Washington County Arrest Records

A Washington County arrest occurs when a police officer from the Sheriff’s Office or a city police department restrains an individual and takes them into custody. Law enforcement has statutory authority to arrest anyone with or without warrants, provided they have reasonable grounds to believe that the arrested individual has committed a crime or intends to break the law. The officer must create a record for the arrest by documenting the individual’s identifying information, arrest date and time, alleged offense, location of arrest, and name of the arresting agency and officer.

Defendants are generally arraigned before district or circuit court judges after their arrest. This process helps determine their pretrial release conditions and next court dates, which are added to Washington County court records.

These arrest and criminal court records are often used by law enforcement for criminal investigations, defense and prosecuting attorneys for trials, loved ones of arrestees who want to help them post bail, former defendants seeking to expunge their records, and other members of the public looking to track criminal cases.

Individuals can approach law enforcement, courts, and state and federal agencies to obtain these records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Washington County?

Yes. Arrest records generated in Washington County, Maryland are classified as public records in the Maryland Public Information Act (PIA). It directs government agencies, including law enforcement, to provide arrest records to members of the public. Md. Courts & Jud. Proc. Code § 2-201 (4) also allows individuals to request and inspect or copy court records containing criminal and arrest information.

However, people must meet certain conditions established by law to access restricted arrest records. These restricted records are documents and information that include the following:

• Personal identifying data of confidential sources, witnesses, and victims of certain crimes
• Personal information about arrested individuals, such as their driver's license, social security, passport
• Juvenile arrest and trial records
• Sealed and expunged court and arrest records
• Arrest records created during ongoing investigations
• Investigation materials and techniques
• Certain mental health records
• Financial records of arrested individuals like bank account and credit card numbers

People looking to obtain restricted records must prove that they have statutory permission to do so. For example, the subject of a sealed or closed record and their legal representatives can access their records as long as they provide proof of ID.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The following information can be released by criminal justice agencies in Washington County, Maryland:

• Personal information: The arrestee's name, age, and physical description
• Charges: Offenses for which the person was arrested
• Booking report: Booking number, date and time
• Arrest details: Arrest date, time, and location
• Court information: Court case numbers, bail information, bond details

Washington County Crime Rate

The Central Records Division of the Maryland Department of State Police releases annual reports capturing total crimes and crime rates at different local levels through its Uniform Crime Reporting program. Data collected from various law enforcement agencies are published on the website of the Governor's Office of Crime Prevention and Policy. Per the findings, Washington County had 2,249 crimes and crime rate of 1,490.1 per 100,000 in 2020. There were 8 murder cases, 84 murder incidents, 336 aggravated assault reports, and 1,277 larceny/theft occurrences. Further, motor vehicle cases were 133 and breaking and entering reports were 362.

Washington County Arrest Statistics

Individuals can contact the Washington County Sheriff's Office for comprehensive county arrest statistics, as these reports are not published online. They can also approach the MDSP's central records division to find such data.

Find Washington County Arrest Records

Washington County, state, and federal criminal justice agencies maintain arrest records for individuals apprehended in the county and prosecuted on state and federal offenses. As mentioned, not every arrest or incident information will be released to members of the public. The records custodian will provide reasons for the denial.

However, it is important that intending requesters understand the type of record they want to obtain to enable them to approach the right custodian and determine whether the information is available to the general public.

People looking for details about an individual recently arrested by a local police department can contact the agency to find out details about the arrest. For example, the Hagerstown Police Department’s Records Division helps members of the public to process information generated by the agency. They can fill out the Police Request Form for copies of incident reports. They can also contact specific division offices by email using information on its website to request background and police records searches.

The Sheriff’s Office also maintains arrest information for people recently remanded into custody. Interested parties can contact the office or its detention center directly to inquire about these records.

Individuals looking for bond information on persons in custody can visit the District Court Commissioners office at 500 Western Maryland Parkway, Hagerstown MD outside Central Booking. However, they may have to go to the Circuit Court at 95 West Washington Street, Hagerstown MD to view bond information created by the court. These parties can also call the Commissioner’s Office at (240) 313-2840 for more inquiries about finding and posting bonds.

If the individual was incarcerated after being found guilty for serious state crimes, one can contact the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services for details about each inmate. Such details will include the offenses for which they were incarcerated, the facility where they are being rehabilitated, and their sentence.

In the same vein, arrest details about individuals apprehended for federal crimes can be requested through the arresting agency. However, it should be noted that some records will only be released to subjects of arrests and their legal representatives.

Free Arrest Record Search in Washington County

Free resources for accessing arrest records include the following:

Third-party websites: Certain online vendors provide access to publicly available arrest records as part of their free offerings. They are usually more detailed and comprehensive than official resources and often provide records from other jurisdictions.

Incarcerated Individual Locator (MDPSCS): Individuals who do not know the location of people serving time can use the locator to find them for free. The tool allows individuals to search by name and view inmate’s name, Division of Corrections ID, and holding facility.

Bureau of Prisons: The U.S Bureau of Prisons provides its Inmate Locator for free to allow the general public to locate people arrested and detained in federal prison. Users can search by name to retrieve the person’s register number, which can be used for Freedom of Information Requests.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detainee Online Locator System: The detainee locator system helps friends and relatives to find immigrants detained by the bureau on immigration and customs related offenses. Searchers must provide the person’s name and country of birth or A-Number.

Maryland Judiciary Case Search System: The Maryland Judiciary Branch provides an online system that allows individuals to view court records from the Washington County district and circuit courts. These records contain arrest and charge information in completed and active criminal court cases.

The system allows people to search by court case number to display specific case records. However, individuals who do not know the case number can search by party name and use the advanced search option to select Washington County and narrow search results to criminal cases. They can view the following:

• Case information: Case type and status, court system, case number, filing date, and case title
• Defendant information: Date of birth, last known address, and physical appearance
• Arresting agency: Name of the agency that made the arrests include officer names and numbers
• Hearing information: Court case dates and locations, names of judges, and event type
• Charges: Information about the offenses the individual is being tried for

Get Washington County Criminal Records

A person’s criminal records contain all their interactions with criminal justice agencies. These include arrests, warrants, complaints, indictments, court trials, judgments, sentencing, and incarceration. People can have state and federal criminal records if they were also convicted or arrested for federal crimes.

People who want to obtain comprehensive arrest information can go through the MDPSCS’s Background Checks office. It provides detailed records, from arrest details to court trials. However, only authorized entities can use this service. These entities include the following:

• Individuals (and their legal representatives) looking to obtain their criminal history information
• Employers such as credit reporting agencies, childcare organizations, certain health institutions, and public agencies (like law enforcement) who are authorized by law
• Licensing entities authorized to conduct background checks before issuing certain licenses

Individuals looking to obtain their criminal history records can approach authorized fingerprinting agencies to have their fingerprints taken on an accepted card. The card and the required fee (check payable to CJIS Central Repository) must be mailed to the following address:

Criminal Justice Information System - Central Repository
P.O. Box 32708
Pikesville Maryland 21282 - 2708

Or

Criminal Justice Information System - Central Repository (Sent overnight)
6776 Reisterstown Road, Suite 217
Baltimore Maryland 21215 - 2346

Licensing agencies and employers are required to request criminal history information or background checks for their prospective employees or licensees. Licensees and employees who intend to request the check themselves must use the fingerprint card provided by the licensing agency or employer and provide their authorization number (if applicable).

Background checks cost the following:

Important note: Fingerprinting at CJIS locations increases most in-person background check requests by $20

• FBI and State Background Checks for child care volunteers: $29.25 per mail-in request and $49.25 per in-person request
• FBI and State Background Checks for other authorized agencies: $31.25 per mail-in request and $51.25 per in-person request
• Maryland mentor for child care volunteers: $15 per mail-in and in-person request
• State background check: $18 per mail-in request and $38 per in-person request
• State background check (with gold seal): $19 per mail-in request and $39 per in-person request
• Personal/attorney: $18 per mail-in request and $38 per in-person request

Since background checks are not open to the general public, individuals can look through court records to find criminal case information about other people. Intending applicants can visit the Circuit or District Court to inspect court records for free or make copies of court documents for a fee. The state judiciary's online case system as explained earlier also allows people to look up criminal case records.

Washington County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest and criminal records may be related criminal justice concepts, but they serve separate purposes and provide different types of information. Arrest records only indicate that a person was restrained and confined for alleged criminal offenses and do not imply or confirm their guilt.

Criminal records or criminal history information contains both arrest details and court proceedings, including case outcomes and incarceration records.

Arrest records also lead to less consequences than criminal records. People and organizations refer to criminal information for employment, housing, and licensing background checks, since they confirm whether subjects were convicted for specific crimes.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

It depends on the case. Maryland courts are instructed by law to automatically remove certain records after a specified period and certain eligible individuals can file petitions to expunge or seal their records. However, people with certain serious offenses cannot remove their records.

Expunge Washington County Arrest Records

Expunging an arrest or criminal record ensures it is no longer accessible to the public. However, individuals can expunge their records only in the following cases:

• A verdict of not guilty was reached
• The charges were not pressed (Nolle Prosequi) and 3 years have passed
• The charges were filed but dismissed
• The court approved probation before disposition (judgment)
• A settlement was reached before judgment and 3 years have passed
• The case resulted in an indefinite postponement (stet) more than 3 years ago
• Juvenile waiver
• The Governor granted a full and unconditional pardon was granted (the individual must have only one non-violent criminal conviction)

Maryland Courts are required to automatically expunge cases where charges were not filed, dismissed, or reached a verdict of not guilty or acquittal after 3 years if the disposition was registered on or after October 1, 2021.

Eligible individuals who appeared before a judge can follow this process to complete their expungement application for verdicts entered before October 1, 2021:

1. Complete Form DC/CR 72: It can be downloaded from the website of the Minnesota Judicial Branch or picked up at the District or Circuit Court.
2. Submit the petition: The petition must be submitted to the district or circuit clerk where the case was handled.

These expungement processes are free.

If the individual was never arraigned or charged and was released after their arrest, they can contact the arresting agency to expunge their records. They can contact the police department or Sheriff's to inquire about the forms, steps required for the process, and fees involved.

People who were convicted of certain criminal records can seal (shield) their court records from public view. The state judiciary’s Shielding Criminal Records webpage has all the information (including fees) and forms that one needs to complete the process.

Washington County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a court document that orders a police officer to pursue and take a person into custody. It is issued by a circuit or district court judge or commissioner upon finding probable cause that the named individual has committed a crime and may break the law in the future.

Judges can also issue warrants for the arrest of people who have violated court summons, bail conditions, post-conviction programs, and other court orders. In such cases, the warrant is called a bench warrant.

Per Md. Code. § 2-107, Warrants generally contain the signature of the issuing authority, names and descriptions of accused persons (including physical descriptions), address and social security number, caption of the arrest warrant (like Arrest warrant/contempt of court) and alleged offenses.

Washington County Arrest Warrant Search

Maryland law prohibits members of the public from viewing the warrant itself until it has been executed or recalled. However, the court may permit viewing in certain cases. Be that as it may, people can contact the Warrants Task Force of the Washington County Sheriff's Office at (240) 313-2192 or (240) 313-2877.

Interested parties can also contact the clerk of the court with jurisdiction over the case to find out about active arrest warrants.

Do Washington County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Arrest warrants remain binding until the individual is apprehended and made to answer for their alleged offenses. However, circuit and district court judges can recall warrants when there is evidence that named individuals are innocent or when it is determined that a summons should be issued instead of a warrant approved by a commissioner.