Search Montgomery County Criminal Court Records

Montgomery County criminal court records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Rockville and include felony prosecutions, serious misdemeanor cases, District Court appeals, and specialized court programs such as Drug Court and Mental Health Court. The county has two District Court locations and a large Circuit Court operation serving one of Maryland's most populous jurisdictions. Online search is free and available around the clock, and this page explains how to use it alongside in-person and mail request options.

Montgomery County Circuit Court Clerk

Fariba Baylor serves as Clerk of the Montgomery County Circuit Court. The courthouse is at 50 Maryland Avenue in Rockville, MD 20850. The mailing address is P.O. Box 1954, Rockville MD 20850-1954. Clerk Baylor's email is fariba.baylor@mdcourts.gov, and the general office email is clerkofcircuitcourt@mdcourts.gov. The main phone is (240) 777-9466. A toll-free number at 1-866-276-6363 is also available.

Montgomery County implemented the Maryland Electronic Courts (MDEC) system in October 2021. Cases filed after that date were created electronically and are accessible at the public kiosks located in the Criminal Department (Room 110), Central Files, and the Law Library on the North Tower 3rd Floor (Room 3420). Cases filed before October 2021 are available on request from staff, though some older cases that have been transferred to the Maryland State Archives require a separate ordering process through that office.

How to Access Criminal Records

The Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us provides free access to Montgomery County criminal court records any time of day. Circuit Court cases from 1998 and District Court cases from 1989 are in the database. Search by name or case number to get docket entries, charge information, and case status. The portal screenshot below shows the Maryland Judiciary Case Search interface used to look up Montgomery County criminal court records across the full statewide system.

After confirming a case in the online portal, you can request certified copies or review the physical file through the Criminal Department at Room 110.

In-person requests go to the Criminal Department, Room 110, North Tower, 1st Floor at 50 Maryland Avenue. Use the public kiosks in that room to look up electronic case records, or ask staff to retrieve older physical files. Bring a valid photo ID. Cases created since October 2021 are electronic and available immediately at the kiosks. Cases created before MDEC may need to be pulled by staff. If a case is not immediately available, staff will call you when it is located.

Mail requests go to: Montgomery County Circuit Court, Attn: Criminal Department, 50 Maryland Avenue Room 110, Rockville MD 20850. Include the defendant's name, case number, a description of the documents you need, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment. Email inquiries can go to Clerk Baylor at fariba.baylor@mdcourts.gov. Note that there is no postage fee added to mail requests sent by standard USPS delivery.

What Criminal Court Records Contain

Montgomery County Circuit Court criminal records cover the full range of felony prosecutions, arraignment proceedings, jury trial demands from the District Court, and post-conviction matters such as appeals and sentence modifications. A typical case file includes the initial charging document or grand jury indictment, bond paperwork, motions filed by both sides, court orders, trial transcripts if ordered from the court reporter, sentencing orders, and probation records. Warrants issued during the case also become part of the permanent file. Drug Court records and Mental Health Court records are held here as well.

The public kiosks in the Criminal Department, Central Files, and the Law Library give walkins access to electronic case information without needing to ask staff. The Law Library is in Room 3420 of the North Tower, 3rd Floor, which is a useful alternative location if the Criminal Department counter is busy. Staff in the Criminal Management office at (240) 777-9472 can help with questions about how a specific case is filed or where older records are stored.

Restricted records include sealed cases, which require a court order, and juvenile matters, which are confidential. Some older cases that predate current filing systems may have been moved to the Maryland State Archives and must be ordered through that office separately.

Copy Fees

Standard copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies start at $5.00 plus $0.50 per page. Exemplified copies, which carry a triple seal for use in other jurisdictions, cost $10.00 plus $0.50 per page. There is no additional postage fee when records are mailed back by regular USPS delivery. Payment at the counter is accepted in cash, check, money order, or credit card in person.

Montgomery County District Courts

Montgomery County has two District Court locations. The Rockville District Court is at 191 E. Jefferson Street, Rockville MD 20850, with a main number of (301) 279-1400 and a criminal and traffic line at (301) 279-1406. The Silver Spring District Court is at 8552 2nd Avenue, Silver Spring MD 20910, reachable at (301) 563-4910. Both locations are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

District Court handles misdemeanor charges, minor felonies, traffic violations, civil cases under $30,000, and landlord-tenant matters. Records from both locations appear in the free Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal going back to 1989. When a District Court defendant demanded a jury trial or filed an appeal, the case transferred to the Circuit Court at 50 Maryland Avenue, where a separate case file was opened. Search both courts if you are tracking a specific individual's records in Montgomery County.

Montgomery County Sheriff's Office

The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office is at 50 Maryland Avenue, 3rd Floor, Rockville MD 20850. The main 24-hour phone is (240) 777-7000. The fax is (240) 777-7025. The department website is at www.montgomerycountymd.gov/sheriff.

The Sheriff's Office website at montgomerycountymd.gov/sheriff is shown below, which covers public records requests, the Records Division, and information about the Criminal Section for warrant and arrest-related inquiries.

To request sheriff records, submit a Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) request to the Criminal Section at (240) 777-7022. The Records Division at (240) 777-7070 handles most public records inquiries. Sheriff records include arrest reports, incident records, and civil process documents, all of which are separate from the criminal case files maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk's Office at Room 110.

Cities in Montgomery County

Montgomery County has several large communities with dedicated criminal court records pages. All cases from these cities are filed at the Circuit Court and District Courts in Rockville and Silver Spring.

Nearby Counties

Montgomery County borders three Maryland counties, each with its own Circuit Court and criminal records office.