Bowie Public Records Search
Bowie is an incorporated city in Prince George's County and maintains its own city-level records alongside county-held court, property, and vital records. Public records for Bowie include police reports through the Bowie Police Department, court filings at the Prince George's County Circuit Court, property data through SDAT, and any city government records subject to the Maryland Public Information Act. This page covers where to find each record type, who to contact, and what the process looks like for residents and researchers starting a search.
Bowie Public Records Overview
City of Bowie and Its Records Structure
Bowie has been incorporated since 1882 and today is the largest municipality in Prince George's County. Because it is an incorporated city, Bowie maintains its own records at the city level. The City Clerk, City Manager's Office, and individual departments all hold documents subject to MPIA requests. At the same time, court records, vital records, and property filings all run through Prince George's County, not the city.
City Hall is at 15901 Fred Robinson Way, Bowie, MD 20716. The main phone is (301) 262-6200. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, though the reception desk stays open until 10:00 PM on weekdays. Most city departments, including the Police Department's administrative offices, are located within the City Hall complex.
The City Clerk for Bowie is Awilda Hernandez, MMC. Her direct line is (301) 809-3029, and her email is ahernandez@cityofbowie.org. She is the primary MPIA coordinator for city government records. If you are not sure which department holds a record you need, start with the City Clerk's office.
City records that are available without an MPIA request include: adopted city code sections, standard forms, annual operating and capital improvement budgets, financial reports, City Council meeting agendas and minutes, and most documents already posted to the city website. If you can find it on the site, you do not need to file a formal request.
The City of Bowie website is the best starting point for locating city-level public records. It covers all departments, contact info, online forms, and links to additional county-level and state-level resources.
The City of Bowie homepage provides the main portal to all city departments, services, and records access options.
The City of Bowie homepage serves as the gateway to departments, city services, budget documents, council minutes, and links to the Maryland Public Information Act request process.
Bowie Police Department Records
The Bowie Police Department (BPD) is CALEA-accredited and handles all police records for the city. The department is at 15901 Excalibur Road, Bowie, MD 20716, which is within the City Hall complex. For non-emergency calls and communications, the number is (240) 544-5700, available 24 hours a day.
Police records requests go to Sgt. Samuel Hernandez, who handles records and MPIA matters for the department. His office line is (240) 544-5723. Written requests can be emailed to publicinfo@cityofbowie.org or mailed to Bowie Police Department, 15901 Fred Robinson Way, Bowie, MD 20716. There is no dedicated online records portal, so requests must be submitted directly.
The fee for a standard police report is $15 per report. Crime victims can get their own report without paying that fee. Accident reports are also $15. Photocopies of additional pages run $0.25 per page. Search time for records is free for the first two hours; after that, the rate is $25 to $50 per hour depending on the complexity of the request.
Incident reports include the date, time, and location of the incident, the name and badge number of the reporting officer, the nature of the incident, parties involved, witness statements, evidence collected, and follow-up actions. Accident reports include driver and vehicle information, a diagram of the scene, weather and road conditions, and any citations issued.
Records that are open to the public include general incident reports, accident reports, crime blotters and statistics, and arrest logs. Records that are restricted include active investigation materials, juvenile records, internal affairs files, personnel records, and victim or witness information in sensitive cases. Under MPIA, the department has 10 working days to respond if no records exist, and up to 30 days to produce a full response.
The Bowie Police Department page covers department services, reporting options, and how to reach the department by phone or in person.
The Bowie Police Department page lists contact details, describes department programs, and provides the background needed before submitting a police records request.
The Police Communications Center page lists the non-emergency contact number and explains when to call versus when to use 911.
The Police Communications Center page shows hours, contact numbers, and guidance on non-emergency calls for Bowie residents reaching the department outside of an emergency situation.
MPIA Requests for City of Bowie Records
The Maryland Public Information Act gives you the right to request records from any Bowie city department. General city records go to City Clerk Awilda Hernandez at ahernandez@cityofbowie.org or by mail to Bowie City Hall, 15901 Fred Robinson Way, Bowie, MD 20716. Police records requests use publicinfo@cityofbowie.org instead.
When you write an MPIA request, include your name and mailing address, a daytime phone number, a clear description of the records you want, and any relevant dates or case numbers you already know. You do not have to explain why you want the records, but being specific speeds up the search. The city will confirm receipt and tell you whether records exist within 10 working days, then provide the full response within 30 days. Complex or large requests may take longer, but the city must notify you if an extension is needed.
Photocopies are $0.25 per page. Certified copies carry an additional $5.00 fee per document. Electronic records are produced at actual cost. Fee waivers are available for indigent requesters or when the disclosure is clearly in the public interest. You can request a waiver in your initial letter.
The Bowie MPIA request page explains the city's official process, what to include in a request, and where to send it.
The city's MPIA page outlines the request process, fee schedule, and contact information for submitting public records requests to any Bowie city department.
The Offices and Facilities page lists direct contact information for all city departments, which helps you route your request to the right office the first time.
The offices and facilities page lists addresses, phone numbers, and hours for every Bowie city department, making it easier to direct an MPIA request or an in-person inquiry to the right location.
Court Records for Bowie Residents
Court cases involving Bowie residents are filed at the Prince George's County courts in Upper Marlboro, not in Bowie itself. The Prince George's County Circuit Court is at 14735 Main Street, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772. The main phone is (301) 952-3318, and hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. This court handles major civil cases over $30,000, felony criminal matters, family law, and juvenile cases.
The Prince George's County District Court sits at the same address in Upper Marlboro, as well as a second location at 4990 Rhode Island Avenue, Hyattsville, MD 20781. The District Court covers misdemeanors, traffic cases, civil claims under $30,000, and landlord-tenant matters. Both courts are searchable online through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us. That tool is free, requires no login, and shows case type, filing dates, hearing dates, and final dispositions for all Prince George's County cases.
Probate and estate matters for Bowie residents go through the Orphans' Court at the same Circuit Court location. If you need a certified copy of a court document rather than just case information, you must contact the Circuit Court clerk directly rather than using the online search tool. The clerk can provide certified copies by mail or in person.
All of these courts fall under the Prince George's County court system. The county page has more detail on each court's jurisdiction, addresses, and procedures for in-person records access.
Property Records in Bowie
Bowie property records are searchable through the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (SDAT) Real Property database. On the SDAT site, select Prince George's County from the dropdown. The county code for Prince George's is 17. You can search by street address, account identifier, map reference, or street name only if you are not sure of the full address.
SDAT records show current and previous owners, the property address and legal description, the tax account number, assessment values for land and improvements, tax amounts, deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and building information such as year built and square footage. This is the quickest way to get a snapshot of any Bowie property's history without visiting a courthouse.
For recorded deeds, mortgages, and other instruments, Maryland Land Records at mdlandrec.net is the online source. A free account is required to view documents. In-person land records access is at the Prince George's County Circuit Court Land Records Department, 14735 Main Street, Room D1002, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772, phone (301) 952-3330. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Property tax bills for Bowie are sent by Prince George's County annually. Payments can be made online, by mail, or in person through the Prince George's County Office of Finance. Tax sale proceedings may occur for properties with unpaid balances, and those records also appear in the court system.
Vital Records for Bowie
Vital records for Bowie residents are handled at the state level, not the city level. Birth and death certificates go through the Maryland Department of Health, Division of Vital Records, at 6764 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21215. The phone is (410) 764-3038, and there is a toll-free line at 1-800-832-3277. The website is health.maryland.gov/vsa.
Birth certificates cost $10 per copy. Death certificates are $12 per copy. Marriage certificates from 2007 forward are $12 per copy. Divorce verifications from 1992 forward are also $12 per copy. For older records, marriage licenses before 2007 are held at the Prince George's County Circuit Court Clerk's office. Divorce decrees before 1992 are at the Prince George's County Circuit Court as well.
Marriage licenses for new applications are issued at the Prince George's County Circuit Court Clerk's office at 14735 Main Street, Upper Marlboro, MD 20772. Both parties must appear in person with valid ID. Contact the clerk's office at (301) 952-3318 for current fees and scheduling details before going in.
Nearby Maryland Cities
Bowie is in Prince George's County in central Maryland, near several other cities that have their own public records pages with local contact details.