nearby Maryland Cities

These nearby Maryland cities also have felony records pages with court and law enforcement details for their areas.