Search Baltimore County Felony Records
Baltimore County felony records are kept by the Circuit Court in Towson and are available to the public through the free Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal. This guide explains how to find and request Baltimore County felony records, including details on the circuit court, police department records, MPIA requests, and background checks that cover the full county.
Baltimore County Overview
Baltimore County Circuit Court Felony Records
The Baltimore County Circuit Court handles all felony cases tried in the county. This court keeps the official record of every felony proceeding, from the initial indictment through sentencing and any later post-conviction filings. The courthouse is at 401 Bosley Avenue, Room A, Towson, MD 21204. The clerk's office number is (410) 887-2601. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Baltimore County is one of the larger county court systems in Maryland. The circuit court handles a high volume of felony cases each year, so the clerk's office processes many records requests. If you visit in person, bring the full name of the person and a case number if you have one. Plain copies cost $0.50 per page; certified copies are $5.00 plus $0.50 per additional page.
Mail requests are accepted. Write a letter describing the records you need and include a check or money order for the expected copy cost. If the actual cost differs, the clerk will follow up before sending the documents. Expect two to four weeks for mail requests to be filled, though complex requests may take longer.
Note that Baltimore County and Baltimore City are separate jurisdictions. Do not confuse the two. The city has its own circuit court, its own police department, and its own court records. This page covers Baltimore County only, which is the surrounding county with Towson as its seat.
How to Search Baltimore County Felony Records Online
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is the primary online tool for finding Baltimore County felony records. It's free, requires no login, and covers cases from all Maryland courts including the Baltimore County Circuit Court. The portal was redesigned on February 5, 2024.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is where most public searches for Baltimore County felony records begin, covering all court levels statewide.
The case search portal displays charge details, court event history, dispositions, and sentence information for each Baltimore County felony case.
Search by the defendant's name, by case number, or by date range. Baltimore County circuit court criminal case numbers carry the prefix "C-03-CR." Knowing this format can speed up searches if you have partial case information. The system shows up to 500 results per search, so using a date range or additional filters helps narrow large sets of results.
You can also access the Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) portal for electronic filing and document access. This portal is used by attorneys and parties of record, but some documents are publicly accessible there as well, depending on the case type and any court orders restricting access.
Note: Cases filed before Maryland's electronic court system launched may not appear in the online search; older Baltimore County felony records must be requested directly from the circuit court clerk's office.
What Baltimore County Felony Records Show
Each felony case record from Baltimore County Circuit Court contains structured information covering the life of the case. The charging document states the crime, the specific statutory provision, the felony class, and the facts alleged. Every subsequent court event is logged with a date and outcome, including arraignment, pretrial hearings, motions, the trial or plea, and sentencing.
The disposition entry is often what people want most. For Baltimore County felony cases, common dispositions include guilty, not guilty, nolle prosequi (prosecution dropped the charge), probation before judgment, and stet. A stet means the case is placed on an inactive docket. If the person was convicted and sentenced, the record shows the sentence terms: prison time, probation duration, fines, and any restitution ordered.
Records name the attorneys on both sides and the judge. Some documents in a case file may be under seal, meaning they are not available to the public. Sealed and expunged records do not appear in standard searches. If a case shows up in the online portal but certain documents are missing, they may be sealed by court order.
Baltimore County Police Department Records
The Baltimore County Police Department's Information and Records Management division handles requests for arrest records and incident reports. The office is at 700 East Joppa Road, Towson, MD 21286-5501, phone (410) 887-2214. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Email requests can be sent to records@baltimorecountymd.gov.
Online requests go through the Baltimore County Police reports portal. Fee schedule: non-certified reports cost $15.00; certified reports cost $25.00; victims of crime may receive reports free of charge. These fees apply to police department records specifically, not to court records, which are priced separately.
The Baltimore County Sheriff is at 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204, (410) 887-3151. The Sheriff's website covers civil process and other functions. For the State's Attorney, the office is at 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204, (410) 887-3000. Victim services can be reached at (410) 887-2883. The State's Attorney website has more on felony prosecution in the county.
Baltimore County District Court
The Baltimore County District Court operates at three locations: Towson (900 Walker Avenue, (410) 512-2000), Essex, and Catonsville. The district court handles misdemeanors and the early stages of felony cases. When someone is arrested for a felony in Baltimore County, the initial appearance and bail hearing take place in district court before the case is transferred to circuit court for trial.
District court records can be useful when researching a felony case because they contain early filings, charging documents from the arrest, and bail hearing notes. These records are also searchable through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search. If a case was handled entirely at the district court level (often for lower-level charges), the full record stays there.
The Maryland District Courts page has location details and contact information for all district courts in the state, including the Baltimore County locations.
Note: Some felony cases that began in Baltimore County District Court may appear under a different case number once transferred to the Circuit Court; search both case numbers if you are tracking a case through both levels.
Maryland Public Information Act Requests
The Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) gives the public the right to request records from government agencies in Baltimore County. The law is at General Provisions Article sections 4-101 through 4-601. It covers records from the police department, the Sheriff's Office, the State's Attorney, and other county agencies involved in criminal matters.
To submit an MPIA request to Baltimore County, send a written letter or use the county's online records request portal at baltimorecountymd.gov. The agency must respond within 30 days. The first two hours of staff time are free; additional time may be charged at cost. Copies are $0.50 per page. For more on MPIA rights and how to appeal a denial, visit the Maryland Attorney General's MPIA page.
Court records held by the Circuit Court clerk are not covered by MPIA directly, since court access is governed by Maryland Rules 16-901 through 16-912. However, the practical effect is similar: most court records in a felony case are public and available on request. The clerk's office can tell you what is available in a given case file and what fees apply.
Statewide Background Checks and Criminal History
The Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS), part of the Maryland State Police, handles statewide criminal history checks that cover Baltimore County and all other Maryland counties. The CJIS office is at 6776 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21215, (410) 764-4501. Personal background checks cost $38.00 and cover the full Maryland criminal history tied to your identity.
The Maryland State Police website explains the process for requesting a criminal history record check. The CJIS background check is more complete than a court case search because it includes records from law enforcement databases, not just court filings. However, court searches through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search are free and useful for viewing case-level detail.
Expungement of Felony Records
Maryland Criminal Procedure Article sections 10-300 through 10-306 govern expungement. For a felony conviction, the waiting period is 15 years from the end of the sentence, including probation. Senate Bill 432, passed in 2024 and effective October 1, 2025, expanded the types of felony convictions that can be expunged in Maryland.
To file for expungement in Baltimore County, submit petition form CC-DC-CR-072 to the Circuit Court clerk at 401 Bosley Avenue. The State's Attorney will be notified and has 30 days to object. If the court approves the petition, the record is removed from court systems and law enforcement databases. Once expunged, a case will not show up in the Maryland Judiciary Case Search or in a standard background check. Review current eligibility requirements at the Maryland General Assembly website.
Nearby Maryland Counties
Baltimore County shares borders with Harford, Howard, Carroll, and Anne Arundel counties. If you need felony records from an adjacent county or are tracking a case that crossed jurisdictions, use the links below.
Cities in Baltimore County
Two communities in Baltimore County meet the population threshold for dedicated felony records pages. Dundalk and Towson are the qualifying locations in the county.