Howard County Warrant Records

Howard County warrant records are managed by the Sheriff's Office at its main location in Ellicott City. The county runs a dedicated Warrant/Fugitive Section that tracks down people with active warrants across Howard County and beyond. You can search for warrant records through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search tool or by calling the Sheriff's Office directly. Howard County also enters all warrants into the state METERS system so local 911 dispatchers can check warrant status in real time. Whether you need to look up a bench warrant or check on an arrest warrant, Howard County has several ways to access these records.

Howard County Warrant and Fugitive Section

The Howard County Sheriff's Office operates a Warrant/Fugitive Section out of its headquarters at 9250 Judicial Way in Ellicott City. This unit handles all warrant service in the county. The team is responsible for apprehending fugitives on criminal grand jury indictments, serving bench warrants, and executing juvenile warrants from the Circuit Court. They also handle civil body attachments from the District Court. You can reach the Warrant/Fugitive Section at 410-313-4174 for questions about active warrants in Howard County.

Howard County takes fugitive apprehension seriously. During 2007 alone, the Warrant/Fugitive Section extradited 29 felony fugitives from 11 different states. That shows the reach of their warrant enforcement. The unit works with agencies across the country to track down people who flee Howard County after catching a charge. Warrant teams in Howard County operate across county lines when needed, coordinating with state and federal law enforcement to bring fugitives back to face charges.

All warrants in Howard County get entered into the local system so 911 dispatchers can flag wanted people during routine calls. Criminal warrants and child support warrants go into the METERS database. Extraditable warrants also get entered into the NCIC system, which is the FBI's nationwide warrant database. If someone with an active Howard County warrant gets pulled over in another state, officers can see that warrant in NCIC right away.

Searching Warrant Records in Howard County

The fastest way to check for warrant records in Howard County is through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search tool. This free online database covers both the Circuit Court and District Court in Howard County. Select "Howard County" from the county dropdown and set the case type to "Criminal" for warrant-related results. Since December 2021, the system uses exact name matching by default. Add a % sign after the first letter of a last name for a broader search. Look for entries like "Warrant Issued" or "Bench Warrant Issued" in the case details.

You can also search for Howard County warrant records in person. The Circuit Court for Howard County sits at 8360 Court Avenue in Ellicott City. The phone number is 410-313-2111. The District Court is at 3451 Court House Drive, also in Ellicott City, and can be reached at 410-313-7000. Both courts keep records of warrants issued through their respective systems. Copy fees run $0.50 per page at the clerk's office.

The Howard County Sheriff's Office is another resource. Call 410-313-2150 for general questions or 410-313-4174 to reach the Warrant/Fugitive Section directly. You can also email the office at HCSO@howardcountymd.gov.

Types of Warrants in Howard County

Howard County courts issue several types of warrants. Arrest warrants come first. A judge signs one when there is probable cause that a crime took place. Under Maryland Rule 4-212, arrest warrants must include the suspect's name, the charges, and the issuing judge's signature. These warrants stay active in Howard County until served or recalled by the court. There is no time limit on felony arrest warrants.

Bench warrants are common in Howard County as well. Maryland Rule 4-347 covers these. A bench warrant gets issued when someone misses a court date or fails to follow a court order. They are sometimes called "Failure to Appear" warrants. The Howard County Warrant/Fugitive Section handles the service of bench warrants along with arrest warrants. Search warrants are different. Under Criminal Procedure § 1-203, a search warrant allows law enforcement to search a specific place for evidence. Search warrants in Howard County are valid for just 15 days from the date of issue.

Other warrant types in Howard County include:

• Child support warrants for unpaid support obligations
• Body attachments for civil court no-shows
• Capias warrants for unpaid fines
• Fugitive warrants for people wanted in other jurisdictions

Howard County Sheriff's Office Warrants

The Howard County Sheriff's Office provides details about its warrant services on its Warrant/Fugitive Section page. That page covers the unit's responsibilities, how to report tips, and what to expect when a warrant is served in Howard County.

The page lists the full scope of warrant work in Howard County, from grand jury indictment arrests to juvenile warrant execution and civil body attachments from District Court.

Requesting Howard County Warrant Records

The Maryland Public Information Act gives you the right to request warrant records from Howard County offices. Under MPIA §§ 4-101 through 4-601, you can ask for copies of public records without unnecessary delay. To get warrant records, send a written request to the PIA representative at the Howard County Sheriff's Office or the Circuit Court Clerk. Include as much detail as you can. Names, case numbers, and dates help staff find the right records faster.

Howard County agencies have 10 business days to respond. Standard copy fees are $0.50 per page. The first two hours of research time are free at most offices. After that, extra time costs $50 per hour. If the fee is a hardship, you can ask for a waiver based on financial need. The Maryland Attorney General's MPIA page has full details on how the process works and lists PIA representatives for state and county agencies.

Under Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 2-607, the Clerk of Court in Howard County keeps records of all warrants issued through the Circuit Court. Those records become part of the public court file once a warrant has been served.

Nearby Counties

Howard County sits in central Maryland between several other jurisdictions. Warrant records from neighboring counties can be searched through the same Case Search tool. Here are the counties that border Howard County:

Cities in Howard County

These communities in Howard County have their own pages with local warrant records information: