Search Anne Arundel County Criminal Court Records

Anne Arundel County criminal court records are kept by the Circuit Court Clerk in Annapolis and span felony cases, misdemeanor jury trials, and all appeals from the District Court. The county operates two separate court levels with distinct record sets, and understanding which court handled a case will save you time when requesting documents. This guide covers both the free online search tool and the steps for getting physical copies from the clerk's office.

Anne Arundel Circuit Court Clerk

Clerk Scott Poyer heads the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court at 8 Church Circle in Annapolis. The Criminal Department at the same address handles all requests for felony case records, indictments, sentencing orders, and related documents. Poyer can be reached by email at scott.poyer@mdcourts.gov, though for record requests the Criminal Department phone line is more direct.

The Anne Arundel Circuit Court website at circuitcourt.org publishes the daily docket, which lets you see upcoming hearings and recently filed cases without calling the clerk. It is a useful first stop before you decide whether to request physical copies.

How to Access Criminal Court Records

The free Maryland Judiciary Case Search is the fastest way to look up Anne Arundel County criminal court records. It covers Circuit Court cases from 1998 and District Court cases from 1989. Search by name or case number and get docket entries, charges, and case status at no cost, any time of day.

The portal screenshot below shows the Maryland Judiciary Case Search interface used to search Anne Arundel County criminal court records statewide.

Once you have the case number from the online search, you can bring it to the Criminal Department or include it in a mail request to get official copies.

The Anne Arundel Circuit Court portal at circuitcourt.org is a separate resource maintained by the county. It offers the daily docket and some case access tools that complement the statewide database.

The daily docket on circuitcourt.org is particularly helpful for tracking active cases and confirming upcoming court dates before submitting a records request.

In-person requests go to the Criminal Department at 8 Church Circle. You need the case number, a valid photo ID, and payment in cash, check, or money order. Staff will pull the file after you complete a request form. Mail requests go to the same address: Clerk of Circuit Court, Criminal Department, 8 Church Circle, Annapolis MD 21401. Include case details, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment.

What Records Are Held at the Circuit Court

The Anne Arundel County Circuit Court holds criminal records for felony cases, cases where the defendant demanded a jury trial, and all appeals from the District Court. The records go back well before the 1998 date covered by the online database, so for older cases a direct request to the clerk is the only option.

Inside a typical criminal case file you will find the initial charging documents or indictment, bond paperwork setting the terms of pretrial release, plea agreements if the case resolved without trial, sentencing orders from the judge, and the final judgment of conviction or acquittal. Warrants issued during the case and subpoenas for witnesses or evidence are also part of the record. Docket entries track every single filing and court date from arrest through final disposition. For cases that went to trial, the record may include trial transcripts, though transcripts are ordered separately from a court reporter and are not automatically included in the case jacket.

Expungement removes certain records from public view. If a case was expunged, you will not find it through the public search portal or at the clerk's counter. The court processes expungement petitions under the forms listed above.

Fees for Copies

Standard copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 plus $0.50 per page for the document itself. Filing an appeal from District Court to Circuit Court carries a $121 fee. Processing an expungement petition for a guilty disposition costs $30 using form CC-DC-CR-072B.

Payments at the counter are accepted as cash, check, or money order. The office does not accept credit or debit cards for copy requests. If you are mailing in a request, use a money order and include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Call the Criminal Department at (410) 222-1420 to get an estimate of page count before sending payment.

Anne Arundel District Court

The District Court for Anne Arundel County is at 251 Rowe Boulevard in Annapolis. The main phone number is (410) 987-5000 and hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The criminal division operates at the same location, with a separate counter for traffic matters.

District Court handles misdemeanor charges, minor felonies, traffic offenses, and civil cases under $30,000. Records here go back to 1989 in the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal. When a defendant at District Court demands a jury trial or appeals a conviction, the case transfers to the Circuit Court at 8 Church Circle and new records are created there. If you are searching for a case and cannot find it in District Court records, check the Circuit Court under the same defendant name.

Anne Arundel County Sheriff

The Anne Arundel County Sheriff's Office is at 8495 Veterans Highway in Millersville. The public records line is (410) 222-1735 ext. 1, and business hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Sheriff's website is www.aacounty.org/sheriff.

The Anne Arundel Sheriff's records portal is shown below, which covers MPIA request submission and public records access for the county.

Written MPIA requests to the Sheriff go to 8495 Veterans Highway, Millersville MD 21108. Include the incident date, location, and names of those involved. The office charges $0.25 per page for copies and has 30 days to respond. Sheriff records such as arrest reports and incident records are separate from court documents held at the Circuit Court clerk's office.

Cities in Anne Arundel County

Two cities in Anne Arundel County meet the population threshold for dedicated records pages. Criminal cases from both communities are filed at the Circuit Court and District Court in Annapolis.

Nearby Counties

Anne Arundel County shares borders with four other Maryland counties, each maintaining its own Circuit Court criminal records.