Baltimore County Arrest Records

Arrest records in Baltimore County refer to official documentation produced after a criminal suspect is taken into custody and booked/processed. These records do not establish guilt and are distinct from criminal and conviction records. They are mainly used to initiate and support criminal proceedings, given that they show the facts and circumstances of an arrest, such as whether it involved weapons or was warrant-based. Arrest records are also valuable to the general public, including for assessing potential risks in workplaces and neighborhoods, and are among records that may later be eligible for expungement or sealing under Maryland law.

In Baltimore, access to arrest information is regulated by the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA), enacted in 1970 to promote government transparency. Still, some records are restricted under the MPIA and other sources of law, for example, the state's criminal history record laws (Md. Crim. Proc. §§ 10-101 et seq.).

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Maryland?

Yes. Maryland's Public Information Act, codified at Md. Gen. Provis. §§ 4-101 through 4-601, establishes the public's right to access information related to the "affairs of the government and the official acts of public officials and employees". This includes arrest records created and maintained by state and local law enforcement. Therefore, under the MPIA, anyone can examine a Baltimore County arrest record.

However, while the MPIA facilitates law enforcement and other government disclosures, it also aims to balance this right of access where it may conflict with an individual's privacy or a legitimate government interest. Consequently, particular records may be legally privileged or barred by court order. These include

• Medical records
• Records bearing attorney-client advice or attorney work product
• Investigatory records
• Records about an active investigation
• Identities of confidential informants, witnesses, or victims
• Juvenile arrest records
• Records shielded or expunged by law.
• Inmates' case records (Md. Corr. Servs. § 3-602)
• Criminal history record information (CHRI): Title 10, Subtitle 2 of the Maryland Criminal Procedure Article governs the dissemination of CHRI and outlines who has access.

Section 10-201 defines "CHRI" as all data from a unit required to report to the Maryland Central Repository, data about an individual following waiver of jurisdiction by a juvenile court, and data described under §§ 10-215(a)(20) and (21) and 10-216 of the Criminal Procedure Article. It includes arrest information reported by the state's criminal justice agencies to the Central Repository.

Baltimore County Arrest Search

The following agencies can be contacted/queried for Baltimore County arrest information:

• The Arresting Law Enforcement Agency: The central arresting agency in Baltimore County is the Baltimore County Police Department (BCoPD). However, specialized agencies (like the Towson University Police) and state/federal agencies can also apprehend suspects in Baltimore. Per the MPIA, members of the public can access arrest records from Baltimore's police agencies.

For instance, the BCoPD issues copies of police incident reports via mail. A police incident report narrates an event handled by or reported to law enforcement. If an arrest was made, the incident report may include the suspect's identity, the alleged offense, the arrest date and location, the arresting officer, and a description of the events that caused the arrest.

Requesters are directed to complete the Police Report Request Form and mail it, along with a business-sized, self-addressed stamped envelope, to the following address:

Each report costs $15, payable by check or money order, but the record is free if the requester is the crime victim. Processing takes approximately two weeks.

The BCoPD does not publicly release reports on juvenile suspects or active investigations, call (410) 887-2214 or email bcopd@baltimorecountymd.gov for other record inquiries.

• Local Courts: The circuit and district courts in Baltimore County handle criminal proceedings arising from arrests and indictments. As a result, they are valuable sources for charge and disposition data. One can access the Maryland Case Search or the Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) portal to view criminal court records. (MDEC is primarily offered to case parties, although members of the public may be furnished access under specific conditions.)

Alternatively, individuals can visit the presiding courthouse (where the original record is kept) to view case proceedings at public kiosks (only available at MDEC courthouses) or request copies from the court clerk's office.

• Maryland Central Repository: The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS), through its Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS), serves as the state's central repository for criminal records. The CJIS conducts statewide fingerprint-supported checks for criminal history record information.

Per Md. Crim. Proc. §§ 10-219 - 10-226, CHRI is confidential and can only be released to the record's subject, the subject's attorney, or for authorized purposes like employment or licensing. The DPSCS's Background Checks page outlines detailed guidelines for ordering these checks.

National-level arrest record checks are available through the Federal Bureau of Investigation, subject to a fee.

Baltimore County Inmate Locator

County inmate locators are frequently helpful for looking up the arrest and booking information of suspects detained in a particular jurisdiction. Baltimore County, however, does not maintain such tools online, nor does its Department of Corrections, the agency in charge of the local detention center, accept charge or release date inquiries via phone.

Instead, individuals who wish to determine if someone is being held at the Baltimore County jail are instructed to dial the Department of Corrections' security desk at (410) 512-3200 and press "0" to talk to an operator.

Some third-party vendors contracting with local/state government agencies may also provide inmate locator services online.

Active Warrant Search in Baltimore County

An active warrant search in Baltimore County uncovers existing arrest warrants tied to a specific name. Arrest warrants are formal written orders issued under Md. Rules 4-212(d)(1) and (d)(2) by judges or district commissioners. They permit law enforcement to apprehend and detain a named party, typically for failing to comply with a court order or for allegedly committing a crime.

Law enforcement, like the BCoPD and Baltimore County Sheriff's Office, oversees warrant service in the county. As such, individuals interested in open/outstanding warrants can visit the nearest precinct during regular working hours, although this carries the risk of an immediate arrest if an active warrant exists in the inquirer's name. The Sheriff's Office publishes active child support warrants on its official website.

Arrest warrants in Baltimore County can also be verified by accessing court records. Unlike law enforcement inquiries that often require in-person visits, court records can be ordered or viewed remotely. This minimizes the risk of arrest during the inquiry process and allows individuals more time to determine the best course of action regarding their warrants.

It should be noted that per Md. Gen. Provis. § 4-316, an arrest warrant (and the charging document on which the warrant was issued) may not be open to inspection until

• The warrant has been served, and a return of service has been filed per Md. Rule 4-212(g), or
• 90 days have elapsed since the warrant was issued

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Baltimore

Members of the public can find free information about arrested persons in Baltimore County by perusing the BCoPD's Police News page. However, the page typically discusses only noteworthy incidents/arrests, serious offenses, and major investigations. It is not a complete log of arrest activity within Baltimore. To obtain other arrest information from the BCoPD, a Maryland Public Information Act request may be needed, but reasonable costs may apply to cover record searches and duplication.

People may also leverage third-party aggregator websites for arrest record searches. Some sites disseminate basic arrest details at no cost to the visitor, but detailed information is often paywalled, and users cannot retrieve confidential or restricted information (even if rightfully authorized). Further, older arrest information may not be found on third-party websites.

Baltimore Arrest Report

Following each arrest in Baltimore County, the arresting officer is tasked with drafting the arrest report. This report is a factual narrative of an arrest incident, covering how probable cause was established, the identities of everyone involved, injuries (if any), evidence (weapons, video footage) encountered or confiscated, witness statements, charges, and officer observations. The report presents information needed for a prosecutor to charge a suspect.

On the other hand, an "arrest record" is a broad term encompassing notations of arrest that may appear in official or public documentation, such as criminal history records (or "RAP" sheets). Essentially, it is summary information indicating that a particular individual was apprehended on suspicion of a crime. It includes details like the suspect's name, arrest date, arresting agency, and related custody/booking details.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Baltimore

An expungement in Baltimore removes police and court records from public inspection. This remedy is provided in Title 10, Subtitle 1 of the Criminal Procedure Article, but is limited to specific criminal defendants, such as those who

• Were found not guilty
• Had their charges dismissed
• Received probation before judgment
• Had their cases indefinitely postponed, or stetted
• Had their cases nolle prossed (prosecutor did not pursue charges)
• Had their cases compromised (settled)
• They were found not criminally responsible
• They were convicted of only one non-violent criminal act and granted a full and unconditional pardon by the Governor. Other convictions may qualify for expungement.

If the defendant did not appear in court or was released without charge (RWOC), the expungement petition should be submitted directly to the arresting law enforcement agency, as per Criminal Procedure Article, §§10-103 and 10-103.1. The respective agency will have the appropriate form(s) and procedures for such requests, which differ based on whether the arrest occurred before October 1, 2007, or on/after October 1, 2007.

For cases resulting in dismissal, nolle prosequi, or acquittal with a disposition date of October 1, 2021, or later, the court automatically expunges the records after three years.

In other scenarios, the applicant may need to obtain the appropriate petition form for expungement and General Waiver and Release (Form CC-DC-CR-078) from the Maryland judiciary's website or at any circuit/district court location. (Form CC-DC-CR-078 allows the court to consider a petition before the required waiting period lapses.) All forms must be completed legibly and accurately and submitted to the court with the applicable filing fees. Further details on court-based expungements, including ineligible cases, petition forms, and waiting periods, can be found on the state judiciary's Expungement website.

Note: The above information pertains to adult record expungement. Relevant information for juvenile record expungement is provided on the state judiciary's website.

If expungement is not possible in Baltimore, "shielding" (Criminal Procedure Article, §§ 10-301 - 10-306) may be the next available option. Shielding removes a criminal record from the Maryland Case Search portal and renders it inaccessible to the public.

How Do You Remove Arrest Records From the Internet?

To remove Baltimore arrest records from the internet, it is recommended that the record owner pursue expungement or shielding under Maryland law. Once obtained, the expungement or shielding order can be directly submitted to third-party sites to opt out of the public dissemination of such information. Many data aggregators provide an opt-out procedure for record removal, based on a valid court order.

Additionally, since third-party aggregators regularly obtain information from government bodies, an expungement or shielding order will require government entities (courts, law enforcement) to update their records. This can significantly limit the appearance of such records in new databases.

When legal remedies fail, one may seek other methods to remove arrest information from the internet. An example is contracting a reputation management service to suppress or bury the information on search engine result pages. However, this may only provide a temporary solution since it does not address the root source of the information's availability: the government.

One may also request content removal directly from the respective search engine, especially for outdated cached pages. For instance, Google's Removal Request process and Bing's Content Removal Tool are effective for these purposes.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Under Maryland law (MPIA and relevant statutes), public arrest records often contain the following details:

• Arresting agency
• Arrest date, time, and location
• Suspect's full name, age, and address (unless unknown)
• Offense