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  1. Wicomico County Court
  2. Wicomico County Arrest Records

Wicomico Parish, Maryland Arrest Records

Wicomico arrest records are official documents created when an individual is taken into custody on suspicion of a crime. It typically consists of information obtained when the individual is being booked into the county detention center. This includes the individual's name, offense(s), the arresting agency, the booking date, and custody status. Notably, arrest records are distinct from conviction records, which exist only if a case results in a guilty verdict.

Wicomico arrest records are created and maintained by the arresting law enforcement agency, which could be the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office or municipal police departments like the Salisbury Police Department. Per the Maryland Public Information Act, arrest records are open for public inspection to enhance transparency and accountability, unless an exemption exists. Therefore, they help citizens to monitor law enforcement activities, make informed safety decisions, and conduct background checks.

Arrest records are compiled into Criminal Offender Records Information held in a statewide repository maintained by Maryland's Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. Unlike arrest records, criminal records are governed by the Maryland Code of Criminal Procedure; hence, there are restrictions on what can be released, to whom, and under what conditions.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Wicomico, Maryland?

Yes, arrest records are public in Wicomico County. The Maryland Public Information Act is the state's primary law governing access to law enforcement records, and per the said statute, arrest records generated in Maryland can be disclosed to interested members of the public, unless an exemption applies. The possible exemptions include active investigation records, juvenile records, expunged records, and records that would jeopardize safety. Notably, these records remain withheld regardless of the record seeker.

To obtain open arrest records in Wicomico County, interested persons must submit a written request to the arresting agency or the Sheriff's Office by mail, email, or online. Agencies may charge a fee if copying is required; however, record seekers are not obliged to provide IDs or proof of residence while making a request. Notably, Wicomico arrest records are not restricted to Maryland residents, and the Maryland Public Information Act does not require anyone to explain why they want a record.

What Do Public Wicomico County Arrest Records Contain?

The typical public-facing elements of an arrest record in Wicomico County include:

  • Full name and any known alias of the arrestee
  • Date, time, and location of arrest
  • Alleged offense(s) or charges
  • The arresting agency
  • Booking date
  • Custody status
  • Booking/case number
  • Booking photos/mugshots
  • Bail/bond information

While the information listed above may be disclosable, it is noteworthy that some arrest information is restricted from public disclosure. The Maryland Public Information Act allows, and in some cases, requires agencies to withhold information in cases where disclosure would compromise an active investigation, violate a person's privacy, or endanger an individual's safety. Here is a list of commonly withheld arrest records in Wicomico County:

  • Active investigation materials including investigatory reports, witness statements, and evidence files.
  • Records that have been sealed or expunged by court orders.
  • Juvenile records (they are confidential under separate justice laws).
  • Information protected by privacy laws including medical/mental health information, social security numbers, and identifying information of victims and witnesses.
  • Complete compilation of an individual's arrests or convictions
  • Records where disclosure would compromise someone's safety or an ongoing investigation.

Wicomico County, Maryland Arrest Search

In Wicomico County, individuals charged with state offenses or given long jail sentences are held in state-controlled prisons, which are maintained by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS). To find such inmates, interested individuals can utilize the department's online Incarcerated Individuals Locator, which provides access to arrest information, especially the individual's incarceration status. For information about individuals arrested or booked by state troopers, one can obtain details of their arrest or incarceration by tendering MPIA record requests at the Maryland State Police Department in-person or via email or fax. For arrests relating to court hearings, one can get the concerned details via the Maryland Judiciary Case Search. This portal is the first-stop for Maryland court records, and it provides access to case transcripts and dockets. Therefore, one can review these documents to know when an arrest warrant was issued, when the individual was arrested, and why they were arrested.

Arrest searches are seemingly different for federal inmates, as they are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). Therefore, to obtain accurate inmate information, interested individuals can use the bureau's Inmate Locator to confirm their detention location, charges, and bond information.

Wicomico County Inmate Locator

Unlike other jurisdictions, Wicomico County does not maintain a large public-facing online jail roster. However, the county's Sheriff's Office provides an Inmate Search tool on its website. A search via this tool typically provides current custody status, booking date, charges, and bond information, if known. To use this tool, one is required to provide the inmate's full legal name, date of birth, or booking number to help narrow results. If the online tool does not yield the desired results, a phone inquiry is the recommended alternative to obtain information. Interested persons can opt to visit the Wicomico County Sheriff's Office or Wicomico County Detention Center in person at the address below, especially if they desire physical copies of arrest records.

Wicomico County Sheriff's Office

401 Naylor Mill Road,

Salisbury, MD 21801

Phone: 410-548-4891

Wicomico County Detention Center

411 Naylor Mill Road,

Salisbury, MD 21801

Phone: 410-548-4850

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Wicomico County

There are a good number of free tools available for arrest records search in Wicomico County; however, they have real limitations. The Sheriff's Inmate Search tool is the first free arrest search tool available in Wicomico County. The Maryland Judiciary Case Search tool is also a free tool; however, it has statewide coverage. It highlights arrest-linked charges, including case numbers, charge, and court outcomes. Similarly, the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) Incarcerated Individuals Locator helps to locate someone in Maryland state correctional facility at no cost.

While the aforementioned tools can help provide basic arrest information, there are a few constraints associated with their use. For instance, free record search tools have a recency bias; hence, they only contain information about individuals currently in custody. Older arrests, especially those that did not lead to a litigation, will not show up once the individual is released. Also, record seekers are required to provide the arrestee's identifying information (full legal name, date of birth, or booking number) to obtain reliable search results as partial names may not yield any information. It is also noteworthy that there is no way to browse all arrests in a specific year or period; rather, these tools search for specific individuals.

Wicomico County Arrest Report

Although they are often used interchangeably, "arrest records" and "arrest reports" are two separate documents with different levels of public access.

Arrest records are brief summary entries in the county or state's case management system. They contain basic information like the date and time of arrest, bond status, and the arresting agency, highlighting the fact that an arrest happened. They function like index cards, and they are accessible via public-facing record search portals and online rosters.

Arrest reports are written accounts prepared by the arresting officer after the incident. They are also called incident reports, and they detail what led to the encounter, the statements made, observations, evidence noted, and the officer's reasons for the arrest. They also contain information that are typically redacted like witness statements and investigative details. Notably, arrest reports are not summaries; as such, they are not searchable through online tools and inmate locators.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Wicomico County

Wicomico arrest records can be expunged or shielded on request, although a few limited exceptions may apply. Per the Maryland Criminal Procedure Act, expungement refers to the complete destruction of the concerned records, and shielding refers to a restriction of access to some records. The latter, being a lesser form of restriction, is reserved for records that do not qualify for full expungement (certain non-guilty findings). It is governed by the Maryland Second Chance Act.

Arrests that were never formally charged are automatically expunged after 60 days of release from custody. Cases that end in acquittals, dismissals, or indefinite postponement of trial are automatically expunged after 3 years of release from custody. However , record subjects can file for expungement before the time elapses. While most convictions are shielded, some are eligible for expungement only after a mandatory waiting period from completion of the full sentence. The waiting period varies among offenses, with 15 years being required for felonies and 3 to 10 years for some misdemeanors. Notably, record subjects are required to maintain a clean record during this period as a new conviction disqualifies the original charge from expungement.

To file for shielding, interested parties can file a complete Petition for Shielding at the Wicomico County Circuit Court. Notably, this process is free. For expungement, the record subjects are required to complete the correct expungement form, based on the outcome of the arrest, and file the petition at the Wicomico County Circuit Court. Notably, expungement of eligible guilty dispositions attract a non-refundable filing fee of $30.

How Do You Remove Wicomico Arrest Records From the Internet?

Per the Maryland Criminal Procedure Act, expunged records are legally sealed and withheld from review or inspection. Therefore, once a court orders expungement, every official custodian of the record is legally required to destroy or remove the record from public access. Failure to do this is a legal offense, and the subjects of the record can sue the agency.

However, this law applies only to official government agencies. Expungement orders are not sent to third-party websites; therefore, the concerned records may be on private databases long after they have been expunged. To resolve this, the subject may need to inform the private publishers of the court orders, highlighting that the relevant record must be deleted from their databases.