Find Maryland Inmate Records

Inmate records in Maryland are documents that jails and prisons create 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 overhead agency. However, note that 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, as well as official memoranda and letters.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often make searching more straightforward, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties usually must provide: 

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile 
• The location or assumed location of the document or person involved 

Third-party sites are independent of government sources and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party websites may vary.

What Information is Contained in a Maryland Inmate Record?

An inmate record in Maryland will typically contain the following information:

• Full legal name
• Aliases
• Date of birth
• Race
• Gender
• Physical features and marks 
• 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 I. D. Visitors cannot bring any personal items, such as keys, into the jail. For inmates in state prisons, use the DPSCS list of the contact information to find state prisons in the state. 

• Online search: Here, 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 jail into one searchable database. To query the database, the searcher must know the inmate’s full name.

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 any information other than the offender’s name, date of birth, and 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 best interests of the public. The Department shall refuse fee waiver requests that are primarily in the commercial interest of a requester.  

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 a 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

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 administration of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), 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. There, the searcher will have access to a database of inmate information 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.