Find Criminal Court Records in Kent County

Kent County criminal court records are held at the George B. Rasin Jr. Courthouse in Chestertown, where the Circuit Court Clerk maintains felony case files, serious misdemeanor records, and District Court appeals. The county has both an online search option and a direct request process for those who need certified copies or want to examine older records not yet in the digital system. This guide covers the online tool, in-person and mail procedures, fees, and the Sheriff's records office.

Kent County Circuit Court Clerk

Mark A. Buckel serves as Clerk of the Circuit Court for Kent County. The courthouse address is 103 N. Cross Street, Chestertown, MD 21620. The mailing address is P.O. Box 455, Chestertown MD 21620. Clerk Buckel's email is mark.buckel@mdcourts.gov. Chief Deputy Shirley A. Heiser handles day-to-day operations and can be reached at shirley.heiser@mdcourts.gov. The office email for general inquiries is kentcc@mdcourts.gov.

The Kent County office is a smaller operation compared to the large urban courts, so staff time is limited. Calling ahead or using the toll-free number before a visit helps confirm what records are ready to access and whether any older files need to be pulled from storage. Requests that involve archived material may take extra time to fulfill.

How to Request Criminal Records

Start with the free Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us. The tool covers Circuit Court cases from 1998 and District Court cases from 1989, and it is available any time at no cost. Search by defendant name or case number to pull up charges, court dates, and final disposition. The case search portal screenshot below shows the Maryland Judiciary database where Kent County criminal court records can be looked up alongside all other Maryland counties.

Once you find the case you need in the online portal, you have three ways to request physical copies: in person at the courthouse, by mail, or by email for general inquiries.

In-person requests go to the Clerk's Office at 103 N. Cross Street. Give the staff the case number or the defendant's name and provide a valid photo ID. Pay at the counter in cash, check, money order, or by credit card. Records that are immediately available can be reviewed the same day.

Mail requests go to 103 N. Cross Street, P.O. Box 455, Chestertown MD 21620. Include the defendant name, the case number if you have it, the approximate case filing date, a description of the documents you need, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment. For email inquiries, contact kentcc@mdcourts.gov or reach Clerk Buckel directly at mark.buckel@mdcourts.gov.

What Criminal Court Records Contain

The Kent County Circuit Court holds criminal case files for felonies, serious misdemeanors, and all matters that came to the Circuit Court on appeal from the District Court. A typical file contains the indictment or information that started the case, bond paperwork setting pretrial release conditions, all motions and pleadings filed by both sides, court orders issued during the proceedings, sentencing orders, and any warrants that were issued. Cases that ended with a guilty plea include the plea agreement. Cases that went to trial may include transcripts if they were ordered from the court reporter.

Kent County's courthouse also holds historical records that trace back to the county's founding. Land records from 1873 and marriage records from the same period are in the clerk's custody. While those are not criminal court files, they illustrate the depth of records held here. For criminal matters, the public online database goes back to 1998, but the clerk can pull physical files for older cases on request. Very old records may have been transferred to the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis.

Copy Fees

Standard copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 plus $0.50 per page. Exemplified copies, which are authenticated for use in other courts or jurisdictions, cost $10.00 plus $0.50 per page. Payment is accepted in cash, check or money order, and by credit card. If sending payment by mail, use a check or money order made out to Clerk of Circuit Court and include a return address along with a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Kent County District Court

The Kent County District Court shares the courthouse building at 103 N. Cross Street, Chestertown MD 21620. The phone number is (410) 778-4600 and hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. District Court handles misdemeanor charges, traffic cases, civil matters under $30,000, and landlord-tenant proceedings.

District Court criminal records from 1989 onward are searchable through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal at no charge. When a District Court defendant demanded a jury trial or appealed a conviction, the case was transferred to the Circuit Court and a new file was opened there. If you search the District Court database and cannot find what you are looking for, check the Circuit Court records under the same name. The two files are separate even when they involve the same underlying incident.

Kent County Sheriff

Sheriff Dennis W. Hickman, Jr. leads the Kent County Sheriff's Office at 104 Vickers Drive, Chestertown, MD 21620. The main phone is (410) 778-2271. The fax is (410) 778-7488. Email requests can be sent to sheriff@kentgov.org. The department website is at www.sheriff.kentcounty.com.

All public records requests at the Kent County Sheriff's Office go through Sheriff Hickman directly. You will need a valid photo ID for any records request. Proof of entitlement may be required depending on the type of record. The office charges separate fees for sheriff records.

• Criminal Investigation Reports: $5.00 per copy
• Incident Reports: $5.00 per copy
• Traffic Accident Reports: $5.00 per copy

Body camera footage is handled on a case-by-case basis. You must submit a request form, and the BWC Administrator reviews each request individually before deciding whether to release the footage. Civil process service fees are $40 for in-state matters and $60 for out-of-state service. Sheriff records, including incident reports, arrest reports, and civil process documents, are separate from the court records held by the Circuit Court Clerk's Office at 103 N. Cross Street.

Nearby Counties

Kent County is bordered by two other Maryland counties on the Eastern Shore, each with its own Circuit Court criminal records office.