Montgomery County Criminal History Records

Montgomery County criminal history records are managed by several agencies in Maryland's most populous county, which sits adjacent to Washington, D.C. The Maryland CJIS Central Repository handles certified background checks, while the Montgomery County Circuit Court in Rockville holds public court filings. The county police department also maintains its own records portal. This page explains how to access each type of record, what each source contains, the fees involved, and the specific contacts you need to reach the right office.

Montgomery County Circuit Court Criminal Records

The Montgomery County Circuit Court is at 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850. Clerk Karen A. Bushell runs the office. Main number is 240-777-9400. Email is montgomeryclerk@mdcourts.gov. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The full court site is at montgomerycountymd.gov/cct.

For records questions by department, the Criminal Division is at 240-777-9440. Civil is at 240-777-9401. Family matters go to 240-777-9426. Central Files is 240-777-9430. Most case records are public and searchable for free on the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal. That system covers filings from 1989 forward and shows charges, dispositions, and court dates.

Copies of court documents cost $0.50 per page. The clerk does not perform criminal history searches. For a certified criminal background check, you must use CJIS. Sealed and expunged records do not appear in Case Search or in public records requests.

CJIS Background Checks in Montgomery County

Certified criminal history checks in Montgomery County go through DPSCS and the CJIS Central Repository. This is the required path for an official record. The state-only fee is $18. Adding the FBI component raises the cost to $38 or more. Processing takes 10 to 15 business days. Full instructions and the Form 015 are on the DPSCS background check page.

Get fingerprinted before mailing your request. Montgomery County Police offer fingerprinting at any of six district police stations. The fee is $10 per fingerprint card, and you must be a county resident or work or apply for a job in the county to use this service. Private vendors and other authorized providers are also available. The DPSCS fingerprinting page lists authorized providers statewide.

Shown here is the Maryland courts records portal, which Montgomery County residents use to access public court filings and case information online.

This portal provides free public access to Circuit and District Court records for Montgomery County and all of Maryland.

Mail completed fingerprint cards and payment to CJIS-CR, P.O. Box 32708, Pikesville, MD 21282-2708. Overnight delivery: 6776 Reisterstown Road, Suite 102, Baltimore, MD 21215. Call CJIS at 1-888-795-0011 with status questions.

Montgomery County Police Records Portal

The Montgomery County Police Department is headquartered at the Public Safety Building, 100 Edison Park Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20878. The non-emergency line is 301-279-8000. The Records Division is at 240-773-5330, open Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM. Email the Records Division at mcpd.records@montgomerycountymd.gov.

Records requests can also be submitted through the online portal at records-montgomerycountymd.govqa.us. This portal handles public information act requests for police incident reports, accident reports, and related documents. The full department website is at montgomerycountymd.gov/pol. Processing timelines follow the Maryland Public Information Act, with notification within 10 working days and delivery within 30 days in most cases.

Montgomery County Fair Criminal Record Screening Law

Montgomery County enacted Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards legislation with significant 2021 amendments. These rules govern what types of criminal history information can be considered in certain formal decisions. Under county law, inquiries cannot be made about arrests that did not result in a conviction. First convictions for trespass or disturbance of the peace are excluded. Misdemeanors where more than three years have passed since the conviction also cannot be considered. Expunged records are fully off limits.

This county ordinance reflects Maryland's broader approach to limiting the impact of certain older or minor criminal records. The law applies within Montgomery County's jurisdiction. For full text and current details, the county code is published through the Montgomery County government website.

What Montgomery County Criminal History Records Include

A CJIS criminal history record is statewide in scope. It includes arrests and case dispositions from Montgomery County and all other Maryland jurisdictions. If someone was charged in Rockville and separately in another county, both entries may appear. The report covers case numbers, charges, dispositions, and sentencing where available.

Police incident reports from MCPD are a separate category. These cover specific calls for service in Montgomery County. They are obtained through the police records portal or the Records Division. Incident reports are not the same as a criminal history record. They document police response, not court outcomes. Use Case Search to check court results for free before requesting certified documents.

Expungement in Montgomery County

Eligible criminal records in Montgomery County can be expunged under Maryland law. After expungement, those records are removed from court files and from the CJIS database. What qualifies depends on the charge type and outcome. Dismissals, not guilty verdicts, and certain completed probation cases may qualify. Most guilty verdicts do not qualify unless specific newer provisions apply.

File the expungement petition at the Circuit Court in Rockville. The cost is $30 to file. The fee may be waived in certain cases. Free guidance is available at the People's Law Library and through the Maryland courts clean record page.

Sex Offender Registry and Other Sources

The Maryland Sex Offender Registry covers registered offenders in Montgomery County and statewide. It is free to search at dpscs.maryland.gov. No account or payment is needed. Results show names, current addresses, and offense details. The registry is maintained by DPSCS and updated regularly.

For broader records needs, the DPSCS main site at dpscs.maryland.gov covers all statewide public safety record programs. The Maryland State Police website at mdsp.maryland.gov also maintains certain records and can direct you to the right unit. Court help resources are at courts.state.md.us.

Cities in Montgomery County

Montgomery County has the most qualifying cities of any county in Maryland.

Other communities in Montgomery County include Potomac, Kensington, Chevy Chase, Olney, and Laytonsville. All are served by the Circuit Court in Rockville.

Nearby Counties

Montgomery County shares borders with Frederick, Howard, Prince George's, and Carroll counties. Records from neighboring areas may be useful when a person has ties to more than one jurisdiction.