Somerset County Police Blotter Records
Somerset County police blotter records come from the Somerset County Sheriff's Office, the Princess Anne Police Department, and the Crisfield Police Department. The county sits on Maryland's Eastern Shore, with Princess Anne serving as the county seat. You can search court cases linked to police blotter entries for free through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal, or file a written request under the Maryland Public Information Act to get copies of incident reports, arrest records, and crash reports directly from the agency that handled the call.
Somerset County Police Blotter Overview
Somerset County Police Blotter Search
The Somerset County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency for the county. They are at 30426 Sam Barnes Road, Westover, MD 21871. Call (410) 651-9225 to reach them. Their office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The sheriff's office handles patrol for unincorporated areas and provides county-wide services like civil process and judicial protection.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is the quickest way to look up court cases from Somerset County. It is free and does not need an account. You can search by defendant name, case number, or date. Select "Somerset" as the county to narrow your results. The system covers both circuit court and district court cases. It shows charges, hearing dates, and outcomes. You will not find the raw police report here, but the case data tells you what charges came from the arrest and how the case ended.
The Princess Anne Police Department website has information about requesting police blotter records from incidents within the town limits.
Use this site to learn about the Princess Anne PD request process and submit your police report request.
Note: Since late 2021, Case Search defaults to exact name matching, so enter the % symbol after partial names to get broader results.
How to Request Somerset County Police Reports
The Princess Anne Police Department has an online request form on their website. The form asks for the date of request, your name, address, phone number, email, and details about the incident. You need to provide the date of the incident, case number if you have it, and the location. You also indicate whether the report is for an incident or accident, and whether you are the victim. Sign and date the form before submitting it.
You can submit Princess Anne PD requests three ways: online through the website, in person at 11780 Beckford Avenue, Princess Anne, MD 21853, or by mail to the same address. The phone number is (410) 651-1822. The fax is (410) 651-0027. You can also email info@princessannepolice.com with questions about your request.
The Town of Princess Anne website provides additional context on local government services and how to reach town departments.
This page links to town departments and local services in the Somerset County seat.
For the Somerset County Sheriff's Office, submit a written MPIA request to 30426 Sam Barnes Road, Westover, MD 21871. Include your name, contact info, and a detailed description of the records you need. The Crisfield Police Department is at 319 W Main Street, Crisfield, MD 21817, and can be reached at (410) 968-1323.
What Somerset County Police Blotter Records Contain
Arrest records from Somerset County include the person's full legal name, known aliases, date of birth, gender, race, height, weight, and address. The arrest details cover the date, time, and location, sometimes with GPS coordinates. Each record lists the statutory citations for the alleged offenses, the arresting agency and officer badge numbers, booking photographs, and fingerprint records. Custody status shows bail determinations and conditions of release. Case numbers are assigned by both law enforcement and the courts.
Reports are released as PDF documents. You may need Adobe Acrobat Reader to open them. Social Security numbers and other personal identifiers are always redacted. Juvenile records are confidential. Details from active investigations can be withheld. Force documentation, including whether force was used and any injuries, is part of the record under MD Criminal Procedure Section 10-219.
Somerset County Police Blotter Fees
Police report fees in Somerset County are consistent across the main agencies. Both the Princess Anne Police Department and the Somerset County Sheriff's Office charge $10 per report. The Maryland State Police charges a $4 non-refundable search fee for crash reports. Additional copies cost $0.25 to $0.50 per page depending on the agency.
Payment is by check or money order for most agencies. Some locations accept cash in person. Credit cards are typically not accepted at the smaller departments. Make checks payable to the specific agency: Princess Anne Police Department, Somerset County Sheriff's Office, or Maryland State Police. The first two hours of search time are free under the MPIA. After that, the agency can bill a reasonable hourly rate. Fee waivers are available for people who qualify as indigent.
Note: MSP crash reports are available 10 days after the crash date and must be requested with a check or money order payable to Maryland State Police.
Somerset County Government Resources
The Somerset County Government website is a starting point for understanding how the county handles public records requests. The county follows MPIA rules for all agencies. The State's Attorney's office is at (410) 651-3333. The Public Defender can be reached at (410) 651-3271. Parole and Probation is at (410) 651-2211.
The Somerset County government site links to county departments and public services relevant to records requests.
The Circuit Court for Somerset County is at 30512 Prince William Street, Princess Anne, MD 21853. Call (410) 845-4840 for criminal records. The District Court in Princess Anne handles traffic violations and misdemeanors and can be reached at (410) 845-4700. Both courts are open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Law Enforcement Jurisdiction in Somerset County
Somerset County has a clear breakdown of police jurisdiction. The Princess Anne Police Department covers the Town of Princess Anne. The Crisfield Police Department handles the City of Crisfield. The Somerset County Sheriff's Office patrols unincorporated areas and provides county-wide services. The Maryland State Police Princess Anne Barrack, at 12155 Elm Street, Princess Anne, MD 21853, covers state highways and assists local agencies.
You need to know which agency handled the call before you request records. If you are not sure, start with the sheriff's office at (410) 651-9225. They can point you to the right department. The county also has some unique jurisdictional overlaps. The Eastern Correctional Institution is a state prison in Westover. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore has campus police with local jurisdiction. Deal Island Wildlife Management Area falls under state and DNR jurisdiction.
Statewide Search Tools
The MSP Central Records Division handles crash reports and state trooper records. Their address is 1711 Belmont Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21244. Phone is (410) 281-2700. The Department of Public Safety runs the CJIS background check system. A fingerprint-based check costs $38. The Attorney General's PIA page has sample request letters and fee waiver forms.
Nearby Counties
Looking for police blotter records in a nearby area? Check these neighboring counties.