Allegany County Arrest Records

When law enforcement officials reasonably suspect someone has committed a crime, they can be arrested in Allegany County, Maryland. Arrests are required to maintain public safety, stop additional criminal behavior, or if a judge issues a warrant. Officers may conduct an arrest to get immediate custody for more serious crimes or when a suspect threatens themselves or others. Arrests can be carried out with or without a warrant. (Maryland Code, Criminal Procedure Article)

Most inmates apprehended in Allegany County are kept at the Allegany County Detention Center, which is the primary institution for people awaiting trial or serving brief terms. The Allegany County Sheriff's Office oversees this facility and is also in charge of creating and keeping arrest records. Allegany County's arrest records record the specifics of a person's apprehension and the charges against them.

Allegany County, Maryland arrest records contain information about the person arrested, the offenses they were charged with, the date of the arrest, and incident reports pertaining to the arrest. These records are utilized by law enforcement to keep an eye on criminal activities and ensure public safety, as well as for background checks and judicial processes. Accessible through the Maryland Judiciary, arrest records are also a component of the Allegany County Court Records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Allegany County?

According to the General Provisions Article of the Public Information Act (PIA) of the Maryland Code, arrest records are indeed public records in Allegany County. This indicates that arrest records are available for public viewing, and anyone with an interest in seeing them can get in touch with the law enforcement organization that holds them. However, by establishing specific exemptions, the law also controls public access to these documents. The Maryland Code's §4–351 states that the following data is not available to the public:

• Records of Investigation being conducted by law enforcement.
• An investigatory file compiled for any other law enforcement, judicial, correctional, or prosecution purpose.
• Records that contain intelligence information or security information of law enforcement.
• Any record of which disclosure would interfere with a law enforcement proceeding.
• Any record that is considered private or personal, of which disclosure would be considered invasive.
• Records about a person’s medical or financial dealings.
• Juvenile arrest records.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

A public arrest record in Allegany County, Maryland usually contains important information that is accessible to the general public. This contains the entire name, age, gender, race, date of birth, and address of the person. A synopsis of the alleged offense, the charges brought, and the date, time, and place of the arrest are also included.

The arresting agency and specifics of the court case, like the case number and case status, if charges have been filed, may offer more information. Although some sensitive information, such as juvenile records and cases that are currently being investigated, is limited to preserve privacy and public safety, Maryland's Public Information Act permits the public to obtain these details.

Allegany County Arrest Statistics

A comprehensive breakdown of arrests in Allegany County is provided by the 2020 Maryland Department of State Police crime data. Of the 3,754 arrests that year, 409 (10.8%) were of juvenile age, and 3,345 (89.1%) were of adult age.

All other crimes accounted for 1,550 (41.2%) of the total, including offenses like trespassing, fraud, and disorderly conduct. Other assaults came in second at 571 (15.2%) and narcotics crimes at 457 (12.1%).

According to the data, there was a 17% drop in arrests in 2020 compared to the total number of arrests in 2019, which was 4,534.

Find Allegany County Arrest Records

In addition to the sheriff's department, Allegany County has roughly five city police departments that are in charge of upholding peace and order and are dispersed among several jurisdictions. Additionally, the county is home to a few state and federal law enforcement organizations that also make arrests.

The first place to look for arrest records in Allegany is the local police department where the arrest was made, such as Cumberland or Frostburg. One can also request arrest records by contacting the Allegany County Sheriff's Office Inmate Detention Center. Interested parties may look up arrest details, including name, date of incarceration, and charges, by conducting an online prisoner search. The inmate's name, sex, and race are used as search parameters while conducting the inmate search.

Information on arrests can also be found in court documents kept by the Allegany Circuit Clerk's Office. The Maryland Case Search Portal, which offers a statewide search, makes these court records available online. Additionally, in person or by mail.

Interested parties can also contact the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to receive information about arrests and to perform a background check on those who are incarcerated. Inquiries can be directed to (410) 764-4501, (888) 795-0011, or in person at:

Background Checks
6776 Reisterstown Road,
Suite 103,
Baltimore, MD

Although there is no direct public access to the FBI's National Crime Information Center (NCIC), law enforcement can obtain NCIC records for background checks and they are frequently cited in federal investigations. The FBI provides access to criminal information nationally. Usually, the public can obtain these records by submitting a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request or with the help of authorized agencies.

Free Arrest Record Search in Allegany County

The Maryland Judiciary Case website search mentioned in the previous section allows people to look for arrest records in Allegany County, Maryland, for free. The public can view Maryland court documents, including information about arrests after charges are filed in court, through this internet site. Users can examine case information, including charges and case status, for free by searching by name.

Records of recent arrests may also be available from the Cumberland Police Department and the Allegany County Sheriff's Office. One can ask for arrest information straight from the offices of these law enforcement agencies, even though they might not have complete online access. For example, the Public Information Act of Maryland permits the Sheriff's Office to provide some documents, albeit there might be restrictions in place to safeguard private data.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Unless purged, arrest records in Allegany County, Maryland, typically stay on a person's record indefinitely. The majority of adult criminal records, including arrests, are public records under Maryland law and are available for public viewing unless they can be expunged. Eligibility for expungement varies based on the type of offense and the outcome of the case. For instance, expungement would be possible within three to eight years of the date the incident occurred, for instances that ended without a conviction (such as an acquittal or dismissal), however, individuals may apply earlier under specific circumstances. (Maryland Code, §§ 10-102 to 10-103.1)

Convictions usually need a waiting time of 10 to 15 years and are more difficult to erase. Like felonies, serious convictions could not be expungeable at all. Through the Maryland Courts website, people can file for expungement and verify their eligibility, or they can seek legal advice. When an expungement is approved, the arrest record is deleted from law enforcement databases and public access, giving the person a spotless public record.

Expunge Allegany County Arrest Records

Criminal records are typically expunged or sealed. While expungement erases the record from the public eye and law enforcement databases, as if the arrest or charge never happened, sealing a record implies that access to it is strictly restricted. Allegany County's arrest records are purged rather than sealed, and Maryland's expungement laws apply to some minor convictions, acquittals, and dropped cases under certain circumstances.

The precise filing requirements for qualifying for expungement are found in Article §§ 10-105, 10-107, and 10-110 of the Criminal Procedure section of the Maryland Code. For example, the following factors make a person ineligible:

• If he or she is a defendant in a criminal case that is pending, including one involving traffic infractions that carry jail time. However, one can qualify if the case they are attempting to expunge was resolved with a dismissal, acquittal, nolle prosequi, or not guilty finding.
• If someone was found guilty of a new crime within three years of being placed on probation before judgment (PBJ). (If the new conviction is not eligible for expungement, the PBJ cannot be expunged.)
• If someone had been found guilty of driving under the influence or while intoxicated.
• The court has the authority to reject a petition for expungement if there is unpaid reparation.
• It is not possible to delete civil cases, such as child support, liens, judgments, peace orders, and protection orders.

A person must have completed their sentence, including any supervision, to be eligible for expungement. After five (5) years, some minor convictions may be filed. After seven (7) years, certain felony convictions, second-degree assault convictions, and common law battery convictions may be filed. After ten years, felony theft and first or second-degree burglary charges may be brought. After 15 years, convictions linked to domestic matters may be brought.

Typically, one will submit an expungement petition to the court where the case was resolved. When a case is dismissed, acquitted, probation before judgment (PBJ), nolle prosequi, stet, or not criminally accountable, there is no charge to erase it. (Form CR-072A-CC-DC).

Filing a petition for the expungement of records with a guilty disposition using form CC-DC-CR-072 B costs $30. There are no refunds for filing fees. By submitting a Request for Waiver of Prepaid Costs using form CC-DC-089, one can ask the court to forgo the filing fee if they are unable to pay it.

The court will automatically erase a case after three years if all charges brought on October 1, 2021, or later have a disposition of acquittal, not guilty, dismissal, or nolle prosequi. Form CC-DC-CR-072 C may be used to request expungement before three years. To do so, there is no cost.

Allegany County Arrest Warrant Search

A court or magistrate may issue an arrest warrant, which gives law enforcement the right to hold someone who is accused of committing a crime. When there is probable cause—reliable proof that someone has committed a crime—warrants are issued.

In Allegany County, arrest warrants are usually issued in response to evidence that is provided by prosecutors or police enforcement. When a defendant poses a flight risk or is not immediately arrested, warrants are frequently issued. (Maryland Code, Criminal Procedure Title 2)

The suspect's name, description, alleged offense, and any particular directions for detention are typically included in an arrest warrant. People can check Maryland's Judiciary Case Search online for relevant court case documents or contact the sheriff's office to find out about ongoing warrants.

Do Allegany County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants in Maryland's Allegany County typically never expire. A warrant is valid until it is executed (the person is taken into custody), revoked by a judge, or invalidated by a court. This implies that no matter how much time has elapsed, police enforcement can act on the warrant at any moment.

However, the priority of enforcing the warrant may depend on factors such as the severity of the offense and available resources. Warrants for serious crimes are usually pursued more aggressively, while minor offenses may see delayed enforcement. Maryland law allows warrants to remain active indefinitely, ensuring that individuals cannot evade justice by simply waiting out the warrant’s validity.