Talbot County Arrest Records

Talbot County arrest records are official documents that contain details about arrests that have occurred within the county. Generally, police officers are authorized by law to make arrests when they possess an arrest warrant commanding an individual's arrest. Police officers are also permitted under MD Code, Criminal Procedure, § 2-202, to make arrests without a warrant when a crime is committed in their presence or have probable cause to believe a crime has been committed.

After an arrest, the arresting officer, per the procedure employed by their law enforcement agency, typically prepares an arrest record to document what transpired during the arrest. The record contains the arrestee's personal information, offense details, and basic details about the arrest, such as the arrest date and location.

Arrest records are used in various capacities, including as an informative tool that interested persons can review to find pertinent information about an arrest and how it was handled. They also have numerous applications in the Talbot County court system, and as a result, they are notably featured in Talbot County Court Records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Talbot County?

Yes. Maryland's Public Information Act (PIA), codified in Maryland Code's General Provisions Article ("GP"), § 4-101 through 4-601, grants the public the right to access records of government agencies that pertain to public business. Most Talbot County arrest records are subject to the provisions of the PIA. Hence, anyone can query law enforcement agencies to access or obtain copies of these records.

Nonetheless, certain records are exempt from being disclosed under the PIA. These include sealed or expunged records, juvenile offender records, medical records, and sensitive information like social security numbers and banking information. Furthermore, record custodians have the authority to deny public access to public records per MD Code GP § 4-332 (d) if the record's disclosure could:

• Interfere with law enforcement proceedings.
• Constitute an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy
• Reveal the identity of a confidential source
• Prejudice an investigation
• Reveal an investigative technique or procedure
• Deprive an individual's right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication.
• Endanger an individual's life or physical safety.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The following details are usually found in public Talbot County arrest records:

• The arrestee's personal information;
  • Full name
  • Date of birth
  • Age
  • Home address
• The arrestee's physical description;
  • Weight
  • Height
  • Gender
  • Race
  • Hair and eye color
• The arrestee's mugshot
• Arrest and booking details;
  • The arrest date, time, and place
  • The arresting agency and officer's information.
  • Booking date and time
• Alleged offense details;
  • Charges
  • Description and nature of the offense
• Bail and bond information;
  • Type and amount
  • Bail or bond terms

Talbot County Arrest Statistics

According to arrest statistics from the Maryland NIBRS Crime Dashboard provided by the Maryland State Police, there were 893 arrests in Talbot County in 2023. Compared to the previous year (2022), where 838 arrests were reported, the county saw a 6.4% increase in arrests in 2023.

Of the 2023 total (893), 162 arrests were for juvenile offenders, and 731 were for adult offenders, with the age demographic 22 to 29 accounting for most arrests at 203. Additionally, offenses with the highest number of arrests that year include drug/narcotics violations (210), assaults (153), driving under the influence (138), and larceny/theft (99).

Find Talbot County Arrest Records

Record seekers can obtain Talbot County arrest records through law enforcement agencies that operate within the county. These include local agencies like the Talbot County Sheriff's Office and police departments that serve different municipalities in the county. These agencies usually have a record division or section interested persons can query to obtain arrest records they generate and maintain.

Each agency's procedures and fees for requesting arrest records may vary. Depending on how an agency operates, they may accept in-person or walk-in requests at their physical address during regular office hours, while some may also accept mail-in and faxed requests. Nonetheless, record seekers must provide sufficient information about the desired record to assist in its identification. This information may include the arrestee's name, the arresting officer's name, the case number, or the arrest date and location.

Generally, most agencies may charge requesters between $5 to $10 for arrest records they request, and additional fees may apply. Some agencies provide a dedicated request form that record seekers can complete and submit to request arrest records. Examples include the Talbot County Sheriff's Office report request form and the St. Michaels Police Department request form. In cases where an agency does not provide a dedicated request form, record seekers can draft a written request containing sufficient information that identifies the desired record.

Free Arrest Record Search in Talbot County

In Talbot County, record seekers may be allowed to search for and inspect arrest records for free in person at local law enforcement agencies. Although inquirers may be allowed free access to arrest records in person at local agencies, they are usually charged a fee for copies of records they request from most agencies. Requesters may also be charged a fee for the time and resources an agency spends researching for a record they request. As a result, free access to arrest records in Talbot County is not always available.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Maryland Codes does not impose a general timeframe for local law enforcement agencies to retain or dispose of arrest records. As a result, an arrest can remain on an individual's record indefinitely unless the record gets expunged or sealed. Note that arrest records recorded after October 1, 2007, are subject to automatic expungement within 60 days of the arrestee's release, provided they were not charged with a crime per MD Codes CP § 10-103.

Expunge Talbot County Arrest Records

Expungement is a legal way to remove a record from public inspection. In Talbot County, arrest records may be eligible for expungement under MD Codes CP Subtitle 1. Different statutes in Subtitle 1 outline several types of arrest records that may be subject to expungement. These include records of arrests that lead to no-filed charges and others where arrestees were charged with certain crimes.

According to MD Codes CP § 10-103.1, if an arrest occurred on or after October 1, 2007, and the arrestee was released without being charged, the arrest records will be expunged automatically within 60 days after their release. Meanwhile, if an arrest occurred before October 1, 2007, and the arrestee was released without being charged, they have eight (8) years from the incident date to request that their arrest records be expunged per MD Codes CP § 10-103.

Records of arrests that resulted in charges against the arrestee may also be eligible for expungement under certain conditions. For instance, if the arrestee was charged with a civil offense or infraction in lieu of a criminal charge or being charged with a crime, including a traffic violation, that may have resulted in a jail sentence. Other arrest records that resulted in charges may also qualify for expungement if:

• The defendant was found not guilty.
• The defendant was found guilty of or not criminally responsible for certain nuisance crimes or specified misdemeanors.
• The charge was dismissed
• The crime the conviction was based on is no longer a crime
• The case was compromised
• The case was indefinitely postponed by the court (stet)
• The State's Attorney did not prosecute the charge
• The charge resulted in probation before judgment, except for charges of driving while impaired or under the influence.
• The defendant was convicted of a crime listed in Criminal Procedure Article § 10-110.
• The defendant was convicted of only one non-violent crime, and the Governor granted them an unconditional pardon.
• The defendant was convicted of possession of marijuana under Criminal Law Article § 5-601.

In Talbot County, individuals with eligible records can request record expungement by filing an expungement petition with the County Circuit or District Court Clerk. There are primarily two versions of the expungement petition form, the CC-DC-CR-072 A and CC-DC-CR-072 B. The appropriate form that prospective petitioners must use depends on the final disposition of the case connected to the record of arrest to be expunged. For cases that resulted in an acquittal (not guilty verdict), dismissal, nolle prosequi, probation before judgment, set, or not criminally responsible disposition, complete CC-DC-CR-072A. Meanwhile, CC-DC-CR-072 B can be used if the arrests lead to a guilty disposition. It is worth noting that there is a $30 filing fee for individuals who use CC-DC-CR-072 B.

Additionally, interested persons can review the Maryland Judiciary Expungements publication for more information about expungement procedures in Talbot County or contact local court clerks.

Talbot County Arrest Warrants

A Talbot County arrest warrant is a court order that commands law enforcement officers to arrest a defendant. A judge or magistrate may issue an arrest warrant when a defendant violates the terms of their release. These officials may also issue an arrest warrant at the request of a law enforcement officer or prosecutor, provided they submit a sworn statement containing sufficient probable cause to believe the person to be arrested has committed a crime.

According to Maryland's Courts and Judicial Proceedings §2–107, an arrest warrant must contain information about its subject (the defendant), if known, such as their:

• Full name
• Last address
• Race
• Sex
• Height
• weight
• Eye and hair color
• Driver's license number
• Social Security Number (SSN)
• Distinguishing body marks or scars and other pertinent identifying information.

Do Talbot County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Talbot County arrest warrants do not expire. Generally, arrest warrants remain active until the defendant's arrest or death. Nonetheless, the issuing court can recall or quash a warrant for reasons permissible under the law.