Criminal Statistics
According to the 2017 crime report published by the Maryland Statistical Analysis Center, Washington county recorded 3,912 index offenses signaling a 12% decline in crime rate when compared with 2016 data. Property crimes which accounted for 82% of all the reported offenses, dramatically spiked by 17% while violent crimes also recorded a 27% increase in crime rate.
Larceny-theft was recorded to be the most recurring criminal offense with 1774 reported incidents followed by breaking and entering which was reported to have occurred 616 times.
Aggravated assault was reportedly the 3rd most recurring offense and the most popular violent crime with 360 reported incidents while motor vehicle theft, robbery, and rape followed behind with 230, 168 and 35 incidents respectively.
Criminal Records
The Washington County Sheriff's Office is charged with maintaining law and order as well as providing law enforcement related services to Washington County residents. However, the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Service maintains the statewide repository of criminal history information and as such, processes requests for criminal records and background checks on Washington county residents as well as all Maryland state counties. All queries relating to criminal records may be directed to the office.
How to Get Criminal Records
Washington County resident may direct requests for criminal records and background checks to the Central Repository of the Criminal Justice Information Section, a division of the State Department of Public Safety.
To request criminal records from the unit, interested persons may visit any of the authorized Fingerprinting Vendors where they will be fingerprinted on the State Form 015. Requestors will be required to either provide fingerprint cards supplied by the employer/licensing agency or the requesting agency’s authorization number. Subsequent to the fingerprinting process of the subject, the completed form 015 should then be accompanied by a cheque or money order payment of the appropriate fee and submitted to:
The Criminal Justice Information Services - Central Repository
6776 Reisterstown Road,
Suite 102,
Baltimore, MD 21215
Or
CJIS-CR
P.O. Box 32708,
Pikesville, MD 21282-2708
How to find Sex Offender Information
All information regarding Washington County sex offenders can be viewed on Marylands Registered Sex Offender Website. The site's services include a search tool and map which provide information regarding the home, work or school addresses of registered sex offenders throughout the state. Washington County residents may retrieve relevant information from the registry by searching offenders by name, zip code and specific mile radiuses to selected addresses.
Where and How to Get Inmate and Jail Information
The Washington County Sheriff's Office oversees the affairs of the Washington County Detention Center and maintains all information pertaining to the facility and resident inmates. Information regarding the center ad inmate welfare, visitation, commissary and contact information can be retrieved from the Detention Center Information Page. Detention center staff can be contacted for information regarding inmates' primary charges and bail/bond conditions at (240) 313-2133. However, release dates are confidential and can only be shared by the inmate in question.
Court Records
Where and How to get Court Records
The Washington County Circuit Court Clerk maintains records of court cases filed and heard by the county court. The office provides copies of non-confidential court records to members of the public on request. Interested persons may request these records by making in-person queries to the office or by sending a written request via mail. Requestors are typically required to provide information regarding the record being requested including the name of the plaintiff or defendant, the case file number, the date the case was filed and the name of the litigant(s).
Requests for court records should be made to:
Washington County Clerk of Courts
24 Summit Avenue, Hagerstown, MD 21740
Phone: (301) 733-8660
Email: Washcocc_clerk@Mdcourts.Gov
Location of all Courts in County
Listed below are the addresses and contact information of all courthouses in Washington County, Maryland:
Washington County Circuit Court
Washington County Courthouse
24 Summit Ave,
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Phone: (301) 733-8660
Fax: (301) 791-1151
Washington County District Court
Louis Boublitz District Court Building
36 W Antietam St,
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Phone: (240) 420-4600
Washington County Orphans' Court
100 W Washington St, #3400,
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Phone: (301) 739-3612
Fax: (301) 733-8636
Vital Records
Records of births, deaths, marriages, and divorces that occurred in Washington County are co-managed by the Washington County Department of Health and the County Court of Circuit Clerk. At the state level, these services are provided by the Maryland Department of Health which is the central repository of Maryland state vital statistics and records. Thus, Washington county vital records may be accessed at both state and county level.
Where and How to Get Divorce Records
Records of divorces granted by the Washington County Circuit are maintained by the office of the Circuit Court Clerk which performs most administrative and clerical functions of the court.
Divorce decrees are public record and can be accessed by interested members of the public upon request.
To request these records interested parties may query the office in person or via mail. The requesting party will be required to provide information regarding divorce including the names of the divorcees on the record, the date and place the divorce was filed and the case file number of the record (if known). Requests may be made to/at:
Washington County Clerk of Courts
24 Summit Avenue,
Hagerstown, Md 21740
Phone: (301) 733-8660
Email: Washcocc_clerk@Mdcourts.Gov
Where and How to Get Marriage Records
Washington county marriage licenses are issued by the County Clerk of the Circuit Court. The office retains records of marriage licenses issued and provides copies of these records to interested persons upon request. To obtain a marriage record, the interested persons may query the office in person or via mail. The requestor will be required to provide the names of both parties on the record, the date of the marriage and a cheque or money order payment of $5.50. Requests may also be made by submitting and completing the marriage Request Form to:
Washington County Clerk of Courts
24 Summit Avenue,
Hagerstown, Md 21740
Phone: (301) 733-8660
Email: Washcocc_clerk@Mdcourts.Gov
Where and How to Get Birth and Death Records
Requests for Washington County birth and death records are processed by the Washington County Health Department which serves as a local repository for vital records.
Certified copies of Birth Certificates are only available to persons listed on the certificate or those authorized by a court order. On the other hand, death certificates can be obtained by interested members of the public.
Requests for birth and death certificates can be made using the Washington Birth Record Request Form or the Death Record Request Form. The completed application and the stated fees and ID requirements should be submitted to:
Washington County Health Department
1302 Pennsylvania Avenue
Hagerstown, MD 21742
(240) 313-3395
In addition to government agencies, county public records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. Users are able to search third-party websites remotely for multiple records at a time with just the name of the record subject and their last known location, including the city, county, or state. Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
Are Property Records Open to the Public in Washington County?
The Maryland Freedom of Information Act is the law that ensures property records generated from Washington County are publicly available for inspection and retrieval by members of the public. The Washington County Circuit Court Clerk is responsible for keeping and indexing all property records within the county. The Washington County clerk can be contacted by interested members of the public at the office located at:
Maryland County Circuit Clerk
24 Summit Avenue
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Phone: (301) 733-8660
Open: 8:30 Am–4:30 Pm
Email: Washcocc_clerk@Mdcourts.Gov
Where and How to Find Property Records in Washington County
Property Records are housed with the Washington County Circuit Clerk, the office is responsible for maintaining and indexing these property records as they are generated. The County Clerk maintains records from 1658 up to date. Physical records can be retrieved from the Washington County Circuit Clerk located at:
Maryland County Circuit Clerk
24 Summit Avenue
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Phone: (301) 733-8660
Open: 8:30 Am–4:30 Pm
Email: Washcocc_clerk@Mdcourts.Gov
How to Look Up Washington County Property Records
Members of the public wishing to gain access to the online search portal maintained by the Washington County Circuit Clerk have to first make an application via the online access application form. The Washington County also maintains an online search portal for members of the public wishing to retrieve Land surveys, and condominium and subdivision plats.
Location of Washington County Property Assessors
Melissa Adelsberger, Supervisor of Assessments
3 Public Square
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30
(301) 791-3050
FAX: (301) 791-2925
E-mail: sdat.wash@maryland.gov
