Criminal
This site does not generally give information on criminal matters. However, we can direct you to other resources in Maryland.
General Criminal Articles
The age of consent refers to the legal age in which someone may engage in sexual activity.
This article introduces government seizure and forfeiture of personal property, explains the procedure, and provides information on how a property owner can respond when the government takes property.
A Child In Need of Supervision is a child who needs guidance, treatment, or rehabilitation, and falls under one of three categories.
This article describes how the Judiciary's progressive reopening plan during the COVID-19 health emergency affects criminal cases.
This article describes Maryland's driving while impaired by alcohol laws.
In Maryland, crimes are either considered felonies or misdemeanors. Traditionally, felonies are considered more serious crimes, but in fact, both felonies and misdemeanors can carry very long sentences.
The juvenile expungement law establishes a procedure through which a person with a juvenile record can ask a court to have the record "expunged" (removed from public view).
Overview of Maryland's Juvenile Justice System
In Maryland, possession or use of less than 10 grams of marijuana is not a criminal offense. Possession or use of up to 10 grams of marijuana is still illegal, however, and carries civil penalties.
This article explains the steps in the juvenile record expungement process.
Maryland law makes it a crime to fail to provide for children in your care.
Effective October 1, 2019, the minimum age to purchase tobacco products and paraphernalia in Maryland is 21. Before October 1, 2019, the minimum age was 18.
This page is designed for neighborhood activists who are calling the Baltimore City 911 system to report a crime, especially to report drug dealing.
Defendant's Rights
This article defines who is counted as a child under Maryland criminal law.
Expungement
Expungement is a process that lets you ask the court to remove certain kinds of court and police records from public view. This article provides an overview of the process of filing a petition for expungement.
This article provides an overview expungement in Maryland.
If your DNA was taken as part of the arrest you are trying to expunge, you may wish to request your DNA record to be expunged as well.
A “pardon” is an act of the Governor in which the Governor frees someone of guilt for a criminal act and relieves the grantee from any penalties of law for those acts.
This article describes the MVA's expungement procedure.
Various organizations provide assistance for individuals seeking expungement of their criminal record.
Under certain circumstances, the Petitioner or the Respondent may file a written request to shield (that is, to remove from public view) the court records relating to a Protective Order or a Peace Order.
Court records are generally open and accessible to the public. This article provides information on how to seal or shield your case records from public view.
Shielding is a process that lets you ask the court to remove certain kinds of records about certain criminal convictions from public view. Shielding these records from public view may make it easier to get a job, attend college, or get a government service of some kind. Shielding is a one-time opportunity: you can only have a shielding petition granted once in your lifetime.
Usually the verdict or outcome of your case determines whether specific records can be expunged. This article discusses the different types of records and whether they are eligible for expungement.
Filing Charges
This article describes the options for criminal charges a victim may wish to pursue against an abuser.
Victim's Rights
This article describes the rights of victims of crime and how victims may seek restitution and compensation.
Maryland Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) Service and all Maryland courts that have implemented the Maryland Electronic Filing and Case Management (MDEC) system provide crime victims, victim advocates, and other concerned citizens free offender information and hearing notification.
All law enforcement entities in Maryland also provide extensive training and guidelines on domestic violence.