Cecil County Arrest Records

An arrest record is a document generated by law enforcement containing information about a person's apprehension. After an arrest in Cecil County, the person is taken to the Cecil County Detention Center or a legal processing unit for booking. There, personal information, such as name, date of birth, and other identifying details, is collected. The information gathered will form the arrest record used for various purposes in the court justice system.

The Cecil County Sheriff's Office is in charge of creating and maintaining arrest records in the county. Other police departments, like the Elkton Police Department, may also manage certain records of arrests made within the county. These arrest records may be public files, including Cecil County Court Records or criminal background records from other law enforcement agencies.

Are Arrest Records Public in Cecil County?

Yes. Arrest records in Cecil County are public documents. According to the Maryland Public Information Act, the public can access copies of arrest records from various custodians upon request. However, some of these records are confidential, and their disclosure is subject to certain restrictions. This means that certain records may only be made available to public members under the rightful owner's permission.

Some of the arrest records that are not accessible to the public without a court order or a special law provision include:

• Original documents that have been copied to redact confidential information.
• Criminal History Record (Computerized CJIS, Federal Databases, and MVA with a request for privacy only)
• Pre-sentence Investigation Report
• Medical records/Psychological information such as reports from the health department alcohol and addictions program
• Request or order for Medical Testing
• Any document, including motion and order, to which an order denying inspection applies
• Documents where the person who has filed a case record informs the clerk in writing that the record is confidential (Rule 16-913). The clerk must make an effort to determine if the record is subject to inspection
• Confidential Supplement (Form Number CC-DC-CR-001S)
• Application for Appointed Attorney at Initial Appearance (Form Number DC-085)
• Agency records concerning child abuse or neglect.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Cecil County arrest records contain the following information, which are accessible to the public, including:

• The name and contact details of the person arrested
• The charge filed against the person at the time of the arrest
• Time, date, and location of the arrest
• The name and contact details of the arresting agency
• Dates and information about court proceedings after an arrest
• Photographs and fingerprints of the person arrested.

Cecil County Crime Rate

The Maryland Department of State Police releases an annual Crime in Maryland Uniform Crime Report (UCR). The 2020 Uniform Crime Report from the Central Records Division shows the index crime rate at the county and municipal levels. Although not an index crime, data about the crime of arson is also included in Cecil County.

According to the data, the total crime rate was 1,978.58 across a population of 102,707. Compared to 2019 data, there was a 15.3% decrease in crime rate. Amongst the property crimes, the most prevalent was larceny-theft (1,377), followed by burglary or entry (253) and motor vehicle theft (125). For violent crimes, the most rampant crime was aggravated assault (216), followed by robbery (37), rape (18), and murder (1).

Cecil County Arrest Statistics

The Maryland UCR Program also receives the submission of monthly reports of persons arrested by the Maryland Department of State Police at county levels. It shows a record of arrest activity for both Part I and Part II crimes, including the age, sex, and race of persons arrested in Cecil County. Traffic arrests, except Driving Under the Influence, are not reported.

In 2020, there were 5,532 arrests in Cecil County, including 5,302 adults and 230 juveniles. The most occurring arrests were for crimes like DWI (540), larceny (440), and assault (143). Compared to the 2019 report, Cecil County had a 16% decrease in arrests. A total of 1,740 arrests were made by the Cecil County Sheriff's Department.

Find Cecil County Arrest Records

The Cecil County Sheriff's Office oversees the county jail that houses adult male and female offenders. The jail maintains an online Inmate Lookup Tool that allows users to search for inmates in the county. Requesters typically need to provide the inmate's first and last name, booking number, or date of birth for a successful search result.

The Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) provides an Incarcerated Individual Locator for users to find the locations of incarcerated people across the state. To complete the search, the user will need to provide the inmate's first and last name.

The Cecil County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records on the Central Records repository system. Individuals may access these records in person or online to the agencies in charge upon request. To obtain these records in person, visit the office during working hours at:

Records Department
Cecil County Sheriff's Office
107 Chesapeake Boulevard
Suite 112
Elkton, Maryland 21921.

To obtain a police crime report or accident report online, the individual must fill out and submit a Request for Police Report form. All requests for Cecil County Sheriff's Office records must be made in writing. The requester must provide information such as the date and location of the incident, case number, email address, and authorizing signature. Each request for a copy of the report is $5.00, while more copies will require $1.00 per page.

Free Arrest Record Search in Cecil County

According to federal and state statutes and the Rules Governing the Courts of the State of Maryland, certain arrest records may not be available to the public. Individuals may submit records requests to law enforcement officers in Cecil County at a cost or no cost.

For example, the Maryland Judiciary has a Case Search tool for the public to access court case records across Maryland for free. The website provides summaries of information on official case files using case numbers and party search details. Nonetheless, each agency in charge of a record will determine the amount the requester must pay to access.

Some users may find it difficult to obtain Cecil County arrest records for free from the official websites of law enforcement agencies. For this reason, there are third-party websites that make these records easily accessible to the public. These websites are not owned by the state or government but could gather information statewide and county repositories like Cecil County. Users may need to provide identifying details such as name, location address, and county to search.

Get Cecil County Criminal Records

Cecil County criminal records or background history are legal files containing a person's criminal report with law enforcement officers and the court system. This can include details on arrests, charges, convictions, and sentences. The law enforcement agencies in charge of the case or the courts may generate these records using information available across the state and county levels.

The Central Records Department, through the Criminal Investigations Division, keeps documents for all reported crimes and suspected crimes in the county. Individuals interested in obtaining Cecil County criminal records must make requests to Cecil County Sheriff's Office in writing. If you are interested in obtaining any of the reports within the office online, fill out and submit a Report Request Form. The requester must provide necessary details such as the date and location of the incident, case number, email address, and signature. A request for a page per report is $5.00, while more than five pages will require $1.00 per page.

The DPSCS maintains Maryland's criminal history record information and fingerprint-supported criminal identification records through the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS).

Cecil County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest and criminal records are usually created when a person interacts with law enforcement and the court system. However, there is a difference between both records in Cecil County.

Arrest records exist after an individual has been detained by law enforcement. They include information about when the person was arrested, questioned, or charged with a criminal offense. They could also include details about when a person was found not guilty of the charges. However, arrest records may appear on background checks, whether the case was closed or resulted in an acquittal. Arrest records are not proof that a person broke the law but will still need to be expunged after release.

On the other hand, criminal records go beyond an arrest and all that happens during the arrest. They contain more detailed information about a person's contact with law officers and the court system, such as arrest warrants, charges, convictions, plea bargains, or acquittals.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Cecil County, arrests can stay on a person's record for various lengths depending on the record type and circumstances. For example, if no charges are filed within 60 days of an arrest, the law enforcement officer is required to clear all forms of information in the arrest record. The records will be kept hidden from the public, and after three years, they must be destroyed.

Expunge Cecil County Arrest Records

Individuals who meet the eligibility requirements can file a petition to expunge arrest records in Cecil County. Expungement means that information about a criminal arrest is removed from court and law enforcement records. According to Criminal Procedure Article section 10-110, a person filing for record expungement is eligible if:

• The petitioner was found not guilty
• The case to be expunged is closed with a verdict of not guilty, acquittal, or dismissal
• The charge resulted in probation before judgment. If the petitioner received a Probation Before Judgment (PBJ) and was convicted of a new offense within three years of receiving the PBJ, the petitioner is not eligible.
• The petitioner was convicted of only one non-violent criminal act and the Governor granted you a full and unconditional pardon
• The juvenile sentence was waived.

Civil cases such as child support, liens, judgments, peace orders, and protective orders cannot be expunged. If there is outstanding compensation, the petition for expungement may be denied by the court.

In Maryland, a petition or formal request for expungement must be filed with the Circuit Court, where the crime was finally resolved. The petitioner may download Form DC/CR 72A for expungement of arrest records and the General Waiver and Release Form DC/CR 78. Submit the completed forms to the court clerk. If the petitioner was released without being charged and did not have to appear in court, then below is the expungement process to follow:

• Visit the arresting agency where the arrest happened
• Request the appropriate form from the agency to have the date of arrest and charge removed from your Criminal History Record. Download Form ITCD-70-RWOC here.

The petitioner may be required to provide information such as the name currently in use, current address, certificate of compliance, gender, date of birth, date of arrest, case number and tracking number, and arresting agency. There is a non-refundable $30 fee to file a petition for expungement of records with a guilty disposition (CC-DC-CR-072B). Filing fees are non-refundable. Petitioners who cannot afford the fee may request that the court waive the filing fee by submitting a Request for Waiver of Prepaid Costs (CC-DC-089).

Cecil County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant in Cecil County is a document issued by a lawful court judge authorizing the officer to make an arrest. According to Maryland Criminal Procedure (MCP) Section 1-203, a warrant allows law enforcement officers to detain suspects of a crime in a jail. Warrants are issued for an arrest when there is reasonable ground that an individual has committed a crime. This is also known as a probable cause. A judge in the county may also issue a warrant for a person's arrest if there is a failure to appear in a criminal case or for failure to appear to report to a court sentence.

An arrest warrant in Cecil County must contain specific information, such as the arrestee's identifying details, the type of criminal offense, the date and time of issuance, the court judge's signature, and the court or issuing authority. Each detail is important for the warrant to be legally valid.

Cecil County Arrest Warrant Search

Individuals can contact the Warrants Unit under the Administrative Services Division in person to find active warrants in Cecil County. The officer in charge will request identifying information such as a name and date of birth to successfully search for active warrants in the county.

Do Cecil County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants do not expire in Cecil County, Maryland. This means that when a judge issues an arrest warrant for an offense, it remains active until executed or recalled by a court. However, the Maryland statute of limitations can affect the duration an arrest warrant can stay active.

The statute of limitations ranges from one year for various misdemeanor offenses to a lifetime for severe felonies. For instance, if the court issues an arrest warrant for a crime with a statute of limitations of one year, it will only remain active for one year. If the statute of limitations is three years, the warrant can stay active for that long. However, if the arrest warrant is for a crime with no statute of limitations, such as murder, it can remain active indefinitely.