Towson Felony Records
Towson is Baltimore County's county seat and the home of Baltimore County Circuit Court, making it a central hub for felony records in the region. If you need to search felony cases, request police reports, or look into court filings tied to Towson, this page covers the offices, fees, and steps you need to get started.
Towson Overview
Felony Records in Towson
Towson is an unincorporated community that serves as the seat of Baltimore County government. It does not have its own municipal police force. Baltimore County Police Department handles law enforcement here, and all felony cases are prosecuted through the Baltimore County State's Attorney's Office, located at 401 Bosley Avenue in Towson. The Baltimore County Circuit Court, also on Bosley Avenue, is where felony trials take place and where court records are maintained.
Because Towson is the county seat, most of the agencies you need are in one place. The Circuit Court clerk's office, the State's Attorney, and the courthouse are all nearby. That can make it easier to visit in person if you want certified copies or need to review physical case files. Most records, though, are now available online through Maryland's Case Search portal.
Felony records in Towson fall under the same state laws as all of Maryland. Courts must make case records available to the public unless sealed or expunged. There is no charge to search online, but copies cost $0.50 per page for uncertified documents at the courthouse.
Note: Towson is unincorporated. There is no city government or city police. All records are maintained at the Baltimore County level.
Search Towson Felony Records Online
Maryland's free Case Search tool is the main way to find felony records tied to Towson cases. The portal was redesigned on February 5, 2024, and covers Circuit Court and District Court cases statewide. You can search by name, case number, or attorney. Felony cases filed in Baltimore County Circuit Court will appear in the results.
The system caps results at 500 per search query. If you get too many results for a common name, narrow your search by adding a date of birth or middle name. Results show case type, charges, filing date, disposition, and case events. You won't see sealed or expunged records, and some documents may be restricted under court rules.
The Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) portal at mdecportal.courts.state.md.us allows registered users to access more detailed case documents for cases filed in MDEC-participating courts. Baltimore County Circuit Court is part of MDEC.
The Maryland Case Search portal is updated regularly and reflects recent filings, hearings, and dispositions for Towson-area felony cases.
The Case Search portal above shows how felony cases appear in the system, including charge details and case status for Baltimore County filings.
Note: Case Search does not include records that have been expunged or cases that are under a court seal order.
Towson Police Records
Baltimore County Police Department handles all police reports and arrest records for Towson. The Records Unit is at 700 East Joppa Road, Towson, MD 21286. You can call them at (410) 887-2214. The Towson precinct itself is at 611 W. Hampshire Ave, Towson, MD 21204, reachable at (410) 887-6877.
Police reports are available through the Baltimore County Police online records request portal at baltimorecountymd.gov. You can request incident reports and arrest records through the site. The fees are straightforward: non-certified copies cost $15, and certified copies are $25. Victims of crimes can get a copy of their report free of charge.
Requests sent by mail should go to the Records Unit at the Joppa Road address. Include the case or incident number if you have it, along with your contact information and a check or money order for the fee. Processing time varies but typically runs one to two weeks for mail requests. In-person requests at the Records Unit are often faster.
The Baltimore County Police records request page shown above is where you start the process to get police reports tied to Towson incidents.
Baltimore County Circuit Court in Towson
All felony cases in Towson are heard at Baltimore County Circuit Court, located at 401 Bosley Avenue, Room A, Towson, MD 21204. The clerk's office number is (410) 887-2601. Circuit Court handles the full range of serious criminal charges: murder, armed robbery, sexual assault, drug trafficking, and other felonies. District Court in Towson handles misdemeanors and preliminary hearings, but felony trials and sentencings happen at the Circuit Court.
The clerk's office maintains all criminal case files for the Circuit Court. If you want to look at physical court records, you can visit during business hours, typically Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Bring a valid ID. Copies of court documents cost $0.50 per page for uncertified copies. Certified copies cost more and you should call ahead to confirm current pricing.
The Baltimore County State's Attorney's Office is also at 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204, at (410) 887-3000. The State's Attorney prosecutes all felony cases in the county and maintains files on active and closed prosecutions. Their website at baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/statesattorney has information on how the office works and what victims and witnesses can expect during the process.
Note: District Court and Circuit Court are separate. Felony records are at the Circuit Court level. Minor charges are handled at District Court.
What Towson Felony Records Contain
A felony record tied to a Towson case will typically include the defendant's name and date of birth, the charges filed, the filing date, the case number, the assigned judge, and information on hearings and motions. Disposition details, such as guilty verdicts, plea agreements, or dismissals, are also part of the record. Sentencing information appears once the court enters it.
Court records are not the same as police records. A court record tracks what happens from charging through resolution. A police record, like an arrest report or incident report, is maintained by the police department. You may need both depending on what you are looking for. Court records are accessible through Case Search; police records require a separate request to Baltimore County Police.
Some fields in a case record may be restricted. Victim contact information, juvenile data, and mental health evaluation results are common examples of restricted information. What you can see in an online search is a summary. The full file at the courthouse includes more detail, and some of that may be under a protective order.
Using MPIA to Access Towson Records
Maryland's Public Information Act (MPIA) gives residents the right to ask government agencies for public records. The MPIA covers police departments, courts, and other public bodies. If you want records that aren't easily available online, an MPIA request is the formal way to ask.
For police records in Towson, you would send your MPIA request to Baltimore County Police. For court records, the clerk's office at the Circuit Court handles access. Agencies have 10 working days to respond to an MPIA request. They can grant access, deny it, or request more time. If they deny your request, they must give a reason. You can appeal through the Maryland Attorney General's office.
MPIA requests do not cost anything to file, but the agency can charge for the cost of producing records, including staff time and copying. For standard court records, most people find that simply visiting the clerk's office or using Case Search is faster than a formal MPIA request.
Maryland Laws and Court Rules for Felony Records
Maryland Criminal Procedure Article Section 10-101 defines public access to criminal case records. Maryland Rules 16-901 through 16-912 set out the standards courts must follow when making records available and when restricting access. These rules apply to all courts in the state, including Baltimore County Circuit Court in Towson.
Courts are required to make most criminal records available for public inspection. The rules do allow for sealing records in specific situations, such as cases that end in acquittal, dismissal, or a finding of not criminally responsible. Courts must balance public access against privacy interests, and not every case document is automatically open.
The Maryland General Assembly website is where you can look up the full text of statutes that govern criminal records, court access, and related procedures. Maryland Criminal Procedure Section 10-109 addresses expungement of criminal records, which is a related but separate process from simply accessing public records.
Expungement of Felony Records in Towson
Expungement removes a criminal record from public view. In Maryland, expungement is governed by Criminal Procedure Sections 10-300 through 10-306. For felony convictions, the standard waiting period is 15 years after the case closes, assuming no other convictions during that time. The type of felony matters too. Not all felonies are eligible, and some violent crimes cannot be expunged regardless of how much time has passed.
Senate Bill 432, signed into law in 2024, made changes to Maryland's expungement rules that took effect on October 1, 2025. The changes expanded eligibility for some offenses and adjusted certain waiting periods. If you think you may qualify, it is worth checking the current statute to see if your case type falls under the new rules.
To file for expungement in Baltimore County, you would petition the Circuit Court in Towson. There is a filing fee unless you qualify for a waiver. The court sends notice to the State's Attorney, who may object. If no objection is filed within 30 days, the court can grant the petition. If the State's Attorney objects, a hearing is scheduled. Legal aid or a private attorney can help you navigate this process.
Note: Expungement eligibility depends on the specific charges, the outcome of the case, and how much time has passed. Consult a Maryland attorney if you are unsure about your situation.
Baltimore County Felony Records
Towson is the seat of Baltimore County, and all felony cases from this area go through Baltimore County's courts and agencies. The county page has more detail on courthouse locations, county-wide search tools, and records access procedures.
Nearby Maryland Cities
These nearby cities also have felony records pages with local courthouse and police department information.