Talbot County Criminal History Records

Talbot County criminal history records are available through county and state agencies on Maryland's Eastern Shore, along the Chesapeake Bay. The Maryland CJIS Central Repository handles certified background checks for the whole state. The Talbot County Circuit Court in Easton holds public criminal case filings, and the Sheriff's Office has its own records request process with specific fees. This page explains what each source provides, how to request records, and what you can expect to pay.

Talbot County Circuit Court Criminal Records

The Talbot County Circuit Court is at 11 North Washington Street, Easton, MD 21601. Phone is 410-770-8115. The clerk's page is at courts.state.md.us/clerks/talbot. The court handles felony and serious misdemeanor cases for all of Talbot County. Most court records are public and searchable online at no cost.

Use the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal to look up cases from 1989 forward. The system shows charges, court dates, and dispositions. Sealed and expunged records are not visible. Copy fees at the clerk's counter are $0.50 per page. For mail requests, include the full name, case number if known, and approximate filing year, along with a check or money order for copy fees.

Below is the Talbot County Sheriff's Office, which handles public records requests and law enforcement services for this Eastern Shore county.

The Sheriff's Records Division is open Monday through Friday and processes both incident reports and other public document requests.

CJIS Background Checks in Talbot County

Certified Talbot County criminal history background checks must go through DPSCS and the CJIS Central Repository. The state-only fee is $18. A combined state and FBI check costs $38 or more. Processing takes 10 to 15 business days from receipt. The DPSCS background check page has Form 015 and full instructions.

Get fingerprinted on a Form 015 state card before submitting. The DPSCS fingerprinting page lists authorized providers serving the Eastern Shore. After fingerprinting, mail the card and payment to CJIS-CR, P.O. Box 32708, Pikesville, MD 21282-2708. Overnight delivery: 6776 Reisterstown Road, Suite 102, Baltimore, MD 21215. Call 1-888-795-0011 with status questions.

Talbot County Sheriff Records Fees and Process

The Talbot County Sheriff's Office is at 28712 Glebe Road, Suite 1, Easton, MD 21601. Phone is 410-822-1020. Fax is 410-770-8110. Website is at talbotsheriff.org. The Records Division is open Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM. Contact the Records Clerk at the main number.

To request records, download the written request form from the Sheriff's website and submit it by mail or in person. Fees depend on what you need. A report of 1 to 5 pages costs $5.00. Each additional page over five is $0.50. Body camera recordings on disk cost $25.00 per disk. USB flash drive pricing is available on request. The first two hours of research are included at no charge. Additional research time costs $50.00 per hour.

Reports can be released as PDF files by email if preferred. This is a practical option for requesters who are not local to Easton. Processing follows the Maryland Public Information Act timeline, generally up to 30 days from receipt.

Talbot County Criminal History Record Contents

A CJIS criminal history report is statewide in scope. It covers arrests and case activity from all Maryland counties, not just Talbot. If someone was charged in Easton and also had a case filed in another jurisdiction, both may appear on the same report. The record includes arrest information, charges, case dispositions, and sentencing details where available.

Court records from the Circuit or District Court are more limited. They cover only cases in those specific courts. Case Search is a useful free tool for a quick look before requesting copies. It is not certified and cannot serve as a substitute for a formal CJIS record. Expunged records are fully removed from public view and CJIS after the petition is granted.

Expungement in Talbot County

Maryland law permits expungement of certain criminal records. Once granted, the record is removed from public court files and from CJIS. Eligible cases typically include arrests not resulting in conviction, dismissals, and acquittals. Some completed probation cases may also qualify. Most convictions are not eligible unless they fall under specific newer statutory provisions.

File the expungement petition at the Circuit Court in Easton. The filing fee is $30. Courts may waive it in some cases. Free resources are at the People's Law Library and through the Maryland courts clean record page. Each petition is reviewed on its own merits.

Sex Offender Registry and Other Talbot County Sources

The Maryland Sex Offender Registry covers Talbot County and is free to search at dpscs.maryland.gov. Results show names, addresses, and offense details for registered offenders. No payment or account is needed. The registry is maintained by DPSCS and is separate from the general criminal history system.

For statewide records questions, start at dpscs.maryland.gov. The Maryland State Police at mdsp.maryland.gov can also assist with certain records matters. General court records help is available at courts.state.md.us.

Cities in Talbot County

No cities in Talbot County meet the population threshold for individual pages on this site.

Communities in Talbot County include Easton, St. Michaels, Oxford, Trappe, and Tilghman. All are served by the Circuit Court and Sheriff's Office in Easton.

Nearby Counties

Talbot County borders Queen Anne's, Caroline, and Dorchester counties on the Eastern Shore. Records from those areas may be relevant when a person has ties to more than one jurisdiction.