Background Check in Baltimore County

Baltimore County background check records are maintained at the Circuit Court Clerk's office in Towson, separate from Baltimore City. The Circuit Court handles criminal cases, civil records, and family law matters for the county. You can search records online through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search or visit the courthouse in person to view files and request copies.

Baltimore County Circuit Court Clerk

The Clerk of the Circuit Court for Baltimore County is Julie Ensor. The courthouse is at 401 Bosley Avenue in Towson. This office keeps all criminal and civil case records for Baltimore County. All persons entering the building must pass through security screening, so plan to arrive a few minutes early to allow time for that process.

The Baltimore County Circuit Court maintains its own website through the county government portal at baltimorecountymd.gov, with direct access to records request forms and department contact information.

The court has separate departments for criminal, civil, family law, and land records. Attorneys are required to use MDEC for electronic filing. If you are a member of the public searching for criminal records, you can visit in person during business hours or use the online tools described below.

How to Find Baltimore County Background Check Records

Start your search on the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal. This free public tool covers all Maryland courts, including Baltimore County Circuit Court and District Court. Search by name or case number. The advanced search lets you filter by court type (circuit or district), case type (criminal, civil, traffic), and date range. Results show party names, charges, hearing dates, case status, and dispositions. The system refreshes throughout the day as clerks enter new data.

To request physical copies of Baltimore County court records, you must submit a Records Request Form. The form is available through the Baltimore County Circuit Court website. You can submit the form in person or by mail. For mail requests, include a self-addressed stamped envelope and your payment. The address is 401 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204.

Baltimore County does not accept personal checks. Payment must be made in cash, by certified check, money order, or by credit card (MasterCard, Visa, or Discover). This rule applies whether you visit in person or send a mail request. Have your payment ready before you go to avoid delays.

Tips for searching Baltimore County background check records:

• Use Case Search first to get the case number before visiting
• Arrive early to allow time for security screening
• Bring a case number or full name and date of birth
• No personal checks accepted at the courthouse
• Include SASE with mail requests to speed processing

Baltimore County Records Copy Fees

Standard copies of Baltimore County court records cost $0.50 per page. Certified copies cost an additional $5.00 on top of the per-page fee. Exemplified copies, which carry a higher level of authentication, cost an extra $10.00 plus the per-page fee. Payment is due at the time of the request, whether in person or by mail.

For mail requests, include payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope. If you do not know the exact page count, write "not to exceed" and an amount on your check or money order. This gives the clerk the authority to process the request within that limit. Any unused portion of the payment is returned to you.

Note: No personal checks are accepted under any circumstances at the Baltimore County Circuit Court. Cash, certified checks, money orders, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover are all accepted forms of payment.

Baltimore County Police Records

The Baltimore County Police Department is a separate source for arrest records and incident reports. These records exist apart from Circuit Court case files and may be relevant to a background check search in Baltimore County. The department is reachable through the county's official website.

The Baltimore County Police Department maintains arrest records and incident reports that may be requested separately from Circuit Court case files as part of a complete background check search.

Police arrest records and court records are different. An arrest record shows that a person was arrested and what the charge was. A court record shows what happened afterward in the legal process. Both can be part of a background check in Baltimore County. If you are looking for a complete picture, check both sources. For official fingerprint-based background check records, contact the Maryland State Police or CJIS at 1-888-795-0011.

Official Background Check Process in Baltimore County

The Circuit Court clerk's office in Towson does not conduct criminal background checks. For a formal background check in Baltimore County, you must go through the CJIS Central Repository. CJIS uses fingerprints to match records, which makes it much more reliable than a name-only search. The state-only background check costs $38.00 in person plus a $20.00 fingerprint service fee. Mail-in requests are $18.00 plus the fingerprint fee charged by the site where prints are taken.

Baltimore County residents have access to multiple fingerprinting sites, including CJIS MVA locations throughout the Baltimore area. The CJIS fingerprinting page lists all authorized sites. As of October 1, 2020, LiveScan electronic fingerprinting is required for most in-state applicants. Hard card fingerprint submissions are only accepted with a documented medical reason.

Processing takes 10 to 15 days from when CJIS receives your submission. You can check the status of your request by calling 410-764-4501 with your reference number or Social Security number. The Maryland sex offender registry is also searchable for free at socem.info.

Nearby Counties

Baltimore County borders several other Maryland counties. If a case was filed in one of these counties, you will need to search their court records separately. Each county has its own Circuit Court clerk.