Find Criminal Records in Bethesda
Bethesda criminal court records are maintained by Montgomery County, since Bethesda is an unincorporated community with no city government or court system of its own. Criminal cases from Bethesda go to the Montgomery County Circuit Court in Rockville for felony matters and to the Rockville District Court for misdemeanors and traffic violations. This page explains how to search records online for free, how to get certified copies, and who to contact at the courthouse.
Bethesda Overview
Montgomery County Circuit Court
Bethesda has no local courthouse. Criminal cases from the Bethesda area go to the Montgomery County Circuit Court at 50 Maryland Avenue in Rockville, MD 20850. That is about 12 miles from central Bethesda. The main courthouse phone is (240) 777-9466. The Criminal Department is in Room 110 at (240) 777-9464. Clerk Fariba Baylor's email is fariba.baylor@mdcourts.gov. The court website is at www.mdcourts.gov/clerks/montgomery.
Felony charges, grand jury proceedings, and jury trial requests from Bethesda are all processed through this one office. That means all the records you would need for Bethesda felony cases are held in Rockville. Call the criminal department at (240) 777-9464 before traveling. Staff can confirm a case number, check the file, and estimate copy costs so you are not making a round trip for missing information.
| Circuit Court Address | 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850 |
|---|---|
| Main Phone | (240) 777-9466 |
| Criminal Department | Room 110 | (240) 777-9464 |
| Clerk | Fariba Baylor | fariba.baylor@mdcourts.gov |
| Website | www.mdcourts.gov/clerks/montgomery |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
Search Bethesda Criminal Records Online
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal covers all Montgomery County criminal cases, including those from Bethesda addresses. Circuit Court records go back to 1998. District Court records go back to 1989. You can search by defendant name, case number, or date range. The portal is free and accessible at any hour.
The portal shows docket entries, hearing dates, and current case status for public criminal cases. Sealed cases will not appear. Juvenile matters are not publicly accessible here. If you need certified documents or the physical case file, contact the clerk at 50 Maryland Avenue in Rockville. Copies require an in-person visit or a mail request.
Mail requests go to the Clerk of the Circuit Court, 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville, MD 20850. Include the defendant's name, case number, specific documents needed, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a money order for the estimated amount. Standard copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies add a $5.00 base fee. Call Room 110 first to get a page count and cost estimate.
Rockville District Court
Bethesda misdemeanor and traffic cases go to the Rockville District Court at 191 East Jefferson Street, Rockville, MD 20850. Phone: (301) 279-1400. District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic matters, civil claims, and preliminary hearings for felony charges. Most Bethesda cases that do not involve a felony or jury trial request will be at this level.
District Court records from 1989 forward are in the Case Search online system. If you cannot find a case at the Circuit Court level, check District Court records. Appeals from District Court decisions move to Circuit Court in Rockville, where the Circuit Clerk holds the appeal file. Always check both levels when a case is not where you expect it to be.
Note: Bethesda does not have a local District Court branch, so both felony and misdemeanor case records for the area are in Rockville.
Montgomery County Sheriff
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office is at 50 Maryland Avenue, 3rd Floor, Rockville, MD 20850. Phone: (240) 777-7000. Website: www.montgomerycountymd.gov/sheriff.
The Sheriff covers all of Montgomery County, including Bethesda. Arrest records, incident reports, and warrant information come from the Sheriff rather than the court clerk. If you need both court documents and an arrest report for a Bethesda case, submit separate requests to both offices. The Sheriff follows the Maryland Public Information Act and has 30 days to respond in writing. The clerk handles court records on a different process and timeline.
Full criminal background checks for Bethesda residents or cases are available through CJIS at 1-888-795-0011. The fee is $18 for a state check or $38 for a combined state and FBI check. Background checks and individual case record requests are different services.
Copy Fees
Standard copies from the Montgomery County Circuit Court are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 plus $0.50 per page. Payment is by cash, check, or money order. Make the payment to the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County.
For in-person requests, go to Room 110 at 50 Maryland Avenue in Rockville. Have a photo ID and the case number ready. Mail requests work best when you have already called to get a cost estimate, so your money order covers the full amount and the office can process the request without waiting for a corrected payment.
Nearby Cities
Other qualifying Maryland cities near Bethesda with criminal records pages on this site.
Montgomery County Court Records
All Bethesda criminal court records are part of the Montgomery County court system. Visit the county page for the full overview of court access, fees, and official contacts.