Access Worcester County Criminal Court Records

Worcester County criminal court records are maintained by the Circuit Court Clerk in Snow Hill and include felony case files, serious misdemeanor matters, jury trial records, and District Court appeals filed in the county. This page covers every method for searching criminal records in Worcester County, from the free statewide online case search tool to written requests and in-person visits at One West Market Street, along with fees, key contacts across multiple agencies, and what records each office holds.

Worcester County Circuit Court Clerk

Susan R. Braniecki is the Circuit Court Clerk for Worcester County. She can be reached at (410) 632-5500 or at susan.braniecki@mdcourts.gov. Chief Deputy Sherry C. Harrington assists at sherry.harrington@mdcourts.gov, and Criminal Supervisor Aaron Twilley handles unit operations at aaron.twilley@mdcourts.gov. The courthouse is at One West Market Street, Room 104, in Snow Hill. This is the office to contact when you need certified copies or official case documents from Worcester County criminal court proceedings at the Circuit level.

The Criminal Department has a direct line at (410) 632-5502. Use that number for specific questions about a case, to get a page count before sending a mail request, or to confirm whether a document has been filed. Court Administrator Ilene D. Muhlberg handles administrative and operational matters at (410) 632-2342. The office also supports specialized programs: Tracy A. Simpson coordinates the Drug Court at (410) 632-3130, and Jury Commissioner Sullar M. Barfield is at (410) 632-5660.

The screenshot below shows the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal, which is the free statewide tool you should use first when looking up Worcester County criminal court records.

The portal is free, available around the clock, and covers Circuit Court records back to 1998 and District Court records back to 1989.

Searching Worcester County Criminal Records

Start with the free Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal before doing anything else. You can search by the defendant's name, date of birth, or case number. The database is the easiest and fastest way to confirm a case exists, find the case number, review docket entries, and check case status. No registration is needed and there is no charge. Circuit Court records in the system start from 1998, and District Court records go back to 1989.

For physical copies, you can visit the clerk's office in person or submit a written request by mail. In-person visits go to Room 104 at One West Market Street during regular business hours. Have the defendant's full legal name or case number with you, along with a photo ID and payment. Staff will have you fill out a request form before pulling the case file. If you are driving from Ocean City or another part of the county, confirm the office is open and that the case is at Circuit Court level before making the trip.

Mail requests go to: One West Market Street, Room 104, Snow Hill, MD 21863, Attn: Criminal Department. Your letter should include the defendant's name, the case number if you have it, a list of the specific documents you want, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check, money order, or credit card authorization to cover copy fees. Call the Criminal Department at (410) 632-5502 first to get a page count so you send the right amount.

Worcester County Criminal Records: What They Include

Criminal court records at the Worcester County Circuit Court document every stage of a case from filing through resolution. The clerk holds records for felony prosecutions, cases moved from District Court on jury demand or appeal, and all related documents filed during the proceeding. These are public records under Maryland law.

A typical criminal case file contains the charging documents or grand jury indictment, bond orders and pretrial release conditions, any plea agreements reached between the defense and the State's Attorney, sentencing orders signed by the judge, final judgments, warrant history, subpoenas, and the complete chronological docket. Docket entries log every filing, hearing date, and judge's order in order, giving you a step-by-step picture of how a case moved through the court. Certified copies carry the court seal and are accepted by other courts, agencies, and employers as proof of the record. Exemplified copies provide the highest level of authentication for use in out-of-state legal proceedings.

• Felony charges and grand jury indictments
• Bond documents and pretrial conditions
• Plea agreements and sentencing orders
• Final judgments and case dispositions
• Warrant records (active and recalled)
• Full chronological docket entries

The Clerk's Office does not perform criminal background checks. Contact the Maryland Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) at 1-888-795-0011 for official background check services. The clerk provides certified copies of court documents only.

Copy Fees and How to Pay

Standard copies at the Worcester County Circuit Court cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 plus $0.50 per page for each page of the underlying document. These fees match the statewide schedule set by Maryland court rules and apply to all criminal court record requests. Payment is accepted as cash, check or money order, or credit card. Make checks payable to the Clerk of the Circuit Court for Worcester County.

If you are unsure how many pages a file contains before you mail a request, call the Criminal Department at (410) 632-5502 and ask Aaron Twilley's team for a page count estimate. Sending the correct amount up front avoids delays. Mail requests with too little payment will be held until the balance arrives, which can add days or weeks to your turnaround time depending on how busy the office is.

Worcester County District Court

The Worcester County District Court is at 301 Commerce Street in Snow Hill. The main phone number is (410) 723-6935. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. District Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic and parking matters, civil cases under $30,000, and preliminary hearings in felony cases before they transfer up to the Circuit Court.

District Court records going back to 1989 are searchable through the same Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal as Circuit Court records. If a case you are looking for does not appear in Circuit Court records, the District Court side of the portal is the next place to check. Misdemeanor cases that resolved without a jury trial demand may have stayed entirely at the District Court level. Appeals from District Court decisions transfer to Circuit Court and are held there by Clerk Braniecki's office. Keep both courts in mind when you search, since a case can start at one level and finish at the other.

Worcester County Sheriff's Office

The Worcester County Sheriff's Office is at the County Government Center, Room 1001, One West Market Street, Snow Hill, MD 21863, in the same building complex as the Circuit Court. The main phone number is (410) 632-1111. Sheriff Matthew Crisafulli can be reached at mcrisafulli@co.worcester.md.us. The Sheriff's website is www.worcestersheriff.com.

For public records requests under the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA), contact Susan Ailstock at sailstock@co.worcester.md.us, Ext. 2231. Your MPIA request should include the date and location of the incident, the names of the parties, and a specific description of the records you are seeking. The office has up to 30 days to respond. Records available through the Sheriff may include incident reports, arrest logs, warrant information, and other law enforcement documents. Some records related to active investigations or involving juveniles may be withheld or provided with redactions.

Sheriff records and Circuit Court records are entirely separate from each other. An arrest report from the Sheriff does not include court documents, and a case file from the clerk does not include the Sheriff's incident report. If you need both, submit requests to both offices on their own timelines. The fact that they share a building does not mean they share records systems.

Communities in Worcester County

Worcester County does not have any cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated records page on this site. The Circuit Court in Snow Hill handles criminal court records for all communities throughout the county, including Ocean City, Berlin, Pocomoke City, and other towns and unincorporated areas. All residents and requesters in the county use the same clerk's office at One West Market Street.

Nearby Counties

Worcester County is on the southeastern edge of Maryland and borders two other Maryland counties, each with its own Circuit Court and criminal records process.