Kent County Court
Kent County Arrest Records

Kent County, Maryland Arrest Records

Arrest records in Kent County, Maryland are official documents created by law enforcement during the period an individual is brought into custody. They detail an individual's arrest and booking process following the alleged commitment of a felony, infraction, or misdemeanor. Kent County arrest records are typically generated by the arresting agency and made available to the public, thereby promoting accountability, transparency, and fairness in the County's criminal justice system.

Pursuant to the Maryland Public Information Act (§ 10-611 to 10-628), arrest records are deemed public and open for inspection, just like other records maintained by government agencies. However, the creation, maintenance, and public access to criminal offender record information(CORI) are governed by the Criminal Procedure Article of the Maryland Code. Local enforcement agencies such as the County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments (e.g. Chestertown Police Department and Rock Hall Police Department) may provide public access to Kent County arrest records.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Kent County, Maryland?

Yes, according to the Maryland Public Information Act (PIA), codified under § 10-611 to 10-628 of the State Government Article within the Maryland Annotated Code. Anyone may request access to publicly available arrest records in Kent County—residency, identification, and purpose of request are usually not required to review publicly available records.

What Do Public Kent County Arrest Records Contain?

The following details are typically included in a public Kent County arrest record:

Personal Data: The arrestee's full name/ aliases, birthdate, age, last known location, and physical identifiers(weight, height, color, marks)
Offense information: The category of the alleged crime (infraction, felony, or misdemeanor), summary of the criminal incident, witness/victim statements, court dates and filed charges
Arrest and booking details: date, place and time of arrest/booking, assigned booking number, information about the arresting agency, fixed bail amount or release conditions, and warrant information (if available)

Not all data contained in arrest records are usually available to the public. Some information may be withheld from public disclosure under federal or state statutes. Generally, arrest records of juvenile suspects, arrest data capable of disrupting or impeding active investigations and arrest information that may jeopardize public peace/safety are typically redacted from public records. In addition, arrest data protected by privacy rights, sealed by court order or deemed confidential under law may not be available to the public without authorization.

Kent County, Maryland Arrest Search

State-level arrest information and inmate records are publicly accessible via the Incarcerated Individual Locator managed by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services(DPSCS). Search criteria typically includes the suspect's first/last name, the offender's DPSCS ID number or birth date. Interested persons may also contact the DPSCS Identification Unit at (410) 339-5000 or (877) 379-8636. In addition, the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal provides public access to court records and arrest information of ongoing criminal cases. Inquirers may enter in an exact name set or include a % symbol for partial name searches.

Besides, federal resources like the Federal Bureau of Prisons' inmate locator may furnish the public with arrest and inmate information of persons within federal facilities. A last name, first name, offender ID, BOP number or date of birth is usually required to begin a search.

Kent County Inmate Locator

The Kent County Sheriff's Office does not maintain a searchable online inmate locator. Persons interested in obtaining countywide inmate information may utilize the Maryland VINE system or call (866) 277-7477 for comprehensive custody status updates.

Alternatively, concerned persons may contact the Sheriff's Office using the following details for information regarding persons incarcerated in the Kent County Detention Center in Chestertown.

Kent County Sheriff's Office

104 Vickers Drive Unit B

Chestertown, MD 21620

Phone: (410) 778-2279

Active Warrant Search in Kent County

A Kent County arrest warrant is an official writ that mandates law enforcement to apprehend and/or detain a suspect for allegedly committing a crime. Arrest warrants in Kent County are typically issued by judges following the establishment of a probable cause and contain the suspect's full name, aliases, physical features, alleged charges, issuing court or judge information, issuing date and bail or release conditions.

Although the Kent County Sheriff's Office handles the service of issued warrants, they do not provide online access to warrant information. Interested persons may query the sheriff's office in person or call 410-778-2279 to make inquiries about active warrants. The Kent County District Court and Circuit Court Clerk's Office both provide information about active warrants to the public. Concerned persons may visit the clerk's office at 103 North Cross Street, Chestertown, MD 21620 or call (410) 810-3360 to obtain active warrant information.

Kent County warrants are typically considered public information pursuant to the Maryland Public Information Act (MPIA) Codified in the Maryland Annotated Code, General Provisions Article, §§ 4-101 through 4-601 and Title 16, Chapter 900 of the Maryland Rules on Access to Court Records. However, public access to warrant information in Kent County is only available via mail, phone calls or in-person inquiries.

Agency / Resource	Purpose	Search Methods	Notes
Kent County Sheriff’s Office	Handles service of warrants and maintain warrant information	In-person, Phone, Mail	No official online search portal
Clerk of the District and Circuit Courts	Maintains court records that may contain warrant information	Mail, In-person, Phone	Online access to records is available via the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Kent County

To find arrest records for free in Kent County, concerned persons may visit the Sheriff's Office within regular hours or send mail requests. In-person searches usually require the subject's last or first name, a birth date, arrest date, case number or booking date. Note that while in-person searches may be free of charge, requesting copies of records attract fees. In addition, in-person searchers may be required to provide valid identification.

Kent County Arrest Report

In Kent County, arrest records and arrest reports are both official documents maintained by law enforcement in the County. However, it is important to note that both documents are not exactly the same. While arrest records are usually summarized entries in case management systems, arrest reports are elaborate first-hand narratives written by the arresting officer after an arrest.

Furthermore, arrest records are official notifications of an arrest whereas arrest reports provide comprehensive explanations of an arrest and the events surrounding it including witness/victim testimonies, observations made by the arresting officer and the probable cause. Kent County arrest reports are generally open to the public under the State's Public Information Act unless otherwise stated by law.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Kent County

Expungement as defined by the Maryland Criminal Procedures Article 10-101 ~ 10-109 means the removal of eligible records from public inspection. Arrested individuals who were released without being charged (RWOC), may apply for expungement by filling out Form ITCD-70-RWOC and submitting to the arresting agency in charge of their arrest. Moreso, persons with arrest records that did not result in a conviction may file a petition for expungement if:

They were found not guilty
The filed charges were dismissed or resulted in probation before a judgment was entered (excluding DWI charges)
The charges were Nolle Prosequi (not prosecuted)
The case was postponed indefinitely by the presiding court
The case was settled out-of-court or both parties reached a compromise
The suspect was convicted of one non-violent criminal act and granted a full and unconditional pardon by the Governor
The subject qualifies for a Juvenile Waiver

To file for expungement, qualified record subjects may:

Complete Form CC-DC-CR-072A (Petition for Expungement of Records—Acquittal, Dismissal, Probation before judgment, Nolle Prosequi, Stet, or Not Criminally Responsible Disposition) or Form CC-DC-CR-072B (Petition for Expungement of Records—Guilty Disposition) alongside a General Waiver and Release Form (CC-DC-CR-078).
File the completed petition forms and required paperwork with the clerk of the court that handled the case. Include copies for the State's Attorney and law enforcement agencies named in the petition.
Pay the non-refundable filing fee—applicable only to guilty dispositions

Under State laws, expungements are only applicable to arrest records without convictions. However, arrestees with conviction records may opt for Shielding of Criminal Records instead of expungement. For additional information on the expungement process, interested persons may query the Kent County District or Circuit Court in person or visit the District Court of Maryland's website. Inquiries about the Governor's Pardon packet may be made by calling the Parole Commission's Office at (410) 585-3200.

How Do You Remove Kent County Arrest Records From the Internet?

Expunging or Shielding a record under Maryland Statutes is the most effective way of removing Kent County arrest records from the Internet. Once an expungement petition is granted by a court of jurisdiction, all official repositories are notified and directed to erase affected records from public access. However, for arrest records featured in nongovernmental sites, a record subject may need to contact the administrators of such sites and request the removal of their records from public inspection through legal means.