Find Maryland Inmate Records

Maryland inmate records are documents created by prisons and jails when the judiciary remands or sentences an offender to serve time in custody. The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Corrections (DPSCS) is the central administrative agency responsible for inmate custody and maintaining these records.

Are Incarceration Records Public Information in Maryland?

Yes. Per the Maryland Public Information Act, inmate records are available to public requesters using channels set up by the correctional facility or the oversight agency. However, the Act restricts sensitive, private, or privileged information. Such exemptions include, but are not limited to, attorney-client information, inmate medical records, financial information, investigatory records, and official memoranda and letters.

Public records may be available through official channels and independent private websites. These third-party platforms often provide more flexible search tools, enabling individuals to conduct broad, multi-jurisdictional inquiries beyond county or state limitations. Typically, one must provide identifying details, such as the subject's name and the location of the record. Records related to juveniles remain confidential. Third-party sites operate separately from government offices, so the reliability and completeness of their databases cannot always be assured.

What Information is Contained in a Maryland Inmate Record?

An inmate record in Maryland will typically contain the following:

• The full legal name of the detainee (as well as any aliases)
• Their date of birth
• Their race
• Gender
• Physical features and marks (or physical description)
• Unique SID number
• Date of Incarceration
• Offense history
• Facility of incarceration
• Contact information of the facility

Where Do I Look Up an Inmate in Maryland?

Generally, the means to look up information on incarcerated persons in Maryland depend on the facility. In most cases, these include:

• In-person visits
• Phone calls
• Online search

How Do I Conduct an Inmate Search in Maryland?

Generally, correctional facilities in Maryland have established channels for the public to search for inmates or detainees in custody. These channels differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but directly visiting or contacting the facility is the default way to find an inmate.

• In-person visits & phone calls: Every facility that houses inmates in Maryland maintains its contact information on an official website. As most county jails do not maintain an online database for inmates, a requester must visit the county jail administrative office, i.e., the Sheriff's Office, in person or call the phone number provided. Furthermore, Maryland jails have rules regarding in-person visitation.

Generally, all visitors must dress appropriately and possess a government-issued photo ID. Visitors cannot bring personal items, such as keys, into the jail. For inmates in state prisons, use the DPSCS list of contact information to find state prisons.

• Online search: The searcher may find a person locked behind bars by querying the Department of Corrections Inmate Locator. The Inmate Locator is a central repository that pools information from all state prisons and county jails into one searchable database. The searcher must know the inmate's full name to query the database.

Using just one name causes the Inmate Locator to return hundreds of results, and the searcher will have to spend time sifting through search results before finding the inmate of interest. Unfortunately, the database does not allow searchers to circumvent this with parameters that narrow down search results. Parties can also use the browser's search tool (Control + F) and input the offender's birth date. Another drawback of Inmate Locator is that it does not return information other than the offender's name, date of birth, and the correctional facility housing the offender.

How Can I Find an Inmate for Free in Maryland?

Generally, a requester for inmate records must cover the direct cost of searching and reproducing such records. However, requesters may submit an appeal for a fee waiver to the record custodian. The Department only approves a waiver if it concludes that a request is in the public's best interests. The Department shall refuse fee waiver requests primarily in the requester's commercial interest.

How to Find Old Inmate Records in Maryland

Interested persons must send a request to the Maryland Department of Corrections using the PIA Request Form. The requester must include the inmate's name, approximate date of incarceration, physical description, and information, such as the year of birth and county of crime. Enclose the form in a self-addressed stamped envelope and mail or email to:

Maryland DPSCS
300 East Joppa Road
Towson, MD 21286
Email: ivy.williams@maryland.gov

Inmate Release Date Lookup In Maryland

The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) maintains custody records for inmates in state prisons. The Department provides an Inmate Locator Tool on its website, where searches can be conducted using a name or DPSCS identification number. Information available includes custody location, offense type, and anticipated release date.

Those seeking further assistance may contact the:

Maryland DPSCS
300 East Joppa Road
Suite 1000,
Towson, MD 21286
Phone: (410) 339-5000

County detention centers maintain records, which must be requested directly from those facilities. Release dates are estimates and may be influenced by parole board decisions, sentence credits, or disciplinary measures.

How do I Find Inmate Death Records in Maryland?

Inmate death records are not public records in Maryland. Thus, only eligible persons, i.e., surviving relatives or legal designees, may request death records from the Maryland Department of Health. Other persons must petition a court for an order granting access to that record. Death records that are considered public are accessible from the Maryland State Archives.

How do I Conduct a Federal Prison Inmate Search?

When the court convicts an offender of a federal crime in Maryland, they must remain in a secure facility. The facility is under the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) administration, and the agency is responsible for records regarding federal inmates. To find a federal inmate, use the BOP Inmate Locator, an online tool that allows searchers to find information on inmates incarcerated as far back as 1982. Generally, the offender's unique BOP number or full name is enough to query the database. However, providing additional information such as race, age, and sex helps narrow down the search from hundreds of similar results.

Meanwhile, records of inmates incarcerated before 1982 are only available on the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) website. The searcher will have access to an inmate information database from 1870 to 1981.

How Long Does it Take For An Inmate's Information to Be Published in Maryland Inmate Locator?

It varies. Local jails and prisons typically publish the information of newly incarcerated individuals on the inmate roster/locator at midnight. It is also common for information to be available as soon as the administrative staff books the inmate.

Why Is An Inmate Not Showing Up In Search?

If an inmate cannot be found in the DPSCS database, it is often because they are confined in a county detention center, juvenile facility, or federal prison. Newly admitted or released inmates may not appear until the database updates. Records may also be withheld if restricted by a court order or security concerns. Inquiries should be directed to DPSCS or the local detention facility for confirmation.