Search Criminal Records in Frederick MD
Frederick criminal court records are filed with the Frederick County Circuit Court, which sits in the heart of Frederick city since Frederick serves as the county seat. Felony cases, grand jury indictments, jury trial requests, and appeals from District Court all go through this courthouse. Whether you need a case docket, a copy of a court filing, or contact information for the clerk, this page covers every step to get those records.
Frederick Overview
Frederick County Circuit Court
The Frederick County Circuit Court is located at 100 West Patrick Street in downtown Frederick. This is the same address for both the Circuit Court and the District Court, which share the building. The main court phone is (301) 600-1976. For criminal case matters, the criminal supervisor is Paula G. Smith, reachable at (301) 600-1932. The court clerk is Sandra K. Dalton at (301) 600-1906.
Because Frederick is the county seat, the courthouse is centrally located and accessible from most parts of the city. Parking near the courthouse can be tight during busy court days, so allow extra time when you visit. The clerk's office handles all public-facing record requests during standard business hours.
| Circuit Court Address | 100 W. Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701 |
|---|---|
| Main Phone | (301) 600-1976 |
| Criminal Supervisor | Paula G. Smith | (301) 600-1932 |
| Clerk | Sandra K. Dalton | (301) 600-1906 |
| Website | www.mdcourts.gov/clerks/frederick |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
The criminal supervisor's line at (301) 600-1932 is your best first call when you have a specific criminal case to look up. Staff can confirm the case exists, tell you the case number, and explain what documents are available to the public. This saves time compared to a walk-in visit without that information in hand.
Note: The Frederick County Circuit Court and District Court share the building at 100 West Patrick Street, so confirm which court division you need before you arrive.
Online Search for Frederick Criminal Court Records
The free Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal is the quickest way to look up Frederick criminal court records without visiting the courthouse. Circuit Court records in the system go back to 1998 and District Court records to 1989. You can search by the defendant's full name, a case number, or a date range. The portal is available every day of the week at no cost.
Search results show docket entries, hearing dates, case status, and the parties involved. For most research needs, the portal gives enough detail to confirm a case and see how it progressed. If you need certified copies or the actual case file, you must contact the clerk's office at 100 West Patrick Street.
Requesting Copies of Frederick Court Records
Standard copy fees at the Frederick County Circuit Court are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 plus $0.50 per page for the underlying document. Bring a photo ID and the case number when you visit in person. The clerk's staff will pull the file and let you know how many pages are involved before you pay.
Mail requests should be sent to 100 West Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701. Include the defendant's name, the case number if available, a description of the documents you want, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a money order for the estimated copy cost. Call (301) 600-1932 first to get a page count and cost estimate if you are unsure of the total.
The clerk's office does not perform background checks. If you need a full criminal history report, contact the Maryland Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) at 1-888-795-0011. The fee is $18 for a state check or $38 for a combined state and FBI check. Court records and background checks come from different offices and must be requested separately.
Frederick District Court
The District Court for Frederick County is at the same address as the Circuit Court: 100 West Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701. The phone is (301) 600-2008. This court handles misdemeanor cases, traffic offenses, civil matters under $30,000, and preliminary hearings for felony charges that will move up to Circuit Court.
District Court records from 1989 forward are in the Maryland Judiciary Case Search system. If a case you are looking for does not appear in Circuit Court records, check the District Court level. Many misdemeanor matters stay in District Court and never move to Circuit Court unless a jury trial is requested.
Frederick County Sheriff
The Frederick County Sheriff's Office is at 110 Airport Drive East, Frederick, MD 21701. The main line is (301) 600-2071 and the records division is (301) 600-3929. The website is www.frederickcosheriff.com.
Sheriff records include arrest reports, incident reports, and warrant information. These are separate from the court case records held by the Circuit Court Clerk. If you need both an arrest report and a court case file, you will need to submit requests to both offices independently. Use the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) process to request records from the Sheriff. The office has 30 days to respond to a written request.
Nearby Cities
Other qualifying Maryland cities near Frederick with criminal records pages on this site.
Frederick County Court Records
Frederick city criminal court records are handled by Frederick County. Visit the county page for the complete guide to court access, fees, and official resources.