Access Queen Anne's County Criminal Records

Queen Anne's County criminal court records are kept at the Circuit Court Clerk's office at 200 N. Commerce Street in Centreville, where Clerk Katherine Beane Hager maintains felony case files, serious misdemeanor records, and District Court appeals. The county offers in-person, mail, fax, and email request options alongside the free statewide online case search portal. This page walks through every access method, from the online database through the courthouse counters and the Sheriff's records process.

Queen Anne's County Circuit Court Clerk

Katherine Beane Hager serves as Clerk of the Circuit Court for Queen Anne's County. She can be reached at (410) 758-1773 Ext. 5116 or katherine.hager@mdcourts.gov. Chief Deputy Douglas Arnold is available at Ext. 5122 or douglas.arnold@mdcourts.gov. Court Administrator Kara J. Pollak handles administrative matters at (410) 758-0216 Ext. 5111. Family Services Coordinator Elisa Dickens can be reached at Ext. 5128 Option #6.

The office handles criminal, civil, and land records for Queen Anne's County. For criminal matters specifically, the direct line is Option #4 on the main phone menu. The clerk's fax at (410) 758-4627 can also be used to send written requests if mailing is not convenient. Records that are currently on file at the courthouse are generally available the same day you visit, though archived cases may take more time to retrieve.

How to Request Criminal Records

The Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us is the free starting point for any Queen Anne's County criminal court records search. The database covers Circuit Court cases from 1998 and District Court cases from 1989. It is available 24 hours a day with no login required. Enter a defendant name or case number to get the docket, charges, and current status. The portal screenshot below shows the Maryland Judiciary Case Search tool used to search Queen Anne's County criminal court records as part of the statewide database.

After confirming case details in the portal, you can request official copies through any of the four methods the office supports.

In-person requests go to the Criminal Department at 200 N. Commerce Street. Bring the party name, case number if you have it, the filing date, the case type, and a valid photo ID. Staff will pull the file and you can pay fees at the counter in cash, by check payable to Clerk of Circuit Court, by money order, or by Visa, Mastercard, or Discover card in person. Records that are on site are generally available the same day.

Mail requests go to: Queen Anne's County Circuit Court, Attn: Criminal Department, 200 N. Commerce Street, Centreville MD 21617. Include the defendant name, case number, approximate dates, the specific documents you want, your return address and phone number, and payment. You can also send a fax request to (410) 758-4627 or email Clerk Hager at katherine.hager@mdcourts.gov for general inquiries. Do not send cash by mail; use a check or money order payable to Clerk of Circuit Court.

What Criminal Court Records Contain

Queen Anne's County Circuit Court criminal files hold the full record of felony prosecutions and serious misdemeanor cases. Each file includes the indictment or information document that started the case, any arrest warrants that were issued, bond documents setting pretrial release conditions, pleadings and motions filed by both parties, court orders from the judge, the disposition record showing how the case resolved, sentencing records, and subpoenas issued for witnesses or evidence. Cases that went to trial may include transcripts if they were ordered from the court reporter at the time. District Court appeals that came to the Circuit Court have their own separate case file here.

Not every record type is open to the public. Juvenile records are confidential under state law and are not accessible through the standard request process. Adoption records carry the same restrictions. Sealed records require a signed court order before the clerk can release them. If you search and cannot find a case, it may have been expunged under Maryland law, sealed, or it may be a juvenile matter that never enters the public file.

Copy Fees

Standard copies are $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 plus $0.50 per page. Exemplified copies for use in other jurisdictions cost $10.00 plus $0.50 per page. Payment at the counter is accepted in cash, by check, by money order, or by Visa, Mastercard, or Discover card in person. Mail requests require a check or money order. Call the Criminal Department at (410) 758-1773 Option #4 to confirm page counts before sending payment if you are not sure of the total.

Queen Anne's County District Court

The Carter M. Hickman District Court and Multi-Service Center is at 120 Broadway, Centreville MD 21617. The main phone is (410) 819-4000 and there is a toll-free number at 1-800-941-3403. Administrative Clerk Rebecca Sloane can be reached at (410) 996-2720. Administrative Commissioner Jessica Smith is at (410) 996-2727. The court is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

District Court handles misdemeanor charges, traffic violations, civil cases under $30,000, landlord-tenant matters, and protective order petitions. Records from 1989 onward appear in the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal at no cost. When a defendant at the District Court demanded a jury trial or filed an appeal, the matter was transferred to the Circuit Court at 200 N. Commerce Street, where a new case file was opened. If you are looking for a specific case and cannot find it at the District Court level, check the Circuit Court records under the same defendant name.

Queen Anne's County Sheriff

Sheriff R. Gery (Gary) Hofmann III leads the Queen Anne's County Sheriff's Office at 505 Railroad Avenue, Centreville, MD 21617. The main phone is (410) 758-0770. A secondary line is (410) 778-7908. The fax is (410) 758-1961. Email goes to sheriff@qac.org. The department website is at www.queenannessheriff.org.

The Sheriff's Office website at queenannessheriff.org is shown below, which covers public information resources and the process for submitting Public Information Act requests for sheriff records in Queen Anne's County.

To request sheriff records, submit a PIA request form by email to Dawn Becker at dbecker@qac.org or in person at 505 Railroad Avenue. Incident reports cost $10.00 per copy. Body camera footage requests cost $75 per incident per device for videos under one hour, with additional fees for more extensive requests. Payment is by check or money order. Sheriff records are separate from the court case files held by the Circuit Court Clerk at 200 N. Commerce Street. The two offices serve different functions and you may need records from both depending on what you are researching.

Nearby Counties

Queen Anne's County borders four Maryland counties, each with its own Circuit Court and criminal records office.