Access Charles County Felony Records
Charles County felony records are kept by the Circuit Court in La Plata and document all felony criminal cases filed in the county. This page walks you through how to search Charles County felony records online, what to expect when requesting copies at the courthouse, and which agencies handle related criminal records. The Charles County Sheriff's Office and District Court also maintain records that connect to felony cases in the county.
Charles County Overview
Charles County Circuit Court Felony Records
The Charles County Circuit Court is the official keeper of all felony criminal records in the county. The court is located at 200 Charles Street, La Plata, MD 20646. Reach the clerk's office at (301) 932-3201. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This is where felony cases are tried, pleas are entered, and sentences are handed down, and it's also where the public can inspect and copy case records.
When a felony charge is filed in Charles County, a case file opens at the Circuit Court. That file grows throughout the life of the case. It typically includes the charging document, a list of all counts, the defendant's name and date of birth, every hearing event logged in the docket, any motions filed by the prosecution or defense, and the final judgment including sentence. If the case went to a jury, the file also contains jury selection records and the verdict form.
Copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies have an added $5.00 base fee. Certification means the clerk stamps and signs the document to confirm it's a true copy of an official court record. That matters if you're using the record for a legal proceeding. Cash and money orders are accepted at the counter. Bring a name or case number when you visit to speed up the search.
Note: The Charles County Circuit Court clerk's office closes at 4:30 p.m. sharp. Plan to arrive well before closing if you need copies, as the process takes time.
Searching Charles County Felony Records Online
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal is the main free tool for searching Charles County felony records from anywhere with internet access. The system was updated in February 2024 with a redesigned interface. It shows case summaries, charge descriptions, hearing histories, and dispositions for Circuit Court and District Court cases across all Maryland counties including Charles.
To find Charles County felony records, select Charles County from the location filter and choose Circuit Court as the court type. Search by the defendant's name, case number, or a date range. Results are capped at 500 per search. If you get too many hits on a common name, add a birth year or narrow the date window. The portal doesn't show full documents, just docket summaries, so you'll need to visit or mail the courthouse for actual copies.
The Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) system provides access to e-filed documents in cases that have moved to the electronic platform. Newer Charles County felony filings may be partially available through MDEC. Some document types require a registered account. It's worth checking both portals when you search, as they don't always overlap perfectly in what they display.
What Charles County Felony Records Include
A Charles County felony record captures the full legal history of a criminal case. The core document is the charging instrument, which spells out the specific offense and the facts alleged. Attached to that are all the docket entries: hearings held, motions filed, continuances granted, and rulings made along the way. The disposition entry tells you how the case ended, and the sentencing record shows what consequence the court imposed.
Felony records in Charles County often include pre-trial detention orders, bail reviews, and competency evaluations if mental fitness was at issue. Those evaluations themselves are confidential, but their existence and outcome (fit/unfit) may appear in the docket. Plea agreements are part of the public record and detail what was agreed to in exchange for a guilty plea.
Some parts of a Charles County felony file are off-limits. Victim identifying information is often redacted or sealed. Pre-sentence investigation reports are not public. Court-ordered mental health records are confidential. If you're unsure what's available in a specific case, the clerk can walk you through what's open in that file.
Charles County Sheriff and Police Records
The Charles County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency in the county. They are located at 6915 Crain Highway, La Plata, MD 20646. Phone: (301) 609-5904. The Sheriff maintains arrest records and incident reports for cases handled by their deputies. These records cover arrests made in unincorporated areas of Charles County and document what led to the arrest, what charges were booked, and the arresting officer's identity.
Arrest records are distinct from court records. An arrest shows what police alleged. The Circuit Court record shows what the court decided. A person arrested on felony charges may end up with a conviction, an acquittal, or a dismissal. The court record captures the outcome; the arrest record only captures the start of the process. Both are public unless sealed, and both can be searched.
The Charles County Sheriff's website has current contact information and may have instructions for requesting records. The Charles County District Court, at 900 N. La Plata Road, La Plata, MD 20646 (phone: (301) 392-8000), handles preliminary felony proceedings before transfer to Circuit Court. District Court records including bail hearings and preliminary hearing outcomes are searchable through Case Search.
The Charles County State's Attorney's office is at 200 Charles Street, La Plata, and can be reached at (301) 932-3202. They handle felony prosecutions. Their internal files aren't public records, but they can confirm basic case information and direct you to the appropriate court filings if you're researching a case.
Note: The Charles County Sheriff's records unit may have specific hours for in-person requests. Call (301) 609-5904 before visiting to confirm availability.
Public Information Act Requests in Charles County
The Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA), codified at General Provisions §§ 4-101 through 4-601, applies to Charles County government agencies including the Sheriff and State's Attorney. The MPIA lets you request records that aren't otherwise accessible through court systems. That could include Sheriff incident reports, body camera footage if it's public under department policy, or administrative records related to a criminal investigation.
Under the MPIA, agencies must respond within 30 days of receiving a written request. The first two hours of staff time to search and compile records is free. After that, agencies can charge. Copies cost $0.50 per page. If an agency denies your request, you can appeal to the Maryland Attorney General. The Attorney General's MPIA resource page has model letters and a guide to the appeal process.
Send written MPIA requests to the specific agency that holds the records you need. For Charles County Sheriff records, use the address at 6915 Crain Highway. For court records, the MPIA doesn't apply directly since court access is governed by Maryland Rules 16-901 through 16-912 instead. When in doubt about where to send a request, the Attorney General's MPIA office can advise you.
Laws Governing Charles County Felony Record Access
Access to Charles County felony records is shaped by state law and court rules. Maryland Rules 16-901 through 16-912 define what court records are open to the public, which require a petition, and which are sealed. These rules apply uniformly across all Maryland counties. Criminal Procedure § 10-101 gives citizens the right to inspect criminal court records, and courts must make those records available during business hours without requiring you to state a reason for your request.
Certain records are off-limits by rule. Juvenile records are sealed. Victim information protected under state law is redacted. Mental health evaluations ordered by a court are confidential. Presentence reports are not public. The clerk can tell you in each case what's available and what isn't, and they're generally used to explaining those boundaries to people who ask.
If you believe a criminal record attributed to you contains errors, Maryland Criminal Procedure § 10-109 gives you a right to challenge the accuracy of that record. The Maryland Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS), located at 6776 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21215, handles these challenges. Their phone number is (410) 764-4501. A personal background check costs $38, payable by money order or certified check made out to CJIS.
Expungement of Charles County Felony Records
Maryland's expungement statute, Criminal Procedure §§ 10-300 through 10-306, allows some people with Charles County felony convictions to have those records removed from public access. The standard waiting period is 15 years from the later of the conviction, release from incarceration, or end of probation or parole. That's a long time, but it means many older Charles County felony cases now fall within the eligible window.
Maryland Senate Bill 432, passed in 2024 and effective October 1, 2025, expanded the types of felony offenses eligible for expungement. If you checked your eligibility in the past and were told you didn't qualify, the new law may have changed that. A private attorney or the Charles County Public Defender's office can review your specific case under current law and tell you where you stand.
The expungement process starts with filing form CC-DC-CR-072 at the Charles County Circuit Court, 200 Charles Street, La Plata, MD 20646. The clerk processes the filing, serves the State's Attorney, and schedules a hearing if one is required. The State's Attorney has a chance to object. A judge makes the final call. If the expungement is granted, the record is pulled from public court files and the Case Search system. Certain law enforcement agencies may retain access under state law even after expungement.
Note: Expungement does not automatically seal records held by agencies other than the courts. Ask the clerk which agencies receive notification when an expungement is ordered in Charles County.
Nearby Maryland Counties
Charles County borders three other Maryland counties in the southern part of the state. Each maintains its own felony records through a Circuit Court clerk and through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal.
Cities in Charles County
Waldorf is the largest community in Charles County and the only city in the county that meets the population threshold for a dedicated page. Waldorf felony records are handled through the Charles County Circuit Court in La Plata.