Washington County, Maryland Arrest Records

Washington County arrest records refer to administrative documents generated during the booking process. This document contains details about the detainee, such as age, full name, occupation, as well as basic information about the arrest, including the alleged charges, date, location, and time.

Arrest records are primarily maintained by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, which manages the Washington County Detention Center. This is where arrested individuals are booked and detained from all over the county. While the sheriff’s office manages the county’s inmate roster, other law enforcement agencies also contribute to the arrest records, like the Hangerstown Police Department. This police department serves the city of Hagerstown and manages records of its arrests. However, detainees are transferred to the county detention center promptly for housing.

Note: Accessing arrest records differs from accessing criminal history records, which are more restricted under Criminal Procedure Article 10-201 et seq. They are public records and accessible to anyone, but cannot represent proof of guilt. Arrest records contain only basic facts about the arrest, without any conviction information. 

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Washington, Maryland?

Washington County arrest records are accessible to the public according to the Maryland Public Information Act (Maryland Code, General Provisions §4-101 et seq.). This law guides the public’s access to records from the archives of government agencies such as the sheriff’s office and the courts. These records can be accessed online, by phone, or through in-person requests. The public is entitled to basic arrest details, which can help identify loved ones and locate them. 

Thus, detailed records such as an arrest report may be restricted till the investigation is concluded or the case is closed. According to the Public Information Act, requests must be made in writing, and the agency must acknowledge the request and notify the requester of any exemptions within 10 days. When requesting physically, the first two hours of search are free, while additional time will attract costs. While searches are generally free, obtaining copies of arrest records will attract copying costs.

What Do Public County Arrest Records Contain?

Washington County arrest records contain details about the detainee or the arrest circumstances that can be accessed by the public. This generally refers to the basic facts about the arrest, which can help identify detainees, locate them, and stay updated on their detention status. Here are some details contained in the Washington County arrest records:

• Date, time, and location of the arrest
• Bail or bond details
• Court appearance details and the case status
• Booking date and number
• Alleged charges or offenses
• Mugshots
• The arrestee’s physical description

There are also restricted or sealed details from arrest records that contain sensitive information. The public is generally restricted from accessing juvenile records. Other records restricted for personal or privacy concerns include personally identifiable information, medical information, details from ongoing investigations, and victim details from sensitive cases.

Washington County,  Maryland Arrest Search

Washington County arrest records searches can be done using federal resources such as the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Inmate Locator. State agencies such as the state judiciary and the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services provide statewide access to criminal history checks and case records searches.

Members of the public can approach these agencies in person to request arrest information or contact them over the phone for basic inquiries. There are also online tools, such as the Department of Public Safety’s Background Check website. This platform provides all the information required for making a search request through the agency’s statewide archives. Members of the public can also use the state court’s Case Portal 1.1 to access court documents containing arrest details. This website provides search options such as Case Number Search, Party Name Search, and an Advanced Search section with many helpful filters. 

Washington County Inmate Locator

Washington County inmates are housed at the Washington County Detention Center, which is managed by the Sheriff’s Office. The public can approach the sheriff’s office or the detention center directly to access the inmate roster. This can also be done over the phone by calling the detention center directly at 240-313-2133 or the sheriff’s office at 240-313-2100. 

Inmates at the detention center can also be found using the sheriff’s office Inmate Search website. This website provides a list of inmates currently in custody with a search option. Individuals who are within Washington County can access the Sheriff’s Office at:

Washington County Sheriff’s Office

500 Western Maryland Parkway

Hagerstown, Maryland 21740

240-313-2100 - Phone

240-313-2133 - Detention Center

Active Warrant Search in Washington County

An arrest warrant is a document from a court that directs peace officers to arrest and detain a named individual. The document is issued by a magistrate or judge to law enforcement officers after finding probable cause. This means that there is enough evidence to believe the named individual in the document has committed a crime and should appear before a court. Arrest warrants are signed by the judge and will remain active until the suspect has been arrested and detained. The court can also recall and cancel a warrant if it is not made inactive by the suspect’s death or the resolution of the case. 

Arrest warrants are not publicly accessible until the warrant has been served or until 90 days after it was issued. This is in place to protect law enforcement operations while warrants are being issued and served. Members of the public can access arrest warrants in person or over the phone by calling 240-313-2100 for the sheriff’s office or 240-313-2700 for the District or Circuit Court. There is no dedicated online database for active warrants in Washington County. However, the Maryland Judiciary Case Search system will provide access to active warrant details contained in case documents.

Agency / Resource	Purpose	Search Methods	Notes
Washington County Sheriff's Office	Maintains arrest records and serves warrants	Phone: (240) 313-2100; In-person; Written request	Detention Center: (240) 313-2133; Online inmate search
Hagerstown Police Department	Maintains arrest records and investigations	Phone: (240) 313-2000; In-person at headquarters	Serves City of Hagerstown; Records available
Washington County Circuit Court Clerk	Maintains court records and warrant information	Phone: (240) 313-2700; In-person at courthouse	Handles felony cases; Public access available

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Washington County

Washington County arrest records can be accessed at no cost through the sheriff’s office, county jail, or the court. This can be done by physically making inquiries at any of these agencies for some basic information about a detainee or an arrest. Telephone requests are also efficient for accessing basic arrest information. The public can call the Records Division of the Sheriff’s Office at 240-313-2100 to make inquiries for free. The sheriff’s office also maintains an inmate roster, which can be inspected at the office or online through the Inmate Search website.

This website provides an updated list of current inmates with a search option for free. Court documents containing arrest information can be accessed through the County Clerk’s Office. The state also maintains the Case Portal, where the public can search for case records at no cost. None of the above methods requires the provision of an ID to access arrest records for free. However, restricted, sealed, or sensitive records will not be available to the public through these free access platforms. Such records require an official written request from a qualified requester.

Washington County Arrest Report

An arrest record is a booking document created when a suspected offender is arrested and taken into custody. This document generally contains details about the suspect, the alleged offense, and bail information. Arrest records are primarily restricted to booking details, while an arrest report is a more detailed account of the arrest event. 

An arrest report is also called an incident or police report. This document is a detailed account from the arresting officer, which gives the officer’s observations during the arrest. It contains information about the circumstances that led to the arrest, the evidence collected during the arrest, the probable cause for the arrest, and statements made during the arrest by witnesses or the suspect. While arrest reports are also limited to the arrest event, they contain more detailed information than the basic information from the booking process. They are both public records that can be obtained through law enforcement agencies. However, arrest reports are not instantly made available publicly. They are restricted until the conclusion of all investigations or until the case is concluded. 

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Washington County

Washington County arrest records can be expunged and sealed. The process of expungement involves removing the record from public access, court files, and most government archives, making it as though the arrest never occurred, according to Maryland Code, Criminal Procedure 10-105.

Sealing involves removing the record from public view while it remains accessible to courts, law enforcement, and certain employers. Individuals who want to remove or seal their arrest records must meet the following conditions:

• The case did not lead to a conviction due to an acquittal or dismissal of charges
• The State did not prosecute
• The case was placed on indefinite postponement
• Probation Before Judgment was completed
• A gubernatorial pardon was given for certain convictions

In cases where the case was placed on indefinite postponement, there is a waiting period of 3 years from the date it was placed on the stet docket. If Probation Before Judgment is completed, the applicant must wait for 3 years to become eligible. Misdemeanor convictions and certain felony convictions can be sealed or expunged after waiting periods of between 3 and 10 years, depending on the offense. For cases closed after October 1, 2021, without a conviction, there will be automatic expungement. 

To begin the process, complete an expungement petition form, which is Form CC-DC-CR-072A for non-convictions or CC-DC-CR-072B for convictions. File the petition with the District or Circuit Court where the case was handled and pay the filing fee, which is free for nonconvictions or $30 for convictions. The State’s Attorney’s Office will be served with a notice, and a court hearing will be scheduled if this office files an objection. After the hearing, if granted. The judge will issue an order of expungement, which will be sent to all law enforcement agencies and entered in the court’s archives.

How Do You Remove Washington County Arrest Records From the Internet?

Washington County arrest records can be removed from the internet using the expungement or sealing order from the court. You can obtain a certified copy of this order to serve on government agencies that delay the removal from their platforms. The court order is also useful for removing arrest records from third-party websites. These platforms do not automatically comply with such orders because they will not be aware until the court order is sent. Many third-party websites also offer removal channels on their platform through which users can apply for a removal and send the court order. This might require you to follow up with the request to ensure the website removes the record promptly.