Sex Offenders in Montgomery County
Montgomery County sex offender records are publicly accessible through the Maryland statewide registry and managed locally by the Montgomery County Police Department's Sex Offender Registry Unit. You can search registered sex offenders in Montgomery County by name, ZIP code, or address using the free public tool at the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. This page covers how to use that registry, where to register locally at the SORU office in Gaithersburg, what court resources exist, and where to find victim services throughout the county.
Montgomery County Overview
Montgomery County Sex Offender Registry Search
The Maryland sex offender registry is the main tool for finding registered sex offenders in Montgomery County. It is free to use and requires no account. The Maryland DPSCS registry supports searching by county, name, ZIP code, address, or map. Filtering by Montgomery County returns only offenders with a current registration address there. Each result shows a photo, current address, tier classification, offense description, and compliance status. Montgomery County is one of Maryland's most populous jurisdictions, so the county-wide search may return a large list.
ZIP code searches are a useful way to narrow results to a specific part of the county. Montgomery County spans a large geographic area that includes Rockville, Gaithersburg, Silver Spring, Bethesda, Germantown, Wheaton, and many other communities. Entering a specific ZIP code and picking a search radius will show offenders registered within that distance on an interactive map. You can also filter results to show only non-compliant offenders, which flags individuals who have not met their registration obligations.
The Montgomery County Police Department page at montgomerycountymd.gov/police has information on the SORU unit and how residents can report concerns about sex offender compliance. The screenshot below shows the police department portal.
The police site links directly to the SORU, explains how to report non-compliance, and lists the district station locations where residents can speak with officers in person.
For court records tied to sex offense cases, the Maryland Judiciary Case Search is the right tool. The screenshot below shows the Case Search portal at casesearch.courts.state.md.us.
Case Search is free and available 24 hours a day. It covers both the Circuit Court and District Court in Montgomery County.
Note: The National Sex Offender Public Website lets you check all 50 state registries in a single search, useful if you need to verify out-of-state registrations.
Montgomery County Sex Offender Registry Unit
Montgomery County Police operates its own Sex Offender Registry Unit, known as SORU. All registered sex offenders living in Montgomery County must appear at the SORU for in-person registration and periodic check-ins. The SORU is located at 100 Edison Park Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20878, which is the same address as the 1D Rockville District station. SORU hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and Wednesdays from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Email inquiries can be sent to SORU@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Under CP § 11-705, new registrants must appear within three days of release from incarceration, the start of community supervision, or moving to Maryland. That three-day window also applies when any registered detail changes, including address, employment, vehicle, phone, or email, under CP § 11-704. Penalties for non-compliance in Montgomery County, as set under CP § 11-721, include up to three years in jail and a $5,000 fine for a first offense. A second offense becomes a felony with up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The SORU at Montgomery County operates through the OffenderWatch notification system, which is connected to a network of more than 3,500 law enforcement agencies across 33 states. This means registration data flows in real time across state lines, helping agencies track offenders who move between jurisdictions. Residents can sign up for free email alerts through iCrimeWatch with a radius from 0.25 to five miles around any monitored address.
| SORU Address | 100 Edison Park Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20878 |
|---|---|
| SORU Hours | Tue/Thu 8-10 AM, Wed 3-5 PM |
| SORU Email | SORU@montgomerycountymd.gov |
Montgomery County Police Records Requests
Police records in Montgomery County can be requested online, by mail, or in person. The MCPD Records Center accepts online requests and charges $10 per report, payable by credit card. Mail requests go to the Public Safety Headquarters Records Division. In-person requests can be made at any of the six district stations that operate 24/7, or at headquarters during Monday through Friday business hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. A government-issued photo ID is required.
For MPIA requests, the designated contact is Mary Davison at 240-773-5330 or Mary.Davison@MontgomeryCountyMD.gov. Standard police report processing takes three to five business days. MPIA requests may take up to 30 days. There is no pre-payment requirement for MPIA requests, and the first two hours of staff search time are free. The county has six district stations serving different geographic areas:
- 1D Rockville: 100 Edison Park Drive, 240-773-6070
- 2D Bethesda: 4823 Rugby Avenue, 240-773-6700 (24/7)
- 3D Silver Spring: 1002 Milestone Drive, 240-773-6800 (24/7)
- 4D Wheaton: 2300 Randolph Road, 240-773-5500 (24/7)
- 5D Germantown: 20000 Aircraft Drive, 240-773-6200 (24/7)
- 6D Montgomery Village: 222 Paramount Park Drive, 240-773-5700 (24/7)
Note: Montgomery County does not charge a minimum administrative fee for MPIA requests the way some other agencies do. The first two hours of search time are always at no cost.
Montgomery County Court Records
The Circuit Court for Montgomery County is located at 50 Maryland Avenue, Rockville. The phone number is 240-777-9400. The Circuit Court handles all felony sex offense cases, including first and second degree rape and related Tier III offenses. Copy fees are $0.50 per page for standard copies, $5.00 for certified copies, and $10.00 for a triple seal. The State's Attorney for Montgomery County is John McCarthy, located at 50 Maryland Avenue, Fifth Floor, reachable at 240-777-7300. The State's Attorney handles prosecution of all sex offense and failure-to-register cases in the county.
The Family Justice Center at 600 Jefferson Plaza, Suite 500, can be reached at 240-773-0444. It serves victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and related crimes by bringing multiple agencies together in one location. Victims can get help with protective orders, case advocacy, legal information, and referrals to local services without having to travel to multiple offices. The Family Justice Center works closely with the State's Attorney's office and the police department's victim services unit.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search covers all Montgomery County Circuit and District Court cases. You can search at no cost around the clock. For in-person access to court files, visit the Circuit Court clerk's office in Rockville during business hours. District Court in Montgomery County has multiple locations serving different parts of the county.
Sex Offender Tiers and Registration Rules
Maryland's three-tier system applies uniformly in Montgomery County. Tier I offenders register for 15 years and verify twice per year. Tier II offenders register for 25 years with the same bi-annual check-ins. Tier III offenders register for life and must appear at the SORU every three months. Under CP § 11-707, these schedules are set by state law and do not vary by jurisdiction within Maryland.
Each in-person check-in requires the offender to confirm their current address, employment, vehicle information, phone numbers, and internet identifiers. Initial registration includes a photo, fingerprints, and a DNA sample. Homeless offenders who lack a fixed address must check in weekly at the SORU for as long as they remain without stable housing. Any change in registered information must be reported within three days.
Montgomery County residents can sign up for free alerts through the Maryland Sex Offender Alert Line at 1-866-559-8017. Enter your phone number and ZIP code to receive automated calls when a registered offender moves into your monitored area. The iCrimeWatch system supports email alerts for a specific address with a radius you set. Under CP § 11-717, registration statements are public record. Anyone can request them from SORU or the state SORU office in Pikesville.
Registered sex offenders in Montgomery County are prohibited from entering school or daycare property without written permission of the principal or owner under CP § 11-722. Given the density of schools and licensed childcare facilities across the county, this restriction has wide practical reach in communities like Rockville, Silver Spring, and Germantown.
Cities in Montgomery County
Montgomery County includes many large communities. Residents of all these cities register sex offenders through the Montgomery County Police SORU in Gaithersburg.
Nearby Counties
Montgomery County borders several other Maryland counties. Offenders who move across county lines must re-register with the new county's law enforcement within three days.