Silver Spring Criminal History
Silver Spring criminal history records fall under Montgomery County because Silver Spring has no city government or police department of its own. Montgomery County Police, Third District, handles law enforcement for the area. The county police do not share criminal history information with private individuals; those requests go to the Maryland CJIS Central Repository at the state level. This page covers how to get police reports, court records, and official criminal history background checks for Silver Spring.
Silver Spring Overview
Montgomery County Police, Third District
Silver Spring is served by the Montgomery County Police Department's Third District station. Officers from this district respond to calls throughout Silver Spring and the surrounding area. Incident reports and police records for Silver Spring are maintained by this district and the county's central records division.
| Address | 1002 Milestone Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20904 |
|---|---|
| District Phone | 240-773-6800 |
| Non-Emergency | 301-279-8000 |
| Website | montgomerycountymd.gov/pol |
All records requests for Montgomery County Police go through the county's centralized public records system. The Records Division handles requests from businesses and members of the public under Maryland's Public Information Act.
| Records Portal | records-montgomerycountymd.govqa.us |
|---|---|
| Records Division Phone | 240-773-5330 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
You can submit requests online through the portal without visiting the district station in person. Responses arrive within the timeframes set by Maryland's MPIA law.
Criminal History Checks for Silver Spring Residents
Montgomery County Police does not release Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) to non-criminal justice agencies or private individuals. This applies across all of Montgomery County, including Silver Spring. The county follows Maryland law, which limits CHRI dissemination to authorized law enforcement and justice agencies.
If you need a criminal history background check, you go to CJIS at the state level. Submit Form 015 with fingerprints and an $18 fee for a state-only check, or $38 or more for a combined state and FBI check. Mail to CJIS Central Repository, P.O. Box 32708, Pikesville, MD 21282-2708. Processing takes 10 to 15 business days. CJIS Help Desk: 1-888-795-0011 or 410-764-4501. Full details are at dpscs.state.md.us.
Maryland DPSCS maintains fingerprinting resources for Silver Spring residents seeking to begin the background check process.
Fingerprinting locations near Silver Spring are listed on the DPSCS fingerprinting page. Several options are available in Montgomery County.
Montgomery County Circuit Court
Criminal cases from Silver Spring are heard at Montgomery County Circuit Court in Rockville. The court handles all felony cases and appeals from the district court. The clerk's office can provide copies of public records.
| Address | 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850 |
|---|---|
| Case Search | casesearch.courts.state.md.us |
Use the free Maryland Judiciary Case Search to find court records from Montgomery County. You can search by name or case number. Public case information includes charge details, court dates, and outcomes. Select Montgomery County in the jurisdiction filter to narrow your results. This tool is not an official criminal history report, but it is a useful starting point for court-filed records.
Important: Montgomery County Police does not provide criminal history information to private individuals. Use CJIS for all background check requests.
Sex Offender Registry
The Maryland Sex Offender Registry covers Silver Spring and all of Montgomery County. Search by name or zip code at the DPSCS sex offender registry search page. The registry is free and publicly accessible. It lists current registrants in the area with identifying information as required by state law.
Expungement in Montgomery County
Silver Spring residents who want to clear a criminal record from Montgomery County courts may be eligible for expungement. Maryland allows expungement for dismissed cases, nolle prossed charges, not-guilty verdicts, and some convictions after a waiting period. The Maryland Courts record cleanup page explains who qualifies and what steps to take. People's Law Library has additional guidance at peoples-law.org.
File your expungement petition with Montgomery County Circuit Court in Rockville. If you need help with the paperwork, legal aid organizations in Montgomery County offer free or low-cost assistance to qualifying residents.
Maryland DPSCS and Statewide Resources
The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) is the central agency for criminal history at the state level. DPSCS manages the CJIS Central Repository, the sex offender registry, and the fingerprinting program. Their main site at dpscs.maryland.gov is the best starting point for any statewide criminal history search or background check. Silver Spring residents use the same state system as everyone else in Maryland; there is no separate local process.
Nearby Cities
Search criminal history records in cities near Silver Spring.
County Criminal History Records
Silver Spring is an unincorporated community in Montgomery County. All official criminal history records and courts connect through Montgomery County.