Maryland does not run one agency called the Department of Justice. Justice work here is divided among the Office of the Attorney General, locally elected State's Attorneys, the courts, and federal offices. This page explains who does what in Maryland, how the four listed offices fit in, and what to do before you travel to one.

Start with the type of problem you have. A consumer complaint, a criminal charge, a records request and a victim-assistance question each go to a different place. Choosing the right one first saves you a wasted trip and often a week of waiting.

Who Handles Justice Matters in Maryland

The Attorney General is elected statewide to a four-year term. The Office of the Attorney General, headquartered at 200 St. Paul Place in Baltimore, is the state's chief legal office. It represents state agencies, defends state laws in court, and handles criminal appeals from across the state.

The office also runs units that the public uses directly. The Consumer Protection Division takes complaints about businesses. The Health Education and Advocacy Unit helps with disputes involving health insurers. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates fraud and patient abuse in care facilities. The Securities Division oversees investment sales, and the Independent Investigations Division looks into police-involved deaths.

Prosecuting crimes is mostly a local job. Maryland has 24 State's Attorney's offices, one for each of its 23 counties and one for Baltimore City. Each State's Attorney is elected to a four-year term. They decide whether to bring charges, handle cases in the District Court and Circuit Court, and often run victim and witness programs. The Attorney General generally does not take over ordinary local prosecutions.

Other bodies fill in the gaps. The Office of the State Prosecutor is independent and handles election-law and public-corruption cases. The Office of the Public Defender provides lawyers to people who qualify based on income. Federal crimes go to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland, which has offices in Baltimore and Greenbelt.

The Four Listed Maryland Offices in Cambridge, Salisbury, Snow Hill and Westminster

Our directory lists four offices under this category. Each sits in a county seat, which is where Maryland's Circuit Court and most county government offices are found. That makes them easy to combine with other courthouse errands.

These listings use the label "Department of Justice," but the services behind a local office can differ from county to county. Some counties route this kind of inquiry through the State's Attorney. Others use a county government desk or a court-related program. Call first and ask what the office handles, what hours it keeps, and whether you need an appointment.

The Salisbury address is on Campus Drive rather than downtown, so ask for building and parking directions when you call. In Snow Hill and Cambridge, street parking near the county buildings can fill up on court days.

Rural Shore Counties and Baltimore-Area Suburbs: How Maryland Offices Differ

Three of the four listings are on the Eastern Shore. Dorchester, Wicomico and Worcester are small counties by population, and their offices tend to have fewer staff and tighter public hours. The upside is that you may deal with the same person from your first call to the final paperwork.

Salisbury works as a regional hub for the Lower Shore, so people from neighboring counties often travel there for courts, health care and legal help. Worcester County adds a seasonal twist. Ocean City draws large summer crowds, which raises the workload for police, prosecutors and the courts between Memorial Day and Labor Day. If your matter is not urgent, a spring or fall appointment is often easier.

Carroll County is different. Westminster is in north-central Maryland, within driving range of the Baltimore region. Residents can reach Baltimore-based state offices, larger legal aid groups and the federal courthouse more easily than someone in Snow Hill can.

Baltimore City and the large suburban counties have bigger State's Attorney's offices with specialized units. Statewide services work the same wherever you live. The Attorney General's complaint units, the Public Defender, the Maryland Judiciary's online case search and its Court Help Centers are open to every resident, and many requests can be made by phone, mail or online.

What to Bring and When to Go

A little preparation shortens almost every visit. Bring the following to any office or courthouse:

Go on a weekday morning, since county offices in Maryland generally close in late afternoon and shut on state and federal holidays. Courthouses use security screening, so allow extra time. Deadlines for court filings and appeals are strict, so do not wait for an office to call you back before you look into legal help.

Records, Expungement and Victim Help in Maryland

Three requests come up more than any others. First, court records: the Maryland Judiciary's Case Search tool shows most cases online, so check it before you visit. Second, government records: the Maryland Public Information Act lets you request documents from state and local agencies in writing. Third, clearing a record: Maryland courts handle expungement and shielding petitions, and eligibility depends on the offense and how the case ended.

Crime victims can ask the State's Attorney in the relevant county about victim and witness services, including notice of hearings. The Governor's Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services also supports victim programs statewide. If you are unsure where to begin, call the local number listed above and ask which office handles your issue.

Department of Justice resources in Maryland include U.S. Attorney's Office district operations, FBI field offices, and the Maryland Attorney General's Office, which enforces state law and consumer protection statutes at the state level while coordinating with federal DOJ components on major investigations.

Department Of Justice locations are available in 4 cities across Maryland. They are spread across 4 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Snow Hill, Salisbury, Cambridge, reflecting federal district headquarters and major cities where DOJ field offices, U.S. Attorneys, and federal law enforcement units are based.

Residents of Maryland who need to engage with the DOJ should identify the correct agency division for their matter — whether it involves civil rights, a federal crime, antitrust, or a FOIA request — before contacting the appropriate office.

Cambridge Maryland Department Of Justice

View Details Call Now (410) 228-6452

Cambridge Maryland Department Of Justice

Address
Get Direction
Hours

Salisbury Maryland Department Of Justice

View Details Call Now (410) 572-8750

Salisbury Maryland Department Of Justice

Address
Get Direction
Hours

Snow Hill Maryland Department Of Justice

View Details Call Now (410) 632-0206

Snow Hill Maryland Department Of Justice

Address
Get Direction
Hours

Westminster Maryland Department Of Justice

View Details Call Now (410) 386-2730

Westminster Maryland Department Of Justice

Address
Get Direction
Hours

Residents of Maryland who need to file a civil rights complaint, report federal fraud, or access victim assistance programs should visit justice.gov to identify the appropriate DOJ division or contact the U.S. Attorney's Office for the federal district covering their area.

Browse Department Of Justice by county across Maryland to find the nearest location.

Planning a Visit to a Maryland Justice Office

Local offices in Maryland keep county schedules. Buildings in Cambridge, Salisbury, Snow Hill and Westminster close on state and federal holidays, and hours can change with little notice. Call the day before, and ask which staff member handles your type of matter.

Where something happened usually decides which office and court take the case. A dispute in Worcester County, including Ocean City, belongs to the Worcester State's Attorney and the courts there, even if you live in Wicomico County. Write down the county, the date and any case number before you call. That one detail saves most callers a transfer.

On the Shore, long drives are common, so ask whether your business can be done by phone, mail or the Maryland Judiciary's online tools. Westminster offices are closer to the Baltimore region, which helps if you also need a state office in the city. Bring photo ID to any government building, and expect security screening at courthouses.

Finally, keep copies of everything you hand over and note the name of each person you speak with. Maryland deadlines for court papers and appeals are strict, and a clear paper trail helps if you later hire a lawyer or file a complaint.

Maryland Department of Justice Questions Answered

Not under that name. Maryland's chief state legal office is the Office of the Attorney General in Baltimore, led by an elected Attorney General. It advises state agencies, handles criminal appeals, and runs public-facing units such as Consumer Protection. Prosecution of most crimes belongs to the county State's Attorneys instead. When this directory lists a Department of Justice office in a city like Cambridge or Snow Hill, treat the label as a general category and call to learn what that office actually handles. For federal matters, the U.S. Department of Justice operates through the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Maryland.

The Consumer Protection Division in the Office of the Attorney General accepts written complaints about businesses, and it often tries to mediate between you and the company. Gather receipts, contracts, emails and photos before you file. The division cannot act as your private lawyer, so it will not sue on your behalf in an individual dispute. If mediation fails, the Maryland District Court's small claims process covers disputes up to $5,000 and can be used without a lawyer. Check the Attorney General's website for current complaint forms and contact options, since methods change.

Each county has its own elected State's Attorney, who serves a four-year term. The Dorchester County State's Attorney handles cases arising in Dorchester County, the Wicomico office handles Wicomico cases, and so on. They file charges, appear in District Court and Circuit Court, and many offices employ victim and witness staff who can explain hearing dates and your rights. If you are a victim, ask for the victim-witness coordinator. The Attorney General's office usually steps in only for appeals, special statutes or cases referred to it. Contact the office in the county where the incident happened, not where you live.

Maryland Judiciary Case Search lets you look up most court cases online by name or case number, though sealed and expunged cases do not appear. For records held by government agencies, the Maryland Public Information Act lets anyone request them in writing. The agency's records custodian must respond promptly, generally within 30 days, and may charge reasonable copying and search fees, with the first couple of hours of search time typically free. Some records, such as certain investigative files, are protected. Name the specific document, date range and agency in your request to speed up the response.

It depends on the case type. In criminal cases, the Office of the Public Defender represents defendants who qualify based on income. In civil matters such as evictions, family law or benefits, Maryland Legal Aid and other nonprofit providers serve people with limited income, though their capacity is limited. Court Help Centers run by the Maryland Judiciary offer free guidance to people representing themselves, in person or by phone or chat in many jurisdictions. Ask the court clerk in Cambridge, Salisbury, Snow Hill or Westminster which help center serves your county.

Often yes, depending on the offense and outcome. Maryland courts can expunge records from cases that ended in acquittal, dismissal or certain other outcomes, and the state's shielding law allows some misdemeanor convictions to be shielded after a waiting period. Eligibility rules are detailed and the General Assembly has amended them over the years, so confirm the current law before you file. Start with the clerk of the court where the case was heard, since the petition is generally filed there. Maryland Judiciary forms and Court Help Centers can explain the steps, and a lawyer or legal aid group can check whether you qualify.