Access to Case Records - Shielding, Sealing, and Expungement
• How can I request that information being placed in a case record be kept confidential?
• How can I request permission to inspect case records that have been sealed/shielded?
• How can I request that public access to information in a case record concerning a peace or protective order be limited?
• What is expungement?
• How is shielding different from expungement?
• How can I find out more information regarding shielding criminal records?
Maryland Rules Governing Access to Judicial Records
Access to Case Records - Shielding, Sealing, and Expungement
How can I request that information being placed in a case record be kept confidential?
A person who files or authorizes the filing of a case record must inform the custodian, in writing, whether, in the person's judgment, the case record, any part of the case record, or any information contained in the case record is confidential and not subject to inspection under the Rules governing access to judicial records, Maryland Rules 16-901 through 16-914.
If a case record or any part of the case records contains information that is confidential and not subject to inspection pursuant to the Rules, a motion to seal or otherwise limit inspection must be filed with the court and ruled on by a judge.
CC-DC-052 - Request to Shield My Address / Telephone Number in a Criminal Case Record
CC-DC-053 - Motion to Seal or Otherwise Limit Inspection of a Case Record
An individual may request shielding of certain information, such as the address or telephone number of a victim, victim’s representative, or witness. This often involves domestic violence situations such as protective orders and criminal matters involving witnesses and victims. CC-DC-CR-001s – Request for Shielding of Information
How can I request permission to inspect case records that have been sealed/shielded?
A party to an action in which a case record is filed may file a motion to permit inspection of a case record that is not otherwise subject to inspection under the Rules. CC-DC-054 - Motion to Permit Inspection of a Case Record
How can I request that public access to information in a case record concerning a peace or protective order be limited?
In some situations, you can request that the public not see information about a peace or protective order case that involves you. To find out more, please see the Can I Keep the Public from Seeing Information About Me in a Peace or Protective Order Case? Brochure.
CC-DC-DV-021A - Request to Shield Denied or Dismissed Protective Order Records
CC-DC-DV-021B - Request to Shield Consented to Protective Order Records
CC-DC-PO-016A - Request to Shield Denied or Dismissed Peace Order Records
CC-DC-PO-16B - Request to Shield Consented to Peace Order Records
CC-DC-DV-PO-026 - Request to Withhold My Address from Public Access
What is expungement?
Expungement is the removal of records from public inspection. In Maryland, records may be expunged from 1) Motor Vehicle Administration files, 2) police files and 3) court and police files. Each process removes very specific files and must be done through the proper agency. You must apply for expungement of each arrest based on the date of arrest and according to the disposition. No process expunges the records from all agencies.
To find out more information concerning the expungement process, please see the CC-DC-CR-072BR - Expungement Brochure.
How is shielding different from expungement?
Shielding keeps some or all information in a case private from public inspection, under certain circumstances. Expungement removes court and police records from public inspection.
How can I find out more information regarding shielding criminal records?
Visit the Judiciary's webpage concerning shielding of criminal records for more information.
Maryland Rules Governing Access to Judicial Records
Where can I find more specific information regarding the Md. Rules that govern access to judicial records?
For more details, consult Rules 16-901 through 16-914.