Search Anne Arundel County Background Check Records

Anne Arundel County background check records can be found at the Circuit Court in Annapolis or searched online through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search system. The court keeps criminal case files, civil records, and related court documents that are open to the public. For a fingerprint-based criminal history record, the Maryland CJIS system handles those requests at the state level.

Anne Arundel County Circuit Court

The Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County has its own dedicated website at circuitcourt.org. The clerk is Scott A. Poyer. The courthouse is at 8 Church Circle in Annapolis. This court handles felony criminal cases, civil cases, domestic relations, and other matters that go beyond District Court jurisdiction in Anne Arundel County.

The Anne Arundel County Circuit Court maintains a separate website from the statewide Maryland courts portal, making it a direct resource for background check and criminal records searches in the county.

Criminal records are handled by a separate department from civil records. The criminal department phone number is 410-222-1420. The main telephone directory number is (410) 222-1397. Both lines are open during regular business hours. When you call the criminal department about a specific case, you will need a case number. The office states that many criminal records are public, but a case number is required for phone inquiries. If you do not have one, use the online Case Search tool to find it first.

The Criminal Department at the Anne Arundel County Circuit Court processes requests for criminal case records and handles appeals from the District Court.

Background Check Records Search in Anne Arundel County

The fastest way to start a background check search in Anne Arundel County is through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search. This free public tool searches Circuit Court and District Court records by name or case number. You can filter by court type, case type, and date range. Results include party names, charges, case status, and dispositions. The system updates roughly every 10 minutes after a clerk makes an entry.

For an in-person search at the Anne Arundel County courthouse, go to 8 Church Circle in Annapolis. The criminal department is your starting point for criminal case records. Bring a case number if you have one, since phone inquiries to the criminal department require it. In person, the clerk can search by name without a case number. Keep in mind the clerk cannot give legal advice, and they cannot run background checks through CJIS on your behalf.

Mail requests are also accepted. Write out what you need, include payment, and send a self-addressed stamped envelope to avoid the $2.00 mail handling fee. Address your letter to the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County at 8 Church Circle, Annapolis, MD 21401.

If you need a certified copy of a criminal case record, the fee is $5.00 on top of the standard $0.50 per page. Appeals have a $121.00 filing fee if you are appealing a Circuit Court decision. For standard background check record searches, you only pay copy fees for the pages you request.

Anne Arundel County District Court

The District Court for Anne Arundel County is at 251 Rowe Boulevard in Annapolis. It handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, replevin actions, and civil cases below $30,000. Most misdemeanor criminal records in Anne Arundel County are in the District Court, not the Circuit Court. Both sets of records appear in the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal.

Some felony charges may also be heard in the District Court if the charge involves certain types of theft. The Circuit Court handles most felonies and all cases that involve a jury demand. If you are doing a background check search and you are not sure which court handled a case, search both in Case Search by selecting "All Courts" in the advanced options.

Anne Arundel County Background Check Process

The Anne Arundel County Circuit Court does not perform criminal background checks. The criminal department is explicit about this: for record check inquiries, call the Maryland Criminal Justice Information System at 1-888-795-0011. CJIS runs fingerprint-based checks through the CJIS Central Repository in Pikesville. These are the official background checks tied to fingerprints, not just name searches.

For Anne Arundel County residents, one of the CJIS MVA fingerprinting locations is at 6601 Ritchie Highway in Glen Burnie, which is close to the county. The in-person fee for a state-only background check is $38.00 plus a $20.00 fingerprint service fee. LiveScan electronic fingerprinting is now required for most in-state applicants. Mail-in requests are available for $18.00 if you arrange fingerprinting through an authorized provider first.

The CJIS fingerprinting page has a list of all authorized sites in Maryland. Book early, especially at sites near high-demand areas. Popular locations near Anne Arundel County fill up weeks ahead. If your background check is time-sensitive, schedule your fingerprint appointment as soon as possible.

Note: Case Search should not be used as the sole tool for criminal background checks. It is for public court record searches only and does not include all criminal history information.

Legal Help in Anne Arundel County

The Anne Arundel County Circuit Court offers several free resources for people who need help with court matters. The court has a Family Law Help Center, a Law Library, and a Lawyer in the Library program. The court's Daily Docket is posted online through the circuitcourt.org website so you can check court schedules before you visit. Legal Aid Bureau referrals are also available through the court.

Nearby Counties

These counties are close to Anne Arundel County. Each has its own court clerk and maintains separate background check records. Search the right county based on where the case was filed.