How to File for Expungement in Maryland

File a Petition for Expungement of Records in the court where the case began (or the court it was transferred to). Use CC-DC-CR-072A for acquittal, dismissal, PBJ, nolle prosequi, stet or not criminally responsible; CC-DC-CR-072C to speed up an automatic expungement; and CC-DC-CR-072B or CC-DC-CR-072D for guilty dispositions. The court serves the State's Attorney (and, for convictions, sends notice to listed victims). If no one objects within 30 days, the court orders expungement. If someone objects, the court holds a hearing. Agencies have 60 days to confirm they have complied. Shielding is requested on form CC-DC-CR-148, and each person may get only one shielding petition granted in a lifetime.

No fee to expunge a case that ended in acquittal, dismissal, PBJ, nolle prosequi, stet or not criminally responsible, or to speed up an automatic expungement. Expunging eligible guilty dispositions costs $30 per case; the fee is nonrefundable even if the petition is denied. A person who cannot afford the fee may ask the court to waive it. There is no fee for a shielding petition or a juvenile record expungement petition.

A person can petition to expunge a charge that ended in acquittal, dismissal, probation before judgment (PBJ), nolle prosequi, stet, a compromise, or a transfer to juvenile court. Waiting periods: acquittal, nolle prosequi or dismissal – 3 years, unless the person files a general waiver and release of tort claims; PBJ – the later of discharge from probation or 3 years after it was granted; stet or compromise – 3 years. PBJ for most DUI and DWI offenses has a 15-year wait. A court may grant a petition earlier for good cause. There is no filing fee for these petitions.

Maryland criminal history records are kept by the CJIS Central Repository of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS). Requesting your own record (an Individual Review) is a two-part process: submit the CJIS 015 form to the Central Repository with the $18.00 Individual Review fee, and be fingerprinted, since state law requires fingerprints for each background check. The CJIS Fingerprinting Office is at 6776 Reisterstown Road, 1st Floor, Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Results of the state check are usually mailed within 10 working days. For a nationwide check on yourself, contact the FBI.