Allegany County Background Check Records
Allegany County background check records are kept at the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Cumberland. The court holds criminal case files, civil records, and other public documents you can search in person or through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search online portal. If you need a formal background check with full criminal history, the Maryland State Police and CJIS handle those requests separately from the court.
Allegany County Overview
Allegany County Circuit Court Clerk
The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Allegany County is Dawne D. Lindsey. The office is at 30 Washington Street in Cumberland. This office keeps all criminal and civil court records for Allegany County. You can view public case files in person during business hours. Staff cannot give legal advice, but they can help you find the records you need.
The criminal department and civil department each have their own phone line. Call (301) 777-5922 for criminal records. Call (301) 777-5923 for civil records. Both departments are open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you are not sure which line to call, start with the main criminal number and staff will direct you.
The state image below shows the Maryland CJIS background check portal, which is the official source for full criminal history records in Maryland. Allegany County residents who need an official background check should go through the CJIS system, not just the court clerk.
The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services maintains the CJIS Central Repository, which holds fingerprint-based criminal history for Allegany County and all other Maryland jurisdictions.
| Address | 30 Washington Street, Cumberland, MD 21502 |
|---|---|
| Criminal Phone | (301) 777-5922 |
| Civil Phone | (301) 777-5923 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Clerk | Dawne D. Lindsey |
How to Search Allegany County Background Check Records
You have two main ways to search court records in Allegany County. The first is online through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search. This free tool lets you search by name or case number and see case summaries for criminal and civil cases. The system is available around the clock and is updated within about 10 minutes of entries made by the clerk. You do not need an account to search, but you must accept the terms before each session.
The second way is to visit the clerk's office in person at 30 Washington Street in Cumberland. In-person visits let you see the full case file, not just the summary. Bring the name of the person you are looking for or a case number if you have one. Staff can search by name. Old files may take a bit longer to pull. Bring cash or a money order because the office does not accept personal checks.
One important rule in Allegany County: criminal dispositions cannot be given over the phone. If you call the office, staff can confirm a case exists but will not read you the outcome. You must visit in person or use Case Search to see the disposition of any criminal case.
For an official, fingerprint-based background check in Allegany County, the clerk's office does not do those. The clerk's office will refer you to the Maryland State Police at 1-888-795-0011. The State Police and the CJIS Central Repository handle full background check requests that include fingerprinting. The CJIS background check page has all the details on how to start that process.
Things to bring for an in-person records search:
- Full name of the person whose records you want
- Date of birth if known
- Case number if you have it
- Cash or money order for any copy fees
- Valid government-issued photo ID
Copy Fees for Allegany County Court Records
The clerk charges $0.50 per page for copies of court records in Allegany County. If you need a certified copy, add $5.00 on top of the per-page fee. If you need an exemplified copy, the extra charge is $10.00. Mail requests cost an added $2.00 for handling, but you can avoid that fee by including a self-addressed stamped envelope with your request.
Allegany County does not accept personal checks. All payments must be made in cash or by money order. This rule applies to all departments at the courthouse. If you are mailing a request, send a money order only. Cash sent through the mail is not recommended and could cause problems with your request. Call ahead at (301) 777-5922 to ask about the cost for your specific request before you send payment.
Note: For historical records held by the Maryland State Archives, a separate fee applies. Full case files cost $50.00, and criminal disposition documents cost $25.00 through the State Archives order form.
Allegany County District Court Records
The District Court in Allegany County handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, small claims, and civil cases under $30,000. These are separate from Circuit Court records. District Court cases are also searchable through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal using the same name or case number search.
The Allegany County District Court is at 123 South Liberty Street in Cumberland. The phone number is (301) 723-3106. Hours are the same as the Circuit Court: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you are doing a background check search and the charge was a misdemeanor or traffic violation, it will likely be in District Court records rather than Circuit Court.
Official Background Checks for Allegany County Residents
The Allegany County Circuit Court does not run background checks. The clerk's office is clear on this point and directs all background check requests to the Maryland State Police at 1-888-795-0011. For a full state-level background check, you need to go through the CJIS Central Repository. This requires fingerprinting and a fee, but it gives you a complete record of Maryland criminal history tied to that person's fingerprints.
CJIS has a location in Glen Burnie at 6601 Ritchie Highway that serves residents from western Maryland, including those in Allegany County. The in-person fee for a state-only background check is $38.00, plus a $20.00 fingerprint service fee. Mail-in requests cost $18.00 plus the fingerprinting fee charged by the site where prints are taken. Processing takes 10 to 15 days after CJIS receives your submission.
The Maryland sex offender registry is a separate public resource maintained by DPSCS at socem.info. Anyone can search the registry for free without fingerprinting or fees.
Allegany County Sheriff's Office Records
The Allegany County Sheriff's Office is at 695 Kelly Road in Cumberland. The phone number is (301) 777-1585. The Sheriff's Office keeps arrest records and incident reports that are separate from court files. These records may show up as part of a broader background check. The Sheriff's Office also provides fingerprinting services for residents who need prints taken for CJIS background check submissions.
Court records and sheriff records are two different things. Circuit Court records show what happened in court. Sheriff records show what happened in the field before or during an arrest. Both can be relevant when doing a background check search in Allegany County. For the most complete picture, check both sources.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Allegany County. Each has its own Circuit Court clerk and background check records. If you are not sure which county to search, check where the case was filed or where the person lived at the time of arrest.