Maryland Warrant Search

Maryland warrant searches enable individuals to find and identify outstanding warrants issued by district and circuit court judges to sanction arrests, searches, or seizures. Such records are generally public. Maryland has several resources and agencies that may help interested parties find outstanding warrants. They include local law enforcement offices such as the Baltimore Police Department (BPD), the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, and the Prince George's County Sheriff's Office. Other options include court-provided case search portals and clerks' offices. However, warrants are primarily considered part of Maryland criminal court records and are accessible through the judiciary. Additionally, warrants are not proof of guilt.

Understanding the details of an outstanding warrant helps people resolve personal legal issues or provide adequate support for loved ones. They may avoid legal complications, such as unexpected arrests and suspended driving privileges. Moreover, individuals may view publicly available warrant information to assess crime in their environments.

Are Warrants Public Records in Maryland?

Yes, Maryland warrants are generally considered public records with specific exceptions. The Maryland Public Information Act (Md. General Provisions Code Ann. § 4-101) establishes the right of the people to inspect and obtain records created and maintained by the state's public bodies, including sheriff's offices, police departments, and the Commissioner of Land Patents (State Archivist), who serve as custodians for certain warrants.

Maryland's court rules also permit the public inspection of certain warrants issued by courts under specific circumstances. In Maryland, search warrants are sealed and may only be inspected and obtained by people directly involved in a case or by court order. However, although law enforcement agents are permitted to release arrest warrant information, arrest warrants may only be viewed and received when a warrant has been executed or is active for 90 days. Generally, the public cannot assess and obtain warrant records or information restricted by federal law, state statutes, and court rules.

Note: Maryland's Rules, 16-911-16-914 and General Provisions Code Ann. § 4-301-4-362, cover records and information with limited access.

Types of Warrants in Maryland

Maryland courts and other authorized bodies issue different types of warrants. The most common of which are arrest, search, and bench warrants. However, other types of warrants exist, some of which include:

Hospital Warrants: Per Md. Criminal Procedure Code Ann. § 3-101(e), hospital warrants are legal paperwork that authorizes law enforcement agents to apprehend individuals suspected of violating conditional release orders and detain them in facilities designated by the Maryland Department of Health. 

Civil and Administrative Warrants: These warrants are connected with domestic cases or regulatory functions rather than criminal proceedings. For example, child custody warrants authorize law enforcement to take custody of a child per Md. Family Law Code Ann. § 9.5-311. 

Another example is an administrative warrant issued to the Department of Agriculture. Like other similar bodies, the department may request administrative warrants to enter farms and conduct inspections for possible violations (Md. Agriculture Code Ann. § 2-103.2).

Land survey warrants: Unpatented lands in Maryland are considered vacant land by law. People who want their lands patented must apply for a warrant with the Commissioner of Land Patents (State Archivist) to survey the land. The warrant application must typically contain: 

• The names and addresses of the applicant
• Names of other people interested in the land
• The counties and election districts where the land is located
• A description of the vacant land
• Current possessors of the land's title

What is a Search Warrant in Maryland?

A Maryland search warrant is paperwork issued by a judge directing law enforcement officers to search a person, premises, or location and seize items that may be evidence of a crime. Law enforcement seeking to search any location must apply in writing to a judge and provide probable cause (Code Ann. § 1-203(3)). The applicant must sign, date, and swear to the application (or affidavit) and provide facts or grounds supporting the search and seizure. The affiant (applicant) may submit the search warrant application and other supporting documents to a district or circuit court judge by electronic mail, secure fax, or in-person delivery.

Maryland also allows law enforcement agents and the State's Attorney to apply for no-knock search warrants. These warrants allow police officers to enter any premises without announcing their presence, purpose, or authority. However, the applicant must provide relevant material to convince the judge that the warrant is necessary.

An applicant may communicate with the judge in person, via video, or by phone about the contents of an affidavit. Upon conviction that probable cause exists, the judge will sign the warrant, indicate the date and time of issuance, and send it to the applicant.

An issued Maryland search warrant contains the following details:

• The address, name, or description of the person, premises, or location to be searched
• The reason(s) for the search
• The applicant's name 
• Whether it is a no-knock search warrant

Maryland law also requires the execution of search warrants within 10 days of their issuance. After this period, the warrant becomes void.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Search Warrant?

The time it takes to get a search warrant varies from a few hours to several days. Generally, to obtain a search warrant, law enforcement agents must convince a judge that probable cause exists to search a place or person. They do not have to appear in person to swear before a judge, as the law permits them to communicate via telephone or video and send a search warrant application electronically. The judge may also return the signed warrant electronically.

What is an Arrest Warrant in Maryland?

Arrest warrants authorize law enforcement officers to apprehend and detain individuals. Issuance of arrest warrants is a strict process that must recognize probable cause. That means a judge or commissioner must be convinced, upon reviewing a charging document, that there are substantial grounds to believe an individual committed or may commit a crime.

Arrest warrants may also be issued if a defendant's whereabouts are unknown, and the warrant will force them to appear before the court.

These warrants are resolved when a subject is taken into custody or turns themselves in to answer the charges. Nonetheless, warrants may be recalled by district and circuit court judges upon finding reasonable cause. 

Law enforcement agents must present arrested defendants before authorized judicial officers within 24 hours (in district courts) or during the court's next session (in circuit courts). An arrest warrant will typically detail: 

• The arrestee's personal information
  Name, birthdate, and race
• The arrest location or site
• The offender's alleged offense.

Arrest Warrant Lookup in Maryland

Arrest warrants are issued by courts and executed by law enforcement in Maryland. Thus, individuals may query any of these bodies for active warrants. However, knowing the jurisdiction where a case is open or a crime might have occurred may point the researcher to the type of warrant that may have been issued and its record custodian. For example, Maryland district courts handle traffic violations. If a party knows the specific court that dealt with a traffic violation proceeding, they may access its public records resources to locate outstanding arrest warrants.

Generally, members of the public may use the following avenues to look up arrest warrants in Maryland:

Courthouses

Individuals may visit or contact the court clerk's office that issued the warrant. The records are usually available for public review 90 days after they are issued or after a warrant has been executed.

Local Law Enforcement

Police departments and county sheriff's offices run specific units for executing warrants and handling inquiries about arrest warrants. These units aid people who want to turn themselves in to resolve legal issues. They also welcome individuals who want to assist law enforcement with pertinent information about defendants. For example, people may contact the Warrant Section of Montgomery County's Department of Police to check if a warrant has been issued for their arrest.

Official Online Resources

Different agencies and local bodies provide online platforms that allow members of the public to search for active arrest records in Maryland. For example, individuals may access the Maryland Judiciary Search platform to find warrant records from the district and circuit courts. Some county sheriff's offices also run active warrant databases. For example, the Anne Arundel County Sheriff's Office provides an active warrants database displaying warrants active for six months or longer.

It is important to note that online databases do not exclusively contain unserved warrants, as served warrants may still appear on some platforms until removed. The Maryland Judiciary Case Search may also not provide certain criminal case records, especially if it is restricted by law. Inquirers are advised to confirm each record's accuracy with local authorities.

How to Find Out If You Have a Warrant in Maryland

Depending on the type of warrant, members of the public may visit or contact different agencies to check if they have a warrant in Maryland.

Arrest Warrants

Individuals may obtain arrest warrant information by visiting the local courthouse where a warrant might have been issued or by accessing Maryland's online judiciary case search system. 

They may also contact or visit local law enforcement agencies, as these offices execute and maintain arrest warrant records. For example, people looking to find individuals with active warrants in Calvert County may head to the local sheriff's Most Wanted page.

Bench Warrants

Bench warrants are issued by judges to arrest individuals who fail to show up in court or comply with court directives. People who have interacted with law enforcement agencies or had citations in the past may use the same method of checking for arrest warrants to confirm if they have bench warrants. These warrants typically have the words "contempt," "contempt of court," and "body attachment" in their captions.

Hospital Warrants

Courts issue hospital warrants. Copies of these warrants are sent to the people who reported a defendant's alleged violation, the State Attorney, the public defender, the defendant's counsel of record, the Office of Administrative Hearings, and the Maryland Department of Health. Interested and eligible individuals may contact any of these named bodies to check for an active hospital warrant.

Search Warrants

Search warrants are only filed with clerks of courts after they have been executed. Executed search warrants are automatically sealed and may only be viewed with the court's permission. However, individuals whose properties or premises were searched will receive copies of the search warrant and its return documents, such as an inventory of items seized during the search.

Eligible individuals may also visit a courthouse to request copies of search warrants.

Child Support Warrant

People who owe past-due child support may have warrants issued for their arrest. These warrants are usually captioned "contempt of court." Individuals who may have fallen behind on their child support payments may check with the court to confirm if they have a warrant. Many county sheriff's offices also publish names and details of people with outstanding child support warrants on their websites.

For instance, the Harford County Sheriff's Office maintains a dedicated webpage that displays information about people wanted for child support. This information includes defendants' names, pictures, dates of birth, and last known addresses.

Civil and Administrative Warrants

Individuals may obtain certain civil and administrative warrants from the courthouses that issue them. However, warrants issued in certain domestic cases may only be released to the parties to the case.

Land Survey Warrants

Md. Real Property Code Ann. § 13-204 authorizes the Commissioner of Land Patents to maintain and dispense records about land patents in the state, including survey warrants. Members of the public may contact the office to find and obtain these warrants.

Free Warrant Search in Maryland

Interested individuals may obtain active warrant information for free when they use online resources provided by the Maryland Judiciary and local law enforcement agencies. They may also inspect court records for free at courthouse locations, provided court staff do not spend more than two hours searching for a record (Md. General Provisions Code Ann. § 4-206).

How Long Can Police Hold My Phone Without a Warrant in Maryland?

Under the Fourth Amendment and Article 26 of the Maryland Declaration of Rights, residents of Maryland are protected from unreasonable searches and seizures. This means the police cannot seize or search your phone without a valid warrant supported by probable cause. Maryland Criminal Procedure Code § 1-203 requires warrants to clearly describe the place to be searched and the items to be seized, including electronic devices. In addition, the warrant must specify the search intent and identify the device or location to be searched. 

However, there are exceptions to this rule based on exigencies. These include:

• When the individual affected voluntarily consents to the search
• When the individual is on parole or probation 
• When there is a risk of the destruction of evidence
• When there is a threat to the officer’s life

Police in Maryland may temporarily hold a cell phone during a lawful arrest. This is different from a long-term seizure for evidence during a criminal investigation. In the case of a long-term seizure, police must return the cell phone after the case concludes. 

However, if evidence is obtained unlawfully in violation of an individual’s Fourth Amendment rights, under Maryland Rule 4-252, the affected individual may petition for suppression of evidence.

How to Find Out If Someone Has A Warrant Online

Members of the public may find search warrants using online resources provided by the Maryland courts and local law enforcement agencies. Civilians may also use third-party aggregate websites to conduct online warrant searches. These websites pool publicly available information from official sources, allowing users to search for warrants from a single database.

In most cases, a researcher does not need to know the specific body that issued a warrant or the place where a crime might have occurred in Maryland. Simply providing a last and first name may produce the required results.

Note: Third-party websites are private businesses that charge fees for their services. Users may have to pay per search or subscribe for a specific duration, depending on the provider. Additionally, third-party vendors are not affiliated with any public agency. Users are advised to confirm each warrant's accuracy with the appropriate court or law enforcement agency.

However, note that records displayed on publicly available online databases are not considered official information. Such databases are usually provided for informational purposes and should not be used as a basis for any legal action.

How Long Do Warrants Last in Maryland?

Warrant duration limits vary, depending on the warrant. Warrants that permit the arrest of an individual, such as bench, child custody, and hospital warrants, remain active until the subject is taken into custody or a judge recalls the warrant. Search warrants last for 10 days once issued, after which they become void. Survey warrants issued by the Land Office are executable within six months of their issuance.