Search Charles County Criminal Court Records

Charles County criminal court records are held by the Circuit Court Clerk in La Plata and can be accessed online, in person, or by mail. The free Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us covers Circuit Court filings from 1998 and District Court records from 1989. This page lists every contact, address, and step you need to find or request criminal records from the Circuit Court, District Court, and Sheriff's Office in Charles County.

Circuit Court Clerk

The Circuit Court for Charles County sits at 200 Charles Street, La Plata, MD 20646. Mail can be sent to P.O. Box 970, La Plata MD 20646. The clerk is Lisa R. Yates, reachable at (301) 932-3201 or lisa.yates@mdcourts.gov. Chief Deputy Stephen M. Bradford can be reached at stephen.bradford@mdcourts.gov. For public information act matters, contact PIA Representative Karen Shifflett at karen.shifflett@mdcourts.gov. The Court Administrator is W. Raymond Strouse III, (301) 932-3252, raymond.strouse@mdcourts.gov. The criminal records line is (301) 932-3220, and there is a toll-free number at 1-888-932-2072. The fax is (301) 870-3975. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The clerk's website is at www.mdcourts.gov/clerks/charles.

The clerk's office is the official custodian of all Circuit Court criminal case files in Charles County. For routine record requests, the criminal department line at (301) 932-3220 is the fastest point of contact. For questions about what records are available or how to obtain them, you can also email Lisa Yates directly at lisa.yates@mdcourts.gov.

How to Request Criminal Records

Charles County Circuit Court records can be requested in person, by mail, or by email. Each method is straightforward, but you need the right information ready before you start.

For in-person requests, go to 200 Charles Street, La Plata. Complete the Record Request Form at the clerk's office. Bring the case number or party names along with valid photo ID. Staff will locate the file and process your request on the spot if the records are available. Pay required fees at the time of pickup.

Mail requests go to: 200 Charles Street, La Plata MD 20646 (or P.O. Box 970 for mail). Include all relevant case information such as the defendant's full name and case number, a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of documents, and payment. For mail, checks and money orders made out to the Clerk of the Circuit Court are accepted. Processing times vary.

Email requests can be sent to lisa.yates@mdcourts.gov. Include the case details, the specific documents you need, and your contact information. The clerk's office will respond with instructions on payment. Credit card is the standard payment method for remote requests. For any question about what to include, call (301) 932-3220 before sending your request.

Copy fees are $0.50 per page for plain copies. Certified copies cost $5.00 plus $0.50 per page. In-person payment is accepted by cash, check, money order, or credit card. Note that the exact options for remote payment are confirmed at the time you submit your request. The online case search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us is free and does not require any payment.

What Criminal Court Records Contain

Charles County Circuit Court criminal records cover felonies, Grand Jury charges, State's Attorney charges, serious misdemeanors, jury trial requests, and appeals from the District Court. Each case file holds the documents created during the life of the case, from the first filing through final disposition.

Case files may include: initial charging documents such as indictments and informations, docket entries that track every event in the case, plea documents and plea agreements, bond records and conditions of release, arrest warrants and bench warrants, sentencing orders, and disposition records showing whether the case ended in conviction, acquittal, or dismissal. Longer or more complex cases may also contain motions, court orders, subpoenas, and hearing transcripts. Simple cases often contain only a few documents.

Access is limited in some situations. Juvenile records are sealed by law and are not available to the public. Sealed adult cases require a court order to access. Expunged records are removed from the public file entirely and will not appear in search results. If you search for a case and find nothing, it may have been expunged, sealed, or filed under a different name or case number. The clerk's staff can help you search by name if you do not have a case number, but they cannot confirm the details of sealed or expunged records.

Start your search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us. The site is free and available 24 hours a day. It shows case summaries, charges, docket entries, and dispositions for Charles County criminal matters. Circuit Court data goes back to 1998, and District Court data goes back to 1989. The site is the fastest way to confirm whether a case exists before requesting physical copies.

Copy Fees and Payment

The fee schedule for Charles County Circuit Court follows the Maryland standard. Plain copies of criminal records cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies require a $5.00 base fee plus $0.50 per page. Exemplified copies, which carry full court authentication, cost $10.00 plus $0.50 per page. These fees apply to all criminal case documents held by the Circuit Court clerk.

In-person payments can be made by cash, check, or money order. Credit card is also accepted in person. For mail or email requests, check with the clerk's office at (301) 932-3220 to confirm the current payment options. Make checks and money orders payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Charles County. Do not send cash by mail.

District Court

The District Court for Charles County is at 11 Washington Avenue, La Plata, MD 20646. The main phone is (301) 934-5110, with a toll-free line at 1-800-941-3463. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The District Court handles misdemeanors, minor felony charges, traffic cases, civil matters under $30,000, and landlord-tenant disputes. Most criminal cases in Charles County start in District Court. If a defendant requests a jury trial or the charges are serious enough, the case is transferred to Circuit Court. Records from 1989 onward for the District Court are available for free at casesearch.courts.state.md.us.

For records not available online, call the District Court directly or visit in person during business hours. Staff can confirm what documents are on file and explain how to request copies. Fees for District Court copies follow the same schedule as Circuit Court copies.

Sheriff's Office

The Charles County Sheriff's Office is at 6915 Crain Highway, La Plata, MD 20646. The main number is (301) 609-6543. For criminal investigations, contact Capt. Joseph Pratta at (301) 609-6512. The Sheriff's Office website is at www.ccso.us, where you can find additional information about the agency and its services.

The Sheriff's Office holds law enforcement records that are separate from what the Circuit Court clerk keeps. These include arrest records, incident reports, and booking records. To request records under the Maryland Public Information Act, submit a written request to the Sheriff's Office at 6915 Crain Highway, La Plata, MD 20646. Allow up to 30 days for a response. Fees for MPIA requests vary by record type and staff time required.

Some records held by the Sheriff's Office are exempt from disclosure under Maryland law, particularly those related to active investigations or records that could compromise officer safety. If you are unsure whether the records you need are available, contact the Sheriff's Office before submitting a formal written request. The main line is (301) 609-6543.

The screenshot below shows the Charles County Sheriff's Office website at www.ccso.us, which provides agency information and guidance on law enforcement records.

The Sheriff's website includes contact information for the agency, details on submitting records requests, and other public safety resources.

The Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us is the best starting point for any Charles County criminal court record search. It is free, available at all hours, and covers both courts. The screenshot below shows the case search portal where Charles County records can be found.

Use the portal to search by name or case number. Results include charges, docket entries, case status, and final disposition for cases filed since 1989.

Cities in Charles County

Waldorf is the largest community in Charles County with a population over the qualifying threshold.

Nearby Counties

Charles County borders several other Maryland counties, each with its own Circuit Court and criminal records.