Find Criminal Court Records in Dorchester County
Dorchester County criminal court records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Cambridge, MD, and are open to the public through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search, in-person visits, mail, email, or fax. The free online portal at casesearch.courts.state.md.us covers Circuit Court records from 1998 and District Court records from 1989. This page provides every address, phone number, and step you need to get criminal records from the Circuit Court, District Court, and Sheriff's Office in Dorchester County.
Dorchester County Overview
Circuit Court Clerk
The Circuit Court for Dorchester County is at 206 High Street, Cambridge, MD 21613. For mailed records requests, use the separate mailing address: P.O. Box 923, Cambridge MD 21613. The main phone is (410) 228-0481, and there is a toll-free in-state number at 1-800-340-9186. The fax is (410) 221-5003. The clerk is Amy J. Craig, reachable at amy.craig@mdcourts.gov. Chief Deputy David Capobianco supports her. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The official website is at www.mdcourts.gov/clerks/dorchester.
| Office | Circuit Court for Dorchester County |
|---|---|
| Street Address | 206 High Street, Cambridge, MD 21613 |
| Mailing Address | P.O. Box 923, Cambridge MD 21613 |
| Phone | (410) 228-0481 |
| Toll-Free | 1-800-340-9186 |
| Fax | (410) 221-5003 |
| Clerk Email | amy.craig@mdcourts.gov |
| Clerk | Amy J. Craig |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. |
The Criminal Department at the circuit court handles all requests for criminal case records. When you visit in person, go to the criminal department and let staff know what case you are looking for. Provide the defendant's name, case number if you have it, filing date, and case type. Staff will locate the file. If a record is archived or in storage, it may not be available the same day, so call ahead if time is a factor.
How to Request Criminal Records
Dorchester County offers four ways to request criminal court records: in person, by mail, by email, and by fax. Choose the method that works best for you and have all required information ready before you submit.
In-person requests are handled at the Criminal Department at 206 High Street, Cambridge. Provide the defendant's name, case number, approximate filing date, and case type. Bring valid photo ID. Fees are generally collected right away for available records. For archived records that need to be pulled from storage, you may need to return or wait a short time. Staff will let you know when the file can be ready.
Mail requests go to: 206 High Street, P.O. Box 923, Cambridge MD 21613. Include the defendant's full name, case number, approximate dates for the case, a clear list of the documents you need, your return address, a phone number or email so staff can reach you, and your payment. Enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want the copies returned by mail. Payment by check made out to the Clerk of the Circuit Court is standard for mail requests.
Email requests go to amy.craig@mdcourts.gov. Include all case details in your message. Staff will follow up on payment. Fax requests go to (410) 221-5003. For both email and fax, credit card and other remote payment methods may be required; confirm with the office when you submit. For expungement matters, you will need to complete a Petition for Expungement and a General Waiver and Release if required, then file these with the required copies and pay the applicable fees.
Copy fees are $0.50 per page for regular copies, $5.00 plus $0.50 per page for certified copies, and $10.00 plus $0.50 per page for exemplified copies. In-person payments can be made by cash, check payable to Clerk of the Circuit Court, money order, or Visa, Mastercard, or Discover in person. Do not send cash by mail.
What Criminal Court Records Contain
Dorchester County Circuit Court criminal records cover indictments and informations issued by the Grand Jury or State's Attorney, arrest warrants, bond documents, pleadings and motions, court orders, disposition records, and sentencing records. The Circuit Court handles felonies, serious misdemeanors, District Court appeals, and jury trial demands.
A typical felony case file in Dorchester County may contain all of the following: the original indictment or charging document, the arrest warrant and any bench warrants issued later in the case, bond conditions set at initial appearance, motions filed by both sides, court orders resolving those motions, a docket of every hearing and event in the case, the final plea or trial record, the sentencing order, and any post-conviction filings. Subpoenas and trial transcripts, if ordered, may also be in the file. Transcripts are not created automatically; they are prepared when a party requests them and pays the court reporter's fee.
Some records are not available to the public. Juvenile cases are confidential under Maryland law and require a court order for access in most circumstances. Sealed adult cases also require a court order. Expunged records are removed from public view entirely and will not appear in any search system. The clerk's office can confirm that a case number exists but cannot release details of a sealed or expunged matter without legal authority.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us is the fastest way to find a Dorchester County case. The tool is free and open 24/7. It shows case summaries, party names, charges, docket entries, and dispositions. Use it to find a case number before requesting physical copies from the clerk's office.
Copy Fees and Payment
The fee schedule at Dorchester County Circuit Court follows Maryland statewide standards. Regular copies cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 plus $0.50 per page. Exemplified copies, which carry the highest level of authentication with the court seal and signature, cost $10.00 plus $0.50 per page.
Payment in person is accepted by cash, check made payable to Clerk of the Circuit Court, money order, or major credit cards including Visa, Mastercard, and Discover. Do not send cash through the mail. For mail requests, use a check or money order. For email and fax requests, confirm acceptable payment methods with the clerk's office at the time you submit your request by calling (410) 228-0481 or emailing amy.craig@mdcourts.gov.
District Court
The District Court for Dorchester County is at 310 Gay Street, P.O. Box 547, Cambridge MD 21613. The main phone is (410) 901-1420. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The District Court handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, civil cases under $30,000, landlord-tenant disputes, and peace and protective orders. Most criminal matters in Dorchester County begin at this level. If a defendant demands a jury trial or the charges are elevated, the case moves to Circuit Court. District Court records from 1989 are searchable for free at casesearch.courts.state.md.us. For document copies or records not found online, contact the District Court at (410) 901-1420 during business hours.
| Office | District Court of Maryland for Dorchester County |
|---|---|
| Address | 310 Gay Street, Cambridge MD 21613 |
| Mailing | P.O. Box 547, Cambridge MD 21613 |
| Phone | (410) 901-1420 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. |
| Jurisdiction | Misdemeanors, traffic, civil under $30,000, landlord-tenant, peace/protective orders |
Sheriff's Office
The Dorchester County Sheriff's Office is at 829 Fieldcrest Road, Cambridge, MD 21613. The main phone is (410) 228-4141, and the fax is (410) 228-9869. The Sheriff is James W. Phillips, Jr., and the Chief Deputy is Capt. John Stichberry, Jr. The Sheriff's Office website at www.docosheriff.com includes an inmate search tool and other public safety information.
Sheriff's Office records include incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, and booking records. These are separate from the court records held by the Circuit Court clerk. To get records under the Maryland Public Information Act, submit a written request that includes the incident details such as date, location, and names of the people involved. Bring or provide valid photo ID. In some cases, you may also need to show proof of entitlement, meaning that you have a legal right to the specific record you are requesting.
Allow sufficient time for the Sheriff's Office to respond to your request. Not all records are public. Some may be withheld if they relate to an active criminal investigation, if releasing them would endanger someone, or if they fall under another exemption in Maryland law. Call (410) 228-4141 before submitting a formal written request if you are not sure whether the records you need are available. The inmate search feature on the Sheriff's website at www.docosheriff.com is available at no cost.
The screenshot below shows the Dorchester County Sheriff's Office website at www.docosheriff.com, which provides access to the inmate search tool and information about submitting records requests.
The Sheriff's website includes the inmate lookup tool and contact information for submitting written records requests under the Maryland Public Information Act.
The screenshot below shows the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal at casesearch.courts.state.md.us, which provides free access to Dorchester County criminal court records.
The portal lets you search by name or case number and returns charges, docket entries, case status, and final dispositions for all public criminal cases in Dorchester County going back to 1989.
Nearby Counties
Dorchester County is surrounded by several Eastern Shore counties, each maintaining its own Circuit Court criminal records.