Maryland has two parallel tools for researching arrest records: the CJIS Central Repository for certified fingerprint-based criminal history, and the Maryland Judiciary Case Search for free public access to court case records. Together they cover most of what families, employers, and individuals need. Maryland has also gradually built one of the more developed record-clearing frameworks in the mid-Atlantic region over the past decade, with two distinct tracks -- expungement and shielding -- that serve different purposes and cover different situations. This guide explains how the system works and where to search.
What Makes Maryland Arrest Records Public
The Maryland Public Information Act, codified in the General Provisions Article Sections 4-101 through 4-601, establishes the public's right to access government records. Criminal records maintained by courts and law enforcement agencies fall within this framework.
The Maryland Criminal Justice Information System, known as CJIS, is the official state repository for comprehensive criminal history records. Operated by the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, the CJIS Central Repository maintains RAP sheets -- Records of Arrests and Prosecutions -- built from data submitted by every law enforcement agency in Maryland. The CJIS system connects to FBI national databases through the National Crime Information Center, giving it broader reach than court records alone.
Access to the full CJIS criminal history requires fingerprinting. The CJIS Central Repository does not provide free public online access to criminal records. For public access without fingerprints, the Maryland Judiciary Case Search is the primary tool.
Exemptions from public access include juvenile records, expunged records, shielded records, and materials connected to active investigations.
What a Maryland Arrest Record Contains
An arrest record is a booking document. It reflects the facts of an arrest at the time of booking and carries no presumption of guilt.
A Maryland arrest record in the CJIS system includes personal identifying information -- name, date of birth, race, gender, hair and eye color, tattoos, and other physical descriptors. It lists every arrest, the arresting agency, the date, the charges, and all dispositions that were reported. If the person was incarcerated, that information is also part of the CJIS record.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search provides court record information by case -- filing date, case number, charges, case status, and disposition language. District Court records go back to 1989 in the Case Search system. This is not a complete criminal history; it is case-by-case court information. For a certified full criminal history, CJIS is the required route.
How to Search Maryland Arrest Records
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us is the primary free public tool. It allows searches by name and date of birth and returns criminal case records from District Court, Circuit Court, Court of Special Appeals, and the Court of Appeals. As of December 2021, the system defaults to exact name matching. Results show case details including charges filed, case status, and dispositions. This is the most accessible tool for anyone trying to verify whether an arrest occurred and how a case resolved.
For a certified full criminal history from CJIS, the process requires fingerprinting. Maryland residents can be fingerprinted at a local police station using Form 011 (Maryland's fingerprint card) or through a Live Scan location. Out-of-state residents must first obtain the fingerprint card by mail from CJIS. Submit the completed fingerprint card with the required fee to CJIS-CR, P.O. Box 32708, Pikesville, MD 21282-2708. Phone: 1-888-795-0011 or 410-764-4501. The CJIS office is at 6776 Reisterstown Road, Suite 102, Baltimore, MD 21215. A state-only check costs $18. A combined state and FBI check is $38. Processing takes 10 to 15 business days.
County sheriff offices and local police departments maintain booking records for recent arrests. Maryland has 23 counties plus Baltimore City, for a total of 24 jurisdictions. Most publish online inmate rosters or booking logs. For anyone arrested in the past 24 to 72 hours, the county jail or police department website is where to look.
For broader multi-source searches that aggregate public record data across Maryland's 24 jurisdictions and other states, TruthFinder is a practical option.
VINELink at vinelink.com connects to the Maryland DOC system and many county facilities and provides free real-time custody status and notification registration.
County Jail Records in Maryland
Maryland's 23 counties plus Baltimore City each operate detention facilities. County detention centers hold people who have recently been arrested, those awaiting trial, and individuals serving shorter sentences.
When someone is convicted and sentenced to state prison, they enter the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services' Division of Correction. The MDOC provides an online inmate locator accessible through the DPSCS website at dpscs.maryland.gov. You can search by name and date of birth to locate current state inmates and get their facility and status information.
Federal Arrests in Maryland
Federal arrests in Maryland are made by agencies including the FBI, the DEA, U.S. Marshals, the ATF, and Homeland Security Investigations. Maryland is home to significant federal law enforcement activity, particularly given the proximity to federal agencies in the Washington metropolitan area.
The BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the official free tool for locating anyone serving a federal sentence. Search by name or BOP register number. Federal court records are available through the PACER system at pacer.gov.
Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the CJIS database for state purposes. A state criminal history check from CJIS will not surface federal-only charges. The combined state and FBI check at $38 adds federal criminal history from the FBI's national database.
Arrest Records Versus Conviction Records
An arrest record documents that law enforcement took someone into custody. A conviction record documents a court's finding of guilt. Maryland's Case Search and CJIS systems both contain arrest and disposition information, but they do not automatically link or update when a case resolves.
Charges can be dropped, cases dismissed, and juries acquit. In all of those situations the arrest entry remains in CJIS records and Case Search unless the person pursues expungement. The record continues to surface on background checks until legally addressed.
Maryland's Expungement and Shielding Framework
Maryland has two distinct legal tracks for limiting public access to criminal records, codified in Maryland Code, Criminal Procedure Article Sections 10-101 through 10-110.
Expungement provides full removal of all records from court and law enforcement files. Under CPA Section 10-101, expungement means removal of information from public inspection -- and in Maryland this means the records are extracted and isolated from all court, detention, correctional facility, and law enforcement agency files.
For non-conviction records -- acquittals, dismissals, nolle prosequi -- expungement is available and the $30 petition filing fee is waived for cases that ended in acquittal. Filing the petition in the court where the case was heard is the starting point.
For conviction records, the 2023 REDEEM Act significantly updated Maryland's expungement waiting periods. Most eligible misdemeanor convictions now require five years from case completion (reduced from ten). Eligible felony convictions require seven or ten years depending on the offense. Some felonies involving theft, burglary, and drug distribution are eligible after seven to ten years. Crimes of violence as defined in CPA Section 14-101 (including first- and second-degree assault, robbery, and rape) are not eligible for expungement. DUI and DWI convictions are excluded. Convictions with sentences exceeding three years are excluded. If a person has multiple charges from a single filing, the unit-of-filing rule applies -- if any charge is ineligible, all charges from that filing are ineligible unless the court exercises discretion to grant partial expungement.
Shielding is a separate track under Title 10, Subtitle 3 (the Second Chance Act). Shielding is faster -- a three-year waiting period -- but applies only to a limited enumerated list of minor offenses. Shielded records are removed from the Case Search public database, and the system may not refer to their existence in any way. However, shielded records remain accessible to certain employers in sensitive positions and to law enforcement.
Expunged records confer broader benefits: they are not accessible to the public or most employers, and the person can generally deny the existence of the record. Shielding limits public access but not access by authorized employers and agencies.
InmateAid's guides on expungement and record shielding cover Maryland's framework in more detail. Mugshot removal from third-party sites after expungement or shielding is addressed in InmateAid's resources on that topic.
Frequently asked questions
Are Maryland arrest records public?
Yes, under the Maryland Public Information Act at General Provisions Article Sections 4-101 through 4-601. Arrest records are generally public. However, comprehensive criminal history records from CJIS require fingerprints and a fee. Free public access to case records is available through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search. Expunged, shielded, and juvenile records are not accessible to the general public.
How do I search Maryland arrest records?
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search at casesearch.courts.state.md.us is the free public tool for court case records. For a certified full criminal history, submit a fingerprint card and $18 fee (state only) or $38 (state plus FBI) to CJIS, P.O. Box 32708, Pikesville, MD 21282-2708, phone 1-888-795-0011. For recent arrests, check the relevant county detention facility or police department website. For multi-source results, TruthFinder aggregates public record data. For real-time custody status, VINELink at vinelink.com provides free notifications. For DPSCS state inmates, use the inmate locator at dpscs.maryland.gov.
What does a Maryland arrest record contain?
A CJIS record includes personal identifying information, every arrest and arresting agency, dates, charges, and all reported dispositions and incarceration history. The Maryland Judiciary Case Search provides case-specific information including charges filed, case status, and disposition language for District Court cases from 1989 and Circuit Court cases.
Is an arrest the same as a conviction in Maryland?
No. An arrest documents that someone was taken into custody. A conviction reflects a court's finding of guilt. You can have a Maryland arrest record with no conviction if charges were dropped, dismissed, or you were acquitted. The arrest entry remains in CJIS records and Case Search unless expunged under CPA Section 10-105.
How do I find someone in a Maryland county jail?
Check the detention center or sheriff website for the county or Baltimore City where the arrest occurred. VINELink at vinelink.com connects to many Maryland facilities and provides free notification registration. For someone sentenced to state prison, use the DPSCS inmate locator at dpscs.maryland.gov.
Can I search federal arrest records in Maryland?
Federal court records are available through PACER at pacer.gov. For someone serving a federal sentence, the BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the free official tool. The combined state and FBI CJIS check at $38 adds federal criminal history from the FBI's national database. Federal-only arrests are not part of the standard $18 state CJIS check.
How long does an arrest stay on record in Maryland?
Maryland arrest and conviction records remain in CJIS and Case Search indefinitely unless expunged or shielded. Non-conviction records (acquittals, dismissals) are generally eligible for expungement with no waiting period. Conviction records require waiting periods of five to ten years depending on offense level. Records that are not eligible for expungement or shielding remain permanently in the system absent a pardon.
What is the difference between expungement and shielding?
Expungement under CPA Sections 10-101 through 10-110 removes all records from public inspection, is available for non-conviction cases and eligible conviction offenses, and confers the broadest relief. A petitioner can generally deny the record exists. The $30 filing fee is waived for acquittals. Shielding under Title 10, Subtitle 3 (Second Chance Act) restricts public access after a three-year waiting period but applies only to a limited enumerated list of minor offenses. Shielded records do not appear in Case Search, but certain authorized employers and agencies can still access them. Expungement is the stronger remedy; shielding is faster but narrower.
Who qualifies for expungement in Maryland?
Under CPA Sections 10-105 and 10-110, non-conviction outcomes (acquittals, dismissals, nolle prosequi) qualify for expungement with no waiting period. Eligible misdemeanor convictions qualify after five years (post-2023 REDEEM Act). Eligible felony convictions require seven to ten years. Crimes of violence, DUI/DWI convictions, and sentences exceeding three years are not eligible. The unit-of-filing rule can affect eligibility for cases with multiple charges from a single filing.
Why does my record show an arrest but no conviction?
An arrest entry is created at booking and remains in CJIS and Case Search regardless of the case outcome. If charges were dropped, dismissed, or you were acquitted, the arrest entry persists until expunged under CPA Section 10-105. Filing the expungement petition (waived fee for acquittals) in the court where the case was heard is the legal remedy to remove qualifying non-conviction arrest records. ---
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