Crime Numbers
The Maryland State Police, through its Uniform Crime Reporting Program, reports yearly crime statistics for all counties in the state. Published data for Wicomico County shows that there were 453 violent crimes and 2,739 property crimes in 2018. A breakdown of violent crimes reveals 3 murders, 318 aggravated assaults, 33 rapes, and 99 robberies. On the other hand, a look at property crime figures shows that Wicomico law enforcement agencies recorded 2,163 larceny-thefts, 455 burglaries, 103 motor vehicle thefts, and 18 arsons.
Compared to the 2014 crime statistics for Wicomico County, murder (50%), rape (6.5%), and motor vehicle theft (7.3%) rates went up in 2018. The five-year crime trend for Wicomico County also reveals declining robbery (1.9%), aggravated assault (0.3%), larceny (18.7%), and burglary (32.4%) rates while arson rate remained the same.
Criminal Records
The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS), through the Criminal Justice Information System, handles criminal history record requests for the state. Wicomico County residents can access their statewide criminal history information by mailing their complete inked and rolled fingerprint cards to any of the following addresses:
Regular mail
CJIS Central Repository
P.O. Box 32708
Pikesville, MD 21282-2708
Priority mail
CJIS Central Repository
6776 Reisterstown Road Suite 102
Baltimore, MD 21215
Applicants must send appropriate fees along with their requests. A statewide background check costs $18. Pay the exact amount by a check or credit card made payable to the CJIS Central Repository. Note that the total processing time is between 10 and 15 business days.
The Records Division of the Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office provides copies of arrest records, incident reports, and accident reports for events that occured within the county limits. It is important to note that access to these records is limited to persons named on the documents. To submit a request for any of these police documents, start by completing the Central Records Request for Public Information Form. Then, proceed to the office located at the address below to submit the form along with appropriate payment.
Wicomico County Sheriff's Office
401 Naylor Mill Road
Salisbury, MD 21801
Each report costs $5. Contact the records clerk beforehand at (410) 548-4892 to enquire about acceptable payment methods.
The Wicomico County Sheriff’s Office provides an online registry that contains information on all registered sex offenders in the county. Visit the Offender Search web page to search offenders by name, address, city, or zip code. To perform a statewide search for registered sex offenders, visit the State Offender Watch website provided by the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
The Wicomico County Department of Corrections manages the only detention center in the county. This facility does not maintain an online inmate list. To enquire about an inmate’s status, interested persons will need to call or visit the center located at:
Wicomico County Detention Center
Public Safety Complex
411 Naylor Mill Road
Salisbury, MD 21801
(410) 548-4850
Friends and family can deposit money into an inmate’s commissary account. Simply proceed to the jail lobby kiosk with the inmate’s name and identification number. Then, make the desired payment by cash, debit card, or credit card. Note that the kiosk staff charges a convenience fee for this service.
Court Records
The Wicomico County Circuit Court is a trial court of general jurisdiction tasked with hearing all major civil cases, criminal cases, juvenile cases, and domestic cases. On the other hand, the Wicomico County District Court has limited jurisdiction over certain civil and criminal matters. Both courts are courts of records. The clerks of the courts are responsible for attending to all requests for court records handled within their respective jurisdictions.
Visit the unified online Case Search Portal maintained by the Maryland Judiciary to search for and view information pertaining to cases filed at Wicomico trial courts. Narrow the search results by completing all the required search fields.
It is also possible to access and obtain copies of court records by personally visiting the courthouses or by delivering written requests to them by mail. Contact the court clerk of interest if unsure of the copy fees, acceptable payment methods, and other mailing requirements.
Listed below are the addresses and contact information of all the courthouses in Wicomico County, Maryland:
Circuit Court for Wicomico County
102 Court Street
Salisbury, MD 21801
(410) 548-4822
Circuit Court Mailing Address
P.O. Box 806
Salisbury, MD 21803-0806
Clerk of Wicomico Circuit Court
101 North Division Street
Courthouse, Room 105
Salisbury, MD 21801
(410) 543-6551
Clerk of Circuit Court Mailing Address
P.O. Box 198
Salisbury, MD 21803-0198
District Court for Wicomico County (02-03)
201 Baptist Street
Salisbury, MD 21801-4959
(410) 713-3500
Orphans' Court
101 North Division Street,
Courthouse Room 102
Salisbury, MD 21803-0787
Phone: (410) 543-6635
Fax: (410) 334-3440
Mailing Address
Register of Wills, Wicomico County
P.O. Box 787
Salisbury, MD 21803-078
Vital Records
Vital records in Wicomico County include divorce records, marriage records, birth records, and death records.
Copies of divorce decrees are available from the Wicomico Circuit Court Clerk’s office. Pay a visit to the office anytime from Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. to submit a divorce decree request. Call the clerk at (410) 543-6551 to enquire about record fees and identification requirements. Interested persons can also ask the clerk if they offer mail-in services for divorce decrees.
Persons wishing to verify divorces that occurred from 1992 to the present can do so by querying the Vital Records Division of the Maryland Department of Health. The office allows eligible persons to submit their divorce verification requests in person or by mail. Start by printing and completing the Application for Verification of Divorce Record (also available in Spanish ). Then, proceed to the office location or send this form along with a clear photocopy of a current government-issued ID, applicable fees, and a self-addressed stamped envelope to the following addresses:
Mail Address
Division of Vital Records
P.O. Box 68760
Baltimore, MD 21215-0036
Physical Address
Division of Vital Records
Department of Health
6764-B Reisterstown Road
Baltimore, MD 21215
(410) 764-3038
The Vital Records Office charges $12 for each divorce verification. Pay with cash (in person only), money order, or check made payable to the Division of Vital Records.
The Maryland Division of Vital Records also provides marriage certificates for licenses issued on or after January 2007. Marriage certificates filed before this date are available from the Wicomico County Circuit Clerk. Older records can be accessed at the Maryland State Archives in Annapolis. Order copies of marriage certificates by visiting the Vital Records Division or by sending a completed Application for Certified Copy of Maryland Marriage Record to the office mail address outlined above. Note that this form is also available in Spanish. Include a valid government-issued ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a check or money order of $12 for each marriage certificate requested.
The processes of requesting birth certificates and death certificates from the Maryland Division of Vital Records are the same as for marriage certificates. Simply complete a birth record or death record application form and enclose the appropriate fee with the request. Each certified copy of a birth record or death record costs $10. Below are the forms:
- Application for a Certified Copy of Maryland Birth Record (also available in Spanish)
- Application for a Certified Copy of Maryland Death Record (also has a Spanish version)
Alternatively, requests for death certificates issued on or after January 1, 2015, can be obtained from the Wicomico County Health Department. Begin the request process by completing the Death Application Form. Bring this form along with a state-issued ID proving eligibility, applicable fees, and self-addressed stamped envelope to:
Wicomico County Health Department
108 E Main Street
Salisbury, MD 21801
(410) 543-6949
The office charges $20 for the first copy of a death certificate and $22 for each additional copy of the same certificate ordered within 24 hours.
