Frederick County Arrest Records

In Frederick County, an arrest occurs when an individual is suspected of committing a crime or law enforcement has substantive proof of an offense. The individual is taken into police custody and booked. Details about the circumstances surrounding the arrest are collected in a document called an "arrest record".

The Frederick County Sheriff's Office is the primary law enforcement agency in the county and custodian of arrest records. State and federal agencies may also make arrests within county jurisdiction, depending on the crime. In any case, persons who obtain arrest records can expect to find information about the arrestee, including their full name, photo, physical description, offense, charges, and bail conditions.

Frederick County arrest records are part of the criminal justice system and, along with Frederick County Court Records, can provide information about an individual's interaction with the judicial system.

Are Arrest Records Public in Frederick County?

Yes. Frederick County arrest records are public per the Maryland Public Information Act. Per this law, public offices in Maryland must make documents about official activities available to everyone unless a law or a court order specifies otherwise. For example, juvenile arrest records are restricted. Likewise, records containing information about minors, protected witnesses, and ongoing criminal investigations are typically withheld from public disclosure.

In such cases, only the record subject, their legal representatives, and authorized public employees may access restricted records. Third parties with a valid legal interest in viewing the contents of restricted arrest records may petition a court of competent jurisdiction for a court order or subpoena.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Persons who obtain Frederick County arrest records can expect to find the following information:

• Arrestee's full name
• Aliases and former names
• Physical description (sex, height, weight, race, ethnicity, etc.)
• Date of birth
• Photo
• Custody status
• Facility location
• Booking details (ID, time, date, etc.)
• Arrest summary (charges, date, and time)
• Bond/bail conditions
• Scheduled court appearance.

Frederick County Crime Rate

In 2019, Frederick County law enforcement recorded 1379 index crimes, including 196 violent crimes and 1183 property crimes per the Uniform Crime Reporting program. The counts for violent crimes were rape (20), robbery (23), and aggravated assault (153). The counts for property crimes were burglary (153), larceny-theft (979), motor vehicle theft (51), and arson (9). Compared with the offense count in 2018, offenses have decreased by 1.7%. Year-on-year, violent crimes have decreased by 15%, while property crimes have decreased by 4.1%.

Frederick County Arrest Statistics

Per annual reports published by the Maryland State Police, law enforcement in Frederick County received 23,746 calls for service in 2023 and carried out 3,200 investigations. The agency also made 352 arrests and 165 DUI arrests. Compared with 2022 reports, calls for service have increased almost four times, while investigations have decreased by 10%. Meanwhile, arrests have decreased by 27% year-on-year, and DUI arrests have decreased by 29%.

Find Frederick County Arrest Records

The Frederick County Sheriff's Office is the custodian of arrest records. To obtain arrest records, visit the agency during business hours or mail a letter describing the record. The Sheriff's Office also processes record requests via a third-party partner. Record requests typically take 10 business days to process. For additional information, contact the Sheriff's Office at:

Frederick County Sheriff's Office
110 Airport Drive East
Frederick, MD 21701
Phone: (301) 600-1046

Free Arrest Record Search in Frederick County

The Sheriff's Office charges a nominal fee for processing requests for arrest records. Persons who cannot afford this fee may still get free arrest records by obtaining a fee waiver from the Sheriff's Office. However, giving a fee waiver is at the discretion of the Sheriff's Office.

To obtain arrest records for free, contact the Frederick County Sheriff's Office and provide administrative staff with descriptive information about the record, including the subject's name and approximate date of arrest. In certain cases, requestors may be able to view arrest records at the Sheriff's Office for free, but they will be required to cover copying costs.

Frederick County Sheriff's Office
110 Airport Drive East
Frederick, MD 21701
Phone: (301) 600-1046

Generally, the arrest records obtained from the Frederick County Sheriff's Office are limited to arrests the agency made. So, if the individual was arrested outside Frederick County, a record of that arrest will not be available in the county unless the Frederick County Sheriff's Office has an information-sharing agreement with the other law enforcement agency.

Geographic limitation is often a concern when obtaining public records. Aggregate records databases may help overcome this limitation by making records from several locations available on one online database. These records are accessible using the subject's name or location. While many databases offer records for free, search results are often limited. To obtain more details, requestors may need to pay a one-time search fee or subscribe. Third-party information providers are not affiliated with the Maryland government or the Frederick County Sheriff's Office. Hence, record accuracy, completeness, or availability is not guaranteed.

Get Frederick County Criminal Records

Criminal records contain information about a person's interactions with the Maryland criminal justice system, such as arrests, prosecutions, convictions, and sentences. Interested persons may obtain criminal records from the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS).

All requests for criminal records are fingerprint-based. As such, these records are generally available to the record subject. To begin, schedule an appointment for fingerprinting. The Frederick County Sheriff's Office also offers this service. Fingerprinting service costs $38.00 plus a $20.00 administrative fee. Persons requesting a background check on themselves may complete the CJIS 015 Form and pay an $18 fee by money order. At the time of appointment, requestors must present a valid government-issued photo ID.

For additional information, contact the DPSCS customer service or the Sheriff's Office at:

Criminal Justice Information System - Central Repository (CJIS)
6776 Reisterstown Road, Suite 217
Baltimore Maryland 21215 - 2346
Phone: (410) 764-4501

Frederick County Sheriff's Office
110 Airport Drive East
Frederick, MD 21701
Phone: (301) 600-4058

Frederick County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

While arrest records and criminal records are terms often used for the other, these records are distinct. For one, they are generated and maintained by different agencies in the criminal justice system. Arrest records are generated and maintained by the arresting agency, which is usually the Sheriff's Office or the local police department. On the other hand, criminal records are generated and maintained at the state and federal levels. Statewide criminal records are maintained by the Maryland DPSCS while federal criminal records are maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Furthermore, the contents of these records differ. An arrest record contains information about the individual taken into custody and the circumstances surrounding the arrest. On the other hand, a criminal record is a more detailed report. It contains information on a person's interactions with the criminal justice system, including arrests, prosecutions, sentencing, and convictions. As such, while arrest records only show an individual was taken into custody, criminal records can show whether the person was adjudged guilty or not guilty.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

It depends. Generally, cases that resulted in acquittal, dismissal, not guilty, or nolle prosequi may be automatically expunged after three years. An individual may file an expungement before this time. Adults convicted of cases from the list of expungeable charges may still file for an expungement if they were adjudged guilty. For additional information, consult the Maryland expungement fact sheet.

Adult arrests in Frederick County remain on record unless the arrestee files a petition for expungement. Persons who wish to file an expungement request must meet eligibility requirements per Criminal Procedure Articles §§ 10-105, 10-107, and 10-110.

Generally, the following conditions apply:

• The arrest was made due to identity theft or mistaken identity
• The charges were set aside as part of a diversion program
• The petitioner has satisfied sentencing conditions
• The petitioner cannot be a defendant in an active criminal case
• The petitioner is not eligible if they received a pardon before judgment (PBJ) and received a new conviction within three years
• A PBJ for driving while intoxicated (DWI) is not eligible
• Minor traffic offenses are not eligible.

Expunge Frederick County Arrest Records

To expunge arrests in Frederick County, file a petition at the Circuit Court. Usually, this involves completing an expungement order form. Individuals with a guilty disposition should complete the applicable expungement form. Next, they must pay the corresponding $30.00 filing fee. The court may give a fee waiver if the petitioner demonstrates financial need. Expungement petitions are filed at the Clerk of Court's Office.

Frederick County Clerk of Court's Office
100 West Patrick Street
Frederick, MD 21701
Phone: (301) 600-1906

Frederick County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a written order or statement issued by a judge authorizing law enforcement to take an individual into custody. Courts issue this document if there is substantive evidence or probable cause to believe the subject committed an offense or poses a danger to others. Per the Maryland Code of Criminal Procedure, arrest warrants must contain the following information:

• Subject's name and address
• Suspected charges
• City or county of warrant issue
• The name and signature of the issuing judicial officer
• The date and time of issuance
• A copy of the affidavit of complaint.

Frederick County Arrest Warrant Search

The Frederick County Sheriff's Office is the custodian of warrant information. Executed arrest warrants are generally public records and may be obtained by anyone unless their release compromises an active investigation. Generally, only the warrant subject and their attorneys may obtain information on active warrants. In addition, access to warrant information is contingent on the eligible requestor's ability to provide a valid government-issued photo ID.

Frederick County Clerk of Court's Office
100 West Patrick Street
Frederick, MD 21701
Phone: (301) 600-1906

Do Frederick County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Generally, unexecuted arrest warrants in Frederick County remain active until executed or recalled. The warrant may also be recalled or voided if the statute of limitation has elapsed on the offense.