Search Free Washington County Records: Warrants, Arrests, Marital

Free Washington County Public Records Search
Access Washington County Records: marriage, divorce, warrants, arrests, probation, criminal, court, background checks, and all public records.

Explore Washington County public records for free to reveal someone’s background and acquire vital information.

Public records in Washington County are readily available, and the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) makes data – such as background check reports, criminal history, court proceedings and property ownership – accessible to anyone interested.

Citizens can use the links and instructions provided throughout this resource to ensure accurate records by obtaining a wide range of public information about marriage, divorce, warrants, arrests, probation, and other prisoner information.

How To See Who’s in a Washington County Jail & the Reason for the Arrest for Free

An individual seeking Washington County arrest records can utilize various resources.

Generally, a countywide search will provide details on inmate information, including arrest dates, charges, and incarceration locations. These searches can involve online inmate search tools, rosters, and other jail records.

Find Arrestees Booked in the Washington County Jail

In Washington County, arrest information is publicly available. However, the county does not provide an inmate roster and does not offer any online search tool to lookup arrest information. Interested individuals can contact the county detention center to request for specific individual’s records.

Washington County Detention Center maintained detailed records on all individuals arrested and booked within the facility.

To obtain information about arrest, requesters should provide the name of the offender, birth date and any additional information that may help locate inmate records.

Contact the Washington County Detention Center at 240.313.2133 or visit their office directly at the address provided below:1

Washington County Detention Center
500 Western Maryland Parkway
Hagerstown, MD 21740

Additionally, Washington County public records related to arrest can also be obtained through the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, as they operate the county jail. Requesters can contact the Records Division by phone at 240.313.2100, or visit them in person.

Washington County Sheriff’s Office
500 Western Maryland Parkway
Hagerstown, MD 21740

Look Up Arrests & Obtain Police Reports Through Police Departments in Washington County Maryland

Conducting a search on arrest and obtaining police reports in Washington County, Maryland may also require contacting the local law enforcement agencies.

Washington County is divided into 1 city and 8 towns.2 Interested individuals who want to obtain records should contact the respective police departments beforehand, or visit their website to learn their process on obtaining arrest and police reports.

Police Departments Address Contact Information
City of Hagerstown Police Department 50 N Burhans Blvd
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Phone: 301.790.3700
Fax: 301.733.5513
Records Division: 301.393.4951
Town of Boonsboro Police Department 241 Potomac St., Boonsboro Washington County, MD  21713 Phone: 301.432.6838
Town of Clear Spring Police Department 146 Cumberland St.
Clear Spring, MD 21722
Phone: 301.842.2252
Town of Hancock  Police Department 126 W. High Street
Hancock, MD 21750
Phone: +1.800.792-8501
Town of Smithsburg Police Department  21 West Water St
Smithsburg, MD 21783
Phone: 240.313.4345

For the other towns such as Sharpsburg, Funkstown, Williamsport and Keedysville, police services are provided by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Therefore, if any events occur in these cities, contact the sheriff’s office at:

Washington County Sheriff’s Office
500 Western Maryland Parkway
Hagerstown, MD 21740

Phone: 240.313.2100

How To Check Criminal Cases in Washington County Maryland

Criminal records such as charges,  warrants, probation information are accessible by the public in Washington County, Maryland.

There are various resources and methods available, from online databases to in-person visits to local county and state agencies. Below are the available options and methods on how to search for someone’s criminal records.

Determine if Someone Has a History of Crime in Washington County Maryland Through Various Official Channels

The most accessible way to determine whether an individual has a criminal record in Washington County is through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search. This tool allows the public to have access to a wide range of court records for free that covers all counties in the state, including Washington County.

To search for criminal cases, you must provide information such as the case number or the offender’s first and last name. The search results will provide the list of matching cases, with information such as case number, subject’s full name, date of birth (DOB), case status, and offense details.

A screenshot of case search results from the Maryland Judiciary showing case numbers, names, dates of birth, party types, courts, case types, statuses, filing dates, and case captions.
Source: Maryland Judiciary3

Click the case number to view more detailed information.

Additionally, you can also contact the Washington County Circuit Court at:4

Washington County Clerk’s Office
24 Summit Ave.
Hagerstown, MD 21740

Phone: 301-733-8660
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: 8:30 AM–4:30 PM

For more specific criminal local information, you reach out to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Although the office does not offer an online resource, criminal information can be obtained by sending a request to the Records Division.

Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Records Division
500 Western Maryland Parkway
Hagerstown, MD 21740

Phone: 240.313.2100

How To See Who Has a Warrant Out for Their Arrest: Washington County MD Wanted Lookup

Members of the public can see who is wanted locally or check who has an arrest warrant by contacting the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

Although they don’t have an online database showing warrant details, they do have a designated Warrant Task Force to track down fugitives of the law or those who simply have a court order for their arrest or a search of their person or property.

You can reach out to the Washington County Warrant Task Force by phone or visit the sheriff’s office in person to inquire about wanted individuals in the area.5

Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Warrant Task Force
500 Western Maryland Pkwy
Hagerstown Maryland 21740

Phone: 240.313.2100

For a broader lookup of anyone wanted throughout the state, interested parties can review the tutorial on searching all Maryland warrants.

How To See Who Is on Probation in Washington County Maryland

If you want to obtain information about a specific supervised individual or learn more about the county’s probation system, you must search for probation information. Note that these records are not entirely open to the public, however, basic details can be obtained by reaching to the right custodians.

In Washington County, the Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services (DPSCS) handles probation and parole services.6 The department do not offer an online database, thus, to obtain details about individual probation information you can reach out to the DPSCS Headquarters or the Washington County Probation Department at:

Division of Parole & Probation Headquarters
6776 Reisterstown Road, Suite 212
Baltimore, MD 21215

Phone: 410.585.3500
Toll Free: 877.227.8031

Washington County Probation Department
Hagerstown Field Office/DDMP
100 West Franklin St
Hagerstown, MD 21740

Phone: 240.420.5140 / 240.420.5150
Fax: 301.791.5745

Additionally, you can also utilize the Maryland Judiciary Case Search to look up probation information. However, this can only provide basic information. Use the guide provided above and search for individual case history.

Note: Probation information will be visible on the case records if they are part of the court order.

Since probation is issued by the court, information can also be found through the Washington County Circuit Court.4 Address and contact information can be found below.

Washington County Clerk’s Office
24 Summit Ave.
Hagerstown, MD 21740

Phone: 301-733-8660
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: 8:30 AM–4:30 PM

How To Get a Background Check Done in Washington County

If you are curious about your own record or you are an employer who wants to seek information about someone, you must conduct a background check.

Background checks can be used for personal and professional purposes.

Members of the general public can perform a background check for personal reasons by searching through the Washington County public records databases and custodians. This type of check does not require consent and reason, however, information obtained must not be used to stalk, harass, or for illegal purposes.

To conduct a personal check, you can utilize the online databases offered by the county, state or federal custodians. Additionally, you can also reach out directly to the law enforcement agencies such as the sheriff’s office, police departments, circuit court, etc. Another option is through third party providers.

On the other hand, professional background checks are typically done by employers, landlords and educational institutions. This type of checks must follow specific rules and regulations.

Performing a professional background check in Washington County can be done through the Maryland Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services (DPSCS).7

Note: Background check fees vary depending on the purpose and the type of request.

DPSCS offers name-based checks (level 1) which can be done in person or by mail.

Fingerprint-based checks (level 2) are also possible through the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, which requires fingerprinting at authorized locations.8

Another means is through the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Records Division.9 Complete the required form and submit with the required fee.

A screenshot of the public record online request form from the Division of Emergency Services of Washington County displays an instructional text about the form submission, fees, and process, followed by the fields for incident number, date and time of incident, location, and name of requestor.
Source: Washington County, Division of Emergency Services9

For more information call or visit the office at:

Washington County Sheriff’s Office
500 Western Maryland Parkway
Hagerstown, MD 21740

Phone: 240.313.2100

Additionally, if you are residing in the City of Hagerstown, requests can be emailed to [email protected] or by fax 301-393-4951.

Note that information obtained should be used responsibly and in compliance with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC).10, 11 These legal constraints will be explained further below.

How To Access Maryland State & Federal Resources To Find Criminal History Details

Aside from looking through public criminal history records limited to Washington County, you can also access Maryland arrest and criminal records throughout the entire state or even utilize federal search tools.

Below, you’ll find several of these helpful agencies and databases linked with a short synopsis of each.

Maryland Incarcerated Individual Locator Tool: Find information on anyone currently held in a state prison within Maryland.

A screenshot of the search results from the inmate locator tool provided by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services lists the individuals' names and dates of birth.
Source: Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services12

Maryland Judiciary Case Search: Lets citizens find documents and information stemming from criminal cases heard by circuit and district courts within Maryland.

Maryland Sex Offender Registry: A searchable database of individuals convicted of sexual-based crimes within the state; can be browsed by the offender’s location or name.

National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW): Similar to the Maryland Sex Offender Registry, this is a broader sexual offender database – searchable by either location or name (or alias) – and provides nationwide results.

Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Search Tool: The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) enables users to look up anybody incarcerated in federally-run prisons throughout the entire U.S.

How To View Washington County Court Documents & Cases

There are several ways to access court documents and cases in Washington County, MD. Records can be obtained online, phone, mail or in-person visit.

To view court cases, the primary resource is the Maryland Judiciary Case Search. This online tool is searchable by the individual’s name (first and last name) or case number.

To use this tool, provide the case number, if you have that information available, for accurate results. Otherwise, you can perform a search by name. Searching by name may result in several matching records. Click on “Advance Search” to further refine your search. Specify the court type, party type, case type, then select “Washington” as the county.

Providing more information will allow you to narrow down your search. Click “Search”. Search results show a list of cases that match the search criteria.

Select the specific individual case record to view more information.

A screenshot from the Maryland Judiciary Case Search service displays a court case detail, including the court system, location, case number, title, case type, filing date, case status, judicial officer, tracking number, and other reference numbers.
Source: Maryland Judiciary13

However, an online search only provides case summaries, so to obtain more detailed case records, you may need to contact the Circuit Court directly.

Washington County Clerk’s Office
24 Summit Ave.
Hagerstown, MD 21740

Phone: 301-733-8660
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: 8:30 AM–4:30 PM

How To Obtain Washington County Maryland Marriage, Divorce, Birth & Death Records

Vital records are also referred to as the official government documents which consist of marriage records, divorce records, birth and death certificates and are included in Washington County’s public records.

These records are widely sought-after documents that attract significant interest from individuals seeking to uncover information about marital status out of curiosity, or who are engaged in the detailed exploration of their family histories and connections through genealogical research.

Vital records offer valuable information that serves various purposes, such as confirming a relative’s birth date, exploring an ancestor’s death circumstances, or uncovering details of marriages and divorces.

These documents are essential resources that can help you determine if someone is married or divorced, and they can also assist you in obtaining important documents such as a family member’s birth certificate or death certificate.

Such records provide crucial information that can be used for a variety of purposes, from verifying marital status to documenting significant life events.

Whether you need to confirm the details of a relative’s birth, uncover the specifics surrounding an ancestor’s death, or check the marital history of an individual, vital records offer a wealth of information to support your needs.

Review Marital Information & Obtain Certificates in Washington County Through the Circuit Court Clerk or Maryland Judiciary Database

Washington County provides free public records; however, this does not extend to marriage records. You can obtain a certified marriage certificate from the Maryland Court by completing the Marriage Record Request Form and mailing a $5.50 payment per copy to the relevant circuit court.14

Plain copies or not certified copies are $0.50 payment per copy.

Certified and plain copies can be obtained either in person or by mail. To request copies of Washington County marriage records by mail, send your written request to:

Clerk of the Circuit Court
24 Summit Avenue
Hagerstown, MD 21740

Use this request form or write a request including the following details:

  • Names of both parties (as used at the time of the marriage license application, not post-marriage)
  • Date of Marriage (at least the approximate year)
  • A check or money order for $5.50 per certified copy requested, payable to “Clerk of Circuit Court.”

For more information on obtaining a marriage license or inquiries about civil ceremonies, please call (301)-790-7991 Ext. 1.

The Maryland Department of Health also provides helpful guidance on requesting marital information via the Department of Vital Records, including relevant document/certificate fees, identification requirements, and updated estimated processing times.15

Maryland Division of Vital Records
6764 B. Reisterstown Rd.
Baltimore MD 21215

Moreover, Washington County divorce case records are available via the Maryland Judiciary Case Search online. To find these records, you may enter the case number to search or you may use the party search or advanced search to expand your search. On the advanced search option, just select “Civil” as the case type and “Washington County” as the county type.

A screenshot of the advanced search option from the Maryland Judiciary Case Search shows input fields for first, middle, and last names, options for party type, court system, case type, and county, and digitally overlaid arrows emphasizing the civil case type and Washington County.
Source: Maryland Judiciary16

By clicking the linked case number, you will be shown detailed information on the case including the details regarding the involved parties, judgment and documents.

Retrieve Washington County Maryland Birth & Death Certificates via the County Health Department

Birth and death records in Washington County are available to the public and can be obtained from the county health department.

Obtaining Birth Certificates: Birth certificates from 1940 to present are maintained by the Washington County Health Department, while records prior to 1940 can be obtained from the Maryland Division of Vital Records.17

Certified copies can be acquired by eligible individuals (person named on the record, parent or guardian , and representatives – with authorization letter) by completing the Application for Certified Copy of Maryland Birth Record Form and submitting it to the county health department directly, as they do not accept mail applications, along with the associated fee of $20.

Washington County Health Department
1302 Pennsylvania Avenue
Hagerstown, MD 21742

Office Hours: 8 am-3:45 pm | Monday-Friday

Do not forget to bring a government issued ID. Failure to provide this must present 2 alternative documentation (ex. SS card, Pay stub, Current car registration, Bank statement, Letter from a government agency, Lease/rental agreement, Utility bill with current address, Copy of your income tax return, W-2)

For inquiries and concerns you can call them at 240-313-3395.

Note: Online, phone or mail requests are only available through the Maryland Division of Vital Records.

Ordering Death Certificates: To acquire death certificates, you have to submit the completed Application for Certified Copy of Maryland Death Record, bring a government issued ID, and an associated fee of $20 to the Washington County Health Department (address and contact information can be found above).18

A screenshot of the certified death record copy request form from the Division of Vital Records of Maryland Department of Health displays instructional and reminder texts about issuance eligibility and requirements, with fields for the requestor's signature, date of application, name, relationship to the deceased, address, and contact information.
Source: Maryland Department of Health, Division of Vital Records18

Additionally, similar to birth records, requesters can also order a death certificate to Maryland Division of Vital Records.

Older records can be obtained from the Maryland State Archives.

How To Look Up Free Property Records & Taxes in Washington County Maryland

The Washington County Treasurer’s Office assists citizens who want to gain insight into their property records and taxes or request property records.19

The office provides an online payment portal to the public that has an option for self-service for personal or real estate property tax inquiries.

A screenshot from the online payment portal provided by Washington County, Maryland, shows personal property tax bill information with an arrow highlighting the payment button.
Source: Washington County, Maryland20

The Treasurer’s can also be visited in person or reached by fax or phone call using the contact details below:

Washington County Treasurer’s Office
Office Building
35 West Washington St Suite 102
Hagerstown, MD 21740-4868

Phone: 240.313.2110
Fax: 240.313.2111
Office Hours:Monday – Thursday, 7:30am – 4:00pm | Friday, 7:30am – 3:00pm

Understanding Your Rights & Using Washington County Public Records Responsibly

Thanks to the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) and the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), citizens are not only welcomed but encouraged to view and obtain various public governmental records to reveal vital information about themselves and others throughout the county, state, or even the entire United States.21, 22

These records and documents can be used for many different purposes, but can never be utilized to commit any crime or to do something unethical.

Other laws or statutes that must be followed when searching public information in Washington County, Maryland, are listed below with a brief overview of each.

Maryland’s Ban the Box Law – prohibits employers from questioning applicants about their criminal history unless they make it to a certain point in the hiring process. This statute also goes by the name “Criminal Record Screening Complaint Law”.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) – protects citizens’ personal details and ensures proper, ethical, and responsible use of individuals’ records and information.

Federal Trade Commission (FTC) – is an agency that makes sure that consumer reporting agencies do not misuse or abuse personal information of American citizens when applying for or filling out forms for healthcare, housing, credit cards, loans, etc. and enforces these policies through the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).11

Look through various Washington County public records to gain a deeper understanding of anybody’s past or current circumstances and details; utilize the links, databases, and contact information for county agencies to make for an efficient and stress-free lookup.

To get insight on anyone in the entire state, refer to Maryland’s free public record lookup tutorial.


References

1Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Maryland. (n.d.). Detention Center. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from <https://washcosheriff.com/detention-center/>

2Washington County, Maryland. (n.d.). Towns. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from <https://www.washco-md.net/about/towns/>

3Maryland Judiciary. (2024). Search Results. Maryland Judiciary Case Search. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from <https://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/casesearch/inquirySearch.jis>

4Clerk’s Office Circuit Court for Washington County. (n.d.). Records. Maryland Courts. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from <https://www.courts.state.md.us/clerks/washington/records>

5Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Maryland. (n.d.). Warrants/ Wanted. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from <https://washcosheriff.com/crime/warrants-wanted/>

6Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. (n.d.). Division of Parole & Probation. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from <https://www.dpscs.state.md.us/parole_and_probation/>

7Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. (n.d.). Background Checks. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from <https://www.dpscs.state.md.us/publicservs/bgchecks.shtml>

8Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. (n.d.). Fingerprinting Services. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from <https://dpscs.maryland.gov/publicservs/fingerprint.shtml>

9Washington County, Division of Emergency Services. (n.d.). Request for Public Record. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from <https://www.washco-md.net/emergency-services/public-record/>

10U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. (n.d.). Laws & Guidance. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from <https://www.eeoc.gov/laws-guidance>

11Federal Trade Commission. (2023). Fair Credit Reporting Act. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from <https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/statutes/fair-credit-reporting-act>

12Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. (2024). Incarcerated Individual Locator. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from <https://www.dpscs.state.md.us/inmate/search.do?searchType=name&firstnm=&lastnm=Smith>

13Maryland Judiciary. (2021). Case Detail. Maryland Judiciary Case Search. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from <https://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/casesearch/inquiryDetail.jis?caseId=C21CR20000305&loc=59&detailLoc=ODYCRIM>

14Maryland Courts. (n.d.). Circuit Courts. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from <https://www.mdcourts.gov/circuit>

15Maryland Department of Health, Vital Statistics Administration. (n.d.). Fees. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from <https://health.maryland.gov/vsa/Pages/fees.aspx>

16Maryland Judiciary. (n.d.). Search for Maryland Court Cases. Maryland Judiciary Case Search. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from <https://casesearch.courts.state.md.us/casesearch/inquiry-search.jsp>

17Washington County Health Department. (n.d.). Vital Records (Birth & Death Certificates). Retrieved July 25, 2024, from <https://washcohealth.org/vital-records-birth-death-certificates/>

18Maryland Department of Health, Division of Vital Records. (2023, November). Application for Certified Copy of Maryland Death Record. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from <https://washcohealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/dcert-application-11.23.pdf>

19Washington County Treasurer’s Office. (n.d.). Treasurer’s Office. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from <https://www.washco-md.net/treasurers-office/>

20Washington County, Maryland. (n.d.). Personal Property Tax. Online Payment Portal. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from <https://washingtoncountymd.munisselfservice.com/css/Citizens/PersonalProperty/ViewBill.aspx>

21Maryland Attorney General’s Office. (n.d.). Maryland Public Information Act. Retrieved July 25, 2024, from <https://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/pages/opengov/pia.aspx>

22U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Information Policy (OIP). (n.d.). Freedom of Information Act: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Retrieved July 25, 2024, from <https://www.foia.gov/faq.html>