Look up Baltimore County arrest records for free to check if someone is or was in custody. Anyone can view arrest records, thanks to state and federal public records laws.
A person’s name being present in the arrest records does not amount to them being surely involved in criminal activity or signal guilt; it merely means they were arrested and held by a law enforcement agency for any reason whatsoever.
This brief resource provides interested citizens with clear steps for conducting an arrest records search in Baltimore County, Maryland, free of charge through various official resources and agencies.
How To Search Recent Baltimore County Arrest Records & View Mugshots for Free
Arrest records are open to be searched and viewed by the general public in Baltimore County in accordance with the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA).1 This law establishes the public’s right to view certain government and court records, including arrest records and mugshots.
Arrest records are the details of all arrestations conducted by law enforcement agencies, such as the police or the sheriff’s department, in the county. These records can contain a ton of information, such as the primary details of the arrested individuals, where and when they were arrested, case number, and the reason for the arrest (or charges against them).
Although Baltimore County does not have a single centralized online tool or an official agency/division specifically for arrest records, they can still be searched through various other state, county, and city-level sources.
Before initiating their arrest records search, residents must keep in mind that, in certain cases, specific records are entirely unavailable to be viewed by the general public. For example if, for whatever reason, the court orders to seal a particular case’s records, any arrest records included in it won’t also be open to the general public without special permission from the relevant court.
Additionally, arrest records for juveniles are also restricted from the public due to safety and privacy concerns.
Primarily, interested residents can search arrest records through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search Tool.2 Although a state-level source, this free online records search tool can also help citizens search arrest records in Baltimore County since they are also included in court records.
Residents can search arrest records through this tool using the case number or party name (name of the search subject). To specify the tool to search for arrest records only in Baltimore County, users can click on the plus symbol (+) next to the “Advanced Search” option. This will open a tab with multiple search filters and options.
In the county section, residents will have to select “Baltimore” to limit the search to this county only.
When searching by party name or simply the name of the search subject, residents will have to enter the complete name of the person they want to search arrest records on. This includes the first name and the last name, as well as the middle name. Searchers can even add filters such as court type (which can be Civil, Criminal, Traffic or all), court system (Circuit Court, District Court, Appellate Court or all) and a date range.
Furthermore, the exact date of arrest (if known) can also be added for more precise results.
The search tool will provide residents with a complete summary of the case that will also include arrest records. Details such as case citation, case status, arrest date, charges against the individuals, the court that issued the warrant, when and where the individual was arrested, and filing date will be included in the results.
There is also a complete guide on how to use the search tool available online in case residents are having difficulty accessing it.4 This guide can help searchers make the best use of the tool for the most precise results.
The Baltimore County Department of Correction can also be contacted for records of recent arrests or currently arrested individuals. However, since the department does not provide information online or over the phone, interested citizens will have to visit it in person.
Baltimore County Department of Corrections
720 Bosley Ave.
Towson Maryland 21204
Phone: 410-512-3200
Email: [email protected]
As another option, residents can also reach out to the Circuit Court of Baltimore County and request recent arrest records in person.
Baltimore County Circuit Court
401 Bosley Ave.
Towson Maryland 21204
Phone: 410-887-2139
Email: [email protected]
Residents can also choose to request crime and accident reports from the Baltimore County government.5 For this, a Police Report Request Form will have to be filled out and submitted to the Baltimore County Police Department by mail or in person at the following address:6
Baltimore County Police Department
Information & Records Management Unit
Records Request
700 E. Joppa Road
Towson Maryland 21286-5501
Phone: 410-887-2390
Email: [email protected]
The office of the Baltimore County Police Department is open from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Monday through Friday, note that it is closed during weekends and public holidays. The request must contain details such as type of accident/crime, report number, names of people involved, location and time where and when the incident happened.
Residents must also keep in mind that the department charges a fee of $15 for providing a crime/accident report. However, for victims of that crime/accident, the report is completely free. The fee must be paid in the form of a $15 money order payable to Baltimore County, Maryland sent in the mail along with the report request.
Residents must keep in mind that reports that involve juveniles are not open to the public.
To look for arrest records in Baltimore City, the most populated city of the county, residents can reach out to the local City Police Department. The department has an online database that has a record of all arrests that took place in the city displayed on the city’s map.
Searchers can zoom in at specific localities and get details of the arrests that took place there. Additionally, particular addresses and locations can also be searched for records of arrests that took place on them.
The arrest incidents are displayed on this database as blue dots. The Baltimore City Police Department can be contacted directly at:7
Baltimore City Police Department
601 E. Fayette Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Phone: 443-902-4824
Email: [email protected]
Third-party resources such as VINELink could also help interested residents in search arrest records in Baltimore County.
These third-party sources obtain records from official sources, but the details obtained from them should not be used in legal matters (unless they are endorsed by a government agency). However, citizens should keep in mind that these third-party services can be paid, charging verily for different services and record types.
Residents can also want to search old arrest and offense records in Baltimore County, Maryland. How to obtain such old records from official sources will be discussed in the following section.
How To Find Baltimore County Prior Arrest & Offense Information
There are multiple ways to find prior arrest and offense information in Baltimore County.
Primarily, the Baltimore County Police Department can help residents find old arrest records. Although the department does not have an online search tool, it can be contacted directly for the said records.
Baltimore County Police Department
Information & Records Management Unit
Records Request
700 E. Joppa Road
Towson Maryland 21286-5501
Phone: 410-887-2390
Email: [email protected]
Residents can also choose to file a Public Information Act Request (PIA Request) through the Law Office of the Baltimore County Government for old arrest records.8, 9 The request must specify what kind of records the citizen wants, along with an appropriate time frame.
The Circuit Court of Baltimore County can also help interested individuals in searching old arrest and offense records. However, the records are only available through an in-person visit to the court.
Baltimore County Circuit Court
401 Bosley Ave.
Towson Maryland 21204
Phone: 410-887-2139
Email: [email protected]
Residents must provide the court staff with primary details of the records they want and a time range to help them conduct a conclusive search from their database.
To look up old arrest and offense records at the city level in Baltimore City, the most populated city of the county, residents can reach out to the local City Police Department.
Instead of a searchable index, the department has made its data available in the form of a map chart where certain localities can be zoomed in for details of major crimes that took place in them.10 The office of the Baltimore City Police Department can also be visited in person for old arrest records:
Baltimore City Police Department
601 E. Fayette Street
Baltimore Maryland 21202
Phone: 443-902-4824
Email: [email protected]
To search old arrest and offense records at the state level in Maryland, the records search tool provided by the State Courts can be utilized. This free online search tool can be used to search offense records throughout the state using case number or party name.2
In the advanced search options, various filters can be added, such as a time frame, specific counties, court system, and case type can be added for more accurate and precise results.
There is also a video tutorial on how to use the search tool available, as well as a FAQ page for residents who are having difficulty accessing it. As another option, the Maryland State Archives can also be checked for prior arrest and offense records. The court offices can also be visited in person to obtain records.
Residents may have questions as to how the process of bail posting works in Maryland; this will be discussed in detail in the following section.
How To Cover Bail in Baltimore County Maryland (An Overview)
In Baltimore County, Maryland a person is entitled to post bail themselves, through a person above 18 years of age, or a professional bondsman in case they are arrested and charged. There are different types of bail, such as cash bail, property bail, or intangible assets bail.11
Once a person is arrested in Baltimore, they are presented in front of a district court commissioner who then decides if the arrested individuals should be released without charges, charged and detained, or charged and released on bail (if it can be provided).
In the case of cash bail, a percentage of the bail bond is posted. All bail bonds have a set value of twenty-five hundred dollars ($2500), and a 10% value (or whatever is decided by the court) must be posted for the bail to be approved.
In case the citizen complies with the court and attends all their hearings, or the charges are dropped or disposed of, the posted amount becomes refundable. However, if the citizen misses hearings or escapes, the entire amount of the bail bond becomes due, and additionally, an arrest warrant will be issued in the citizen’s name.
Personal properties such as house or land, credit or debit cards, and assets such as stocks or certificates of deposit can also be used to post bail; however, their value must equate to the bail amount decided by the court.
As another option, professional bondsmen can also be used by an arrested individual to get their bail posted. However, the bondsman can require security (in the form of cash or poverty) to post bail. Furthermore, professional bondsmen also charge a service fee (usually 10% of the bail amount) for posting bail.
To contact a bondsman in the county, the section “Bail Bonds” in Baltimore Yellow Pages can be searched.
This resource covers helpful instructions on how to carry out a Baltimore County arrest records search free of charge through different official county, city or state-level agencies; residents can utilize the information outlined here to verify if someone has any history of being arrested in this region of Maryland.
References
1Maryland Attorney General’s Office. (n.d.). Maryland Public Information Act. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from <https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/pages/opengov/pia.aspx>
2Maryland Judiciary. (n.d.). Search for Maryland Court Cases. Maryland Judiciary Case Search. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from <https://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/casesearch/inquiry-search.jsp>
3Maryland Judiciary. (2024, March 7). Search for Maryland Court Cases. Maryland Judiciary Case Search. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from <https://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/casesearch/inquirySearch.jis>
4Maryland Judiciary. (n.d.). New Case Search Design. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from <https://www.mdcourts.gov/sites/default/files/import/reference/pdfs/casesearch2preview.pdf>
5Baltimore County Police Department. (n.d.). Request Crime And Accident Reports. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from <https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/police/request-reports>
6Baltimore County Police Department. (2018, January). Request For Copy Of Police Report. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from <https://resources.baltimorecountymd.gov/Documents/Police/2016pdfs/policereportrequestform.pdf>
7Baltimore City Police Department. (n.d.). Find My District. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from <https://www.baltimorepolice.org/find-my-district>
8Baltimore County Law Office. (n.d.). Public Information Act Requests. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from <https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/law/pia-requests>
9Baltimore County Law Office. (n.d.). Office of Law. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from <https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/law/>
10Baltimore City Police Department. (2024, March 11). Part 1 Crime Data. Open Baltimore. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from <https://data.baltimorecity.gov/datasets/baltimore::part-1-crime-data/explore>
11Maryland District Court. (2022, December). DC-CR-002BR. Retrieved March 12, 2024, from <https://www.mdcourts.gov/sites/default/files/court-forms/district/forms/criminal/dccr002br.pdf/dccr002br.pdf>