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Dorchester County Arrest Records
Dorchester County arrest records are records of arrest-related events within the county’s jurisdiction. Maryland law authorizes law enforcement to arrest offenders and take them into custody to be handled according to the law.
After arrest, suspects are moved to the county jail, where they are processed and readied for arraignment. During the arraignment hearing, the judge uses the details of the case to set a court date and bail. Sometimes, the suspect may be held without bail and remain in custody until their court date.
Arrest records are typically generated by arresting agencies such as the local sheriff’s office. They can also be obtained from Background Check requests from the Maryland Department of Public Safety. If the arrest leads to a trial, then arrest records may be available as part of Dorchester County Court Records maintained by local and state judiciaries.
Are Arrest Records Public in Dorchester County?
Arrest records in Dorchester County are public records under the Maryland Public Information Act. Under the act, public records such as arrest records may be accessed and copied by the general public. However, certain records and information are restricted from public access to protect the rights of the accused and the privacy of minors or victims. Information restricted from public access under the act includes the following.
- Records that have been sealed or restricted
- Records classified as confidential under federal or state laws
- Records under privilege such as doctor-patient privilege or attorney-client privilege
- Personal financial information such as bank account details, passwords, and social security numbers
Dorchester County Arrest Statistics
Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office submits yearly crime data to the FBI national database, including arrest statistics. Data from 2023 shows the sheriff’s office reported a total of 180 arrests for the year. This total included 35 arrests for disorderly conduct, 24 arrests for simple assaults, 13 arrests for aggravated assaults, 11 arrests for driving under the influence, 10 arrests for drugs/narcotics offenses, three arrests for larceny, two arrests for robbery, two arrests for motor vehicle theft, and one arrest each for burglary, vandalism, and weapons violations.
Find Dorchester County Arrest Records
Dorchester County arrest records and inmate information may be found at arresting agencies such as the Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office. Interest parties may make requests and inquiries about record availability at the sheriff’s office at:
Dorchester County Sheriff’s Office
829 Fieldcrest Road
Cambridge, Maryland 21613
Phone: (410) 228-4141
Inmate records are also available from the Inmate Search page on the sheriff’s office website. Arrest records can also be found via background checks from the Maryland Department of Safety and Correctional Services. Inmates' records at the state level may be found online using the Incarcerated Individual Locator maintained by the department.
Dorchester County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records
Arrest and criminal records are records that deal with a person’s interactions with the criminal justice system. Although they both deal with an individual's criminal history, there are a few distinctions. For example, an arrest record is not proof of guilt; it is proof that a person was once suspected of a crime. The record only covers arrests and contains simple information like the details of the arrest, the identity of the suspect, and the charges that led to the arrest.
A criminal record is proof of guilt as it is only generated when a person fully passes through the legal system. It is extensive and details the offender’s full criminal history, including arrest, court case, and prison records.
How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?
Arrest records in Maryland will typically remain on a person’s record indefinitely until they take legal steps to remove them. Maryland law allows people to remove or seal certain criminal records through a process known as expungement if they meet the set criteria. Maryland Code, Criminal Procedure Title 10, Subtitle 1 provides the rules, conditions, and process for expunging recording.
Records may qualify to be expunged if they meet the following criteria:
- If an arrest did not lead to filed charges, the defendant may file for expungement immediately.
- If the case was dismissed, acquitted, or not prosecuted, the defendant can file for expungement immediately unless there are more pending criminal charges. These records will also be expunged automatically by the state after three years.
- For certain nonviolent offenses, the defendant may file for expungement if they were found not criminally responsible.
- The defendant may file for expungement after five years but not over 10 years if they received a pardon for a conviction from the State Governor.
- If the defendant received probation before judgment, they may request for expungement 3 years after the judgment or at the probation ends, whichever is later.
Depending on the type of offense defendants may file for expungement of certain convictions after completing a waiting period according to the Maryland Second Chance Act. For example, some misdemeanor convictions can be expunged 10 years after the conviction or completion of all sentences and probation, whichever is the later date. Felony convictions may need a wait of up to 15 years before the defendant may petition for expungement.
Dorchester County Arrest Warrants
Dorchester County arrest warrants are legal documents issued by a local court authorizing law enforcement to apprehend a suspect and bring them before the court. To obtain an arrest warrant, law enforcement agents or county prosecutors may submit an affidavit to the court showing probable cause a crime was committed and the subject of the warrant is guilty. Warrants can also be issued based on sworn testimony from witnesses to the crime.
If the judge is satisfied with the proof, the warrant may be issued.
Judges may also issue arrest warrants for the following reasons.
- The suspect refused to answer a summon or citation
- The suspect’s whereabouts are not known
- The suspect is a danger to the public
- The suspect is likely not to respond to a summons by the court
In Maryland, arrest warrants typically contain the following information.
- The full name and an identifying description of the suspect
- Information about the offense and what laws it violated
- Instructions to law enforcement to arrest the suspect and bring them before the issuing court
- The date, time, and location where it was issued
- The name, signature, and office of the judge or magistrate who issued it
Do Dorchester County Arrest Warrants Expire?
Arrest warrants issued by authorities in Dorchester County do not expire. They remain in effect indefinitely until the suspect is caught or turns themselves in to the police. Sometimes, a judge in the issuing court may recall or quash a warrant if it is proven the warrant was obtained illegally or in error.