Baltimore City County Court
Baltimore City County Arrest Records

Baltimore City, Maryland Arrest Records

A Baltimore City arrest record is an official document generated and maintained by the city's law enforcement agencies, most commonly the Baltimore Police Department (BPD). The document recounts the details of an individual's arrest and detention after allegedly committing a crime. Officers are required by state law to create a report that specifies who is being arrested, for what reason, and by whom. This ensures that the public can check the basic facts of each criminal incident and monitor how local police and associated agencies apply their lawful powers.

Baltimore arrest records are subject to the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA), found at Md. Code, Gen. Prov. §§ 4-101 to 4-601. The Act gives the public the right to request and receive general disclosure records from police departments, local jails, and other participants in the arrest and detention process.

However, basic arrest information differs from comprehensive criminal offender record information, which compiles the totality of a person's criminal justice history. In Baltimore, the latter is known as the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) and governed under Md. Code, Crim. Proc. § 10-213.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Baltimore, Maryland?

Yes. However, the Maryland Public Information Act makes a distinction between basic arrest logs, which fall under general government records, and "investigatory records," which are more discretionary in nature.

Researchers can access standard police blotters from any publicly available channel (such as the headquarters of the Baltimore Police Department), by requesting a police report online, or by calling an official phone inquiry line.

In contrast, when someone requests a detailed police file, detective notes, a full incident report, or a criminal case file, the request can be denied at the discretion of the police department for reasons stipulated in Md. Code, Gen. Prov. § 4-351(b), where disclosure might

Put someone's life or physical safety at risk
Undermine a police investigation
Deny somebody their right to a fair trial or impartial decision
Unfairly invade a person's privacy
Reveal a confidential source

Record seekers are not required to provide an ID to obtain a Baltimore arrest record. Furthermore, the BPD does not discriminate between city residents and non-residents—both can ask for and receive arrest records. However, requests must be made in writing and mailed to the BPD, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope.

What Do Public Baltimore City Arrest Records Contain?

Public safety authorities in Baltimore maintain daily arrest logs in accordance with state law. Each entry details these and other basic facts of an arrest, which members of the public may review at their convenience:

Name, age, and general home address of the arrestee
Sex and race
Height, weight, eye color, hair color, and other physical attributes
Arrest date, time, and location
Arresting agency, and the arresting officer's name and ID number
Mugshots, in certain circumstances

Under Md. Code, Gen. Prov. § 4-351(a), law enforcement agencies operating in Baltimore are not allowed to publicize a record or portions of a record that may imperil an investigation or reveal critical intelligence. Additionally, disclosure of the following kinds of information is not permitted:

Records that a court has sealed
Records of juvenile arrestees (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 3-8A-27)
Records of a private nature (Social Security number, bank account number, phone number, medical files, psychological records)
Details of victims or the identity of witnesses

Baltimore City, Maryland Arrest Search

In addition to city police, state troopers and federal law enforcement officers also make arrests within Baltimore City. Record seekers may consult several official resources to locate Baltimore arrest information at the state or federal level.

Maryland Judiciary Case Search: Case searches are the de facto official method for verifying that an arrest led to a charge. Users can search by case number or select "Advanced Search" and filter for criminal cases.
Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS): Operated by the state's Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS), the CJIS is a paid service that allows eligible organizations and individuals to request a statewide criminal background check, which essentially summarizes a person's history of encounters with the criminal justice system. The procedure for procuring a criminal history record varies for state and non-state requesters.
Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Search Tool: Record seekers may find the location of a Baltimore resident arrested and incarcerated on federal charges using the BOP's public inmate locator tool. Users can search by name or agency ID number.
Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER): Record seekers may search the PACER database for federal court records, including related arrest data for Baltimore residents apprehended on suspicion of a federal crime and charged in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. A typical criminal case docket often includes arrest-related information.

Baltimore City Inmate Locator

Baltimore City does not operate its own city jail or have an exclusive locator tool for arrests and detentions within city limits. The state, through its Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS), runs the jail and booking system for the area.

Record seekers may search the DPSCS Incarcerated Individual Locator tool for Baltimore arrest or custody information. The tool generally lists individuals in custody at the time of search. It may not list released individuals or some people serving very short sentences. The tool only provides searches by First Name and Last Name.

Arrestees from Baltimore City are usually taken to the Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center (BCBIC) and processed into the Chesapeake Detention Facility or another pretrial facility. The Division of Pretrial Detention and Services (DPDS), a section of the DPSCS, runs these facilities.

Given that these state detention agencies do not provide online locator tools for pretrial detainees, the public may use the following contact details to locate recent arrestees directly:

Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center (BCBIC)

300 East Madison Street

Baltimore, MD 21202

Phone: (410) 585-3300 (DPSCS main line)

Phone: (410) 230-1434 (DPDS main line)

Chesapeake Detention Facility

401 East Madison Street

Baltimore, MD 21202

Phone: (410) 539-5445

Baltimore Police Department (BPD) Headquarters

601 East Fayette Street

Baltimore, MD 21202

Email: BPDinquiries@BaltimorePolice.org

Non-Emergency Phone: 311

Active Warrant Search in Baltimore City

A District Court judge, Circuit Court judge, or District Court Commissioner can release an arrest warrant to local police in Baltimore City. This document serves as legal authorization to arrest and detain an individual implicated in a crime. Before issuance, the receiving officer must present a complaint showing a crime has happened and naming a suspect.

A typical arrest warrant provides detailed information about the arrest, including the suspect's name, the alleged crime, their physical description, a judicial mandate to carry out the arrest, and the issuing judge, court, or commissioner's signature.

While local police execute arrest warrants, they do not provide an online tool to search for warrant details. Researchers may instead use the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal. It hosts court records for criminal cases filed throughout the state, and each docket explicitly indicates whether a warrant has been issued in a specific case.

The public can also make warrant inquiries at any Baltimore Police Department district station, while the Baltimore City Sheriff's Office often holds active criminal warrants, even though it is mainly a civil process agency. Individuals may contact the office by phone/email or at

100 North Calvert Street

Room 104

Baltimore, MD 21202

Phone: (410) 396-1155

Email: sheriffs.communications@baltimorecity.gov

According to Md. Code, Gen. Prov. § 4-316, arrest warrants become open to the public once executed or after 90 days have elapsed since their issuance. That said, researchers are expected to produce the following details when making a warrant inquiry to local clerks or law enforcement.

The first and last name of the suspect
Case number or booking number
Date of birth, or
Arrest or filing date range

Agency / Resource	Purpose	Search Methods	Notes
Baltimore City Sheriff's Office	Maintains and serves Circuit Court warrants, subpoenas, and court orders	Phone, in person	No independent online warrant lookup. Inquiries are handled through phone or the courthouse office
Baltimore City Circuit Court Clerk	Maintains official court records and files, including those containing warrant issuances	Phone, mail, in person	The Clerk's Office can verify case statuses and warrant returns for Circuit Court cases
Maryland Judiciary Case Search	Statewide database providing public access to District and Circuit Court case files and warrant statuses	Online	This is the primary and most reliable online tool for finding docketed warrant information in Maryland
Baltimore Police Department	Primary law enforcement agency executing local warrants; houses the city's Warrant Apprehension Task Force	Phone, in person	Does not host an online warrant portal. The public must use the statewide Case Search or contact the department directly

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Baltimore City

Researchers may use the Maryland Judicial Case Search portal to search by name or case number to view arrest and charge summaries for free. However, this tool is limited to charged arrests and excludes apprehensions that did not result in a court appearance, acquittals, dismissals, expunged records, and releases due to dropped cases.

In the absence of an official Baltimore Police Department online arrest log, individuals may submit a Freedom of Information Act request. Those who wish to follow this route should complete the Police Report Request Form and mail it along with a self-addressed envelope to

Baltimore Police Department

Attention: Community Correspondence Unit

242 West 29th Street

Baltimore, MD 21211

Baltimore City Arrest Report

Baltimore City arrest records are summary entries of an individual's arrest and booking. In contrast, an arrest report is the personal testimony of the arresting officer regarding the circumstances of an arrest. It details the incident from the officer's perspective and may incorporate witness statements and on-the-spot evidence to form a comprehensive picture. Arrest reports typically form the basis of criminal charges instituted in Baltimore.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Baltimore City

There are two principal ways to remove Baltimore arrest files from official records: expungement and shielding. Expungement completely erases a record, treating it as if it never existed, while shielding permanently removes it from public view. Individuals unable to get a record expunged may resort to shielding as an alternative.

Under Md. Code, Crim. Proc. § 10-105, an arrestee whose case did not result in a conviction can petition for an expungement three years after the case is settled, or earlier if they sign and submit a General Waiver and Release form protecting the government from a tort claim. The waiting period for qualifying convictions under Md. Code, Crim. Proc. § 10-110 varies by the specific offense, ranging from 3 years for certain drug possession crimes to up to 15 years for domestic-related offenses.

The Maryland Second Chance Act, located in Md. Code, Crim. Proc. § 10-301 et seq., offers individuals a chance to shield records that are otherwise ineligible for expungement. This provision only applies to 12 specific misdemeanor offenses of a non-violent nature, and any petition may be entertained only once three years have elapsed since the individual completed their sentence. Unlike expungement, which is available for each eligible case, shielding can only be applied once per individual.

Petitioners should approach the court that tried their case and file the applicable document from the two below:

Petition for Expungement of Records
Request to Shield Court Records

If there is no objection from the public, a victim, or the state 30 days after a petition is filed, the judge will issue an order compelling the record custodian to either destroy or hide the record.

When the arrested person is released without charge, their arrest record is automatically shielded for three years, after which it is permanently destroyed in accordance with Md. Code, Crim. Proc. § 10-103.1.

How Do You Remove Baltimore City Arrest Records From the Internet?

Individuals can remove a Baltimore City arrest record from the internet by securing a judicial order for expungement or shielding. Under Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-1324, independent online publishers are obligated to remove an individual's booking photographs and arrest details upon receipt of a written request containing proof of a case's expungement, acquittal, or dismissal.