SPOKE ARTICLE - Parole and Probation by State series - MARYLAND

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Parole and Probation in Maryland

If someone you love is on parole or probation in Maryland, or if you have just gotten out and are trying to understand what is expected of you, this guide is written for both of you. Maryland has an active Parole Commission that makes discretionary release decisions, a Division of Parole and Probation that supervises everyone in the community, and three distinct forms of community supervision: parole, probation, and mandatory supervision release. The state passed meaningful reforms in 2025, and lawmakers considered further changes in the 2026 session. Understanding which form of supervision applies and what has recently changed matters for navigating the system right now.

Three kinds of supervision in Maryland

Maryland uses three distinct arrangements for community supervision, and each has different rules.

Parole is the discretionary release of a person from prison before their sentence ends, granted by the Maryland Parole Commission, into supervised community release. The commission grants, conditions, and can revoke parole.

Probation is a sentence served in the community rather than in prison, imposed by a court at sentencing. Courts set probation conditions; the Division of Parole and Probation supervises.

Mandatory supervision release is a third category: some people who complete most of their sentence in prison are released to a mandatory period of community supervision before their sentence fully expires. This is not a discretionary board decision, but supervision is required and the Division of Parole and Probation oversees it.

All three are supervised in the field by the Division of Parole and Probation, which operates under the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services, or DPSCS.

How to find someone in Maryland

DPSCS runs the Incarcerated Individual Locator, an online tool that shows the housing location of people committed to the custody of the Commissioner of Correction and housed in Division of Correction facilities, Patuxent Institution, and some Division of Pretrial and Detention Services facilities. You can search by name.

One honest caveat built into the tool by DPSCS itself: it does not cover everyone in DPSCS custody. People in some pretrial and detention facilities, and people under community supervision rather than incarcerated, may not appear. If the online locator does not show your person, contact DPSCS Data Processing by phone at 410-585-3350, 3351, or 3352. Under Maryland law, DPSCS can confirm whether someone is in custody, provide their commitment number, and give a mailing address.

For people on parole or probation in the community, contact the Division of Parole and Probation at its Baltimore office at 410-585-3500 to confirm supervision status and find the assigned agent.

Maryland also uses VINE for automated notifications about custody status changes including parole release and transfer.

How parole works in Maryland

The Maryland Parole Commission is the releasing authority for parole. It is charged with determining on a case-by-case basis whether incarcerated individuals serving sentences of six months or more are suitable for release into community supervision. Commissioners and hearing officers hold hearings via videoconference and in person at correctional facilities throughout the state. The commission meets every other Wednesday.

Parole eligibility depends on the offense:

For most non-violent offenses, a person becomes parole eligible after serving 25 percent of the sentence. For violent crimes as defined in Maryland's Annotated Code, including certain burglaries, parole eligibility is reached after serving 50 percent. For life sentences, a person becomes eligible after serving 15 years minus earned diminution credits. For life sentences imposed in death penalty proceedings, eligibility begins after 25 years minus credits.

Most parole hearings are conducted by a Hearing Officer who makes a recommendation to a Parole Commissioner. For people serving life sentences or convicted of any form of homicide, the hearing is conducted by a panel of two Commissioners. Hearings can be held as open parole hearings for eligible victims of certain crimes who wish to attend and participate.

Once released on parole, standard conditions include regular reporting to a parole agent, remaining in Maryland without permission to travel, no new criminal conduct, drug and alcohol testing, maintaining approved housing and employment, and paying any court-ordered restitution or supervision fees unless the Commission waives them. A violation can result in revocation and return to prison.

2025 reforms: geriatric and medical parole

Maryland passed meaningful parole reform in 2025. Governor Wes Moore signed the Geriatric and Medical Parole Reform bill, which changed how the Maryland Parole Commission evaluates requests for medical parole and added a required meeting between the incarcerated person and the commission as part of the review process. The law allows some incarcerated people who are older or seriously ill to apply for early release through a more accessible process.

This is a significant change for families of elderly or medically vulnerable incarcerated loved ones. If your person may qualify for geriatric or medical parole, contact the Parole Commission and consider consulting an attorney who practices before the commission.

2026 parole modernization bills

In the 2026 legislative session, Maryland lawmakers considered two sets of bills aimed at broader parole reform: HB 16/SB 823 and HB 467/SB 822. These bills, supported by reform advocates and backed by a 50-state review of parole practices, would address scheduling, transparency, recording of hearings, and equity issues in the commission's process. Verify the current status of these bills before relying on them, as their enactment was not confirmed at the time of this writing.

How probation works in Maryland

Probation in Maryland is imposed by the circuit or district court at sentencing. Courts set the specific conditions in the probation order. The Division of Parole and Probation supervises probationers through community supervision offices organized by region across the state.

Standard conditions include regular reporting to a supervision agent, remaining in Maryland, no new criminal conduct, drug and alcohol testing, and payment of any restitution. Special conditions are added based on the offense and individual circumstances.

The Division also operates a Community Supervision Enforcement Program that monitors home detention cases and runs a Warrant Apprehension Unit for people who violate supervision terms.

A probation violation is handled by the sentencing court. The court can modify conditions, continue probation, or revoke and impose a custody sentence. The standard of proof is lower than at a criminal trial.

Mandatory supervision release

Maryland also uses mandatory supervision release for certain people released at or near the end of their sentence who are required to serve a period of community supervision. This is not discretionary. The Division of Parole and Probation supervises people on mandatory release the same way it supervises parolees and probationers.

If a person on mandatory release violates conditions, DPSCS notifies victims and the Parole Commission can be involved in the revocation process.

Reporting and your supervision agent

This section is for the person on supervision. Whether you are on parole, probation, or mandatory release, your Division of Parole and Probation agent is your primary contact. The division operates offices throughout Maryland.

Know your conditions. Read the Parole Commission release certificate or probation order and keep a copy. Know your reporting schedule. Ask your agent before you miss anything.

Contact before you act. Travel, address changes, job changes: anything that touches your conditions requires your agent's approval first.

For families: contact the Division of Parole and Probation at 410-585-3500 to find the assigned agent and office location.

Violations: what families should know

For parole and mandatory release violations, the Parole Commission handles revocation. The division's Warrant Apprehension Unit locates and brings in people who have violated supervision terms. A violation can result in return to a DPSCS correctional facility.

For probation violations, the sentencing court holds the hearing. The court can modify, continue, or revoke probation.

In both cases: get an attorney involved immediately. Document mitigating circumstances. Show up to hearings. For parole hearings, victims have specific rights including the right to open hearings in certain cases.

Early termination and getting off supervision

For parole, the Parole Commission can discharge a person from supervision before the sentence expires when supervision is no longer needed.

For probation, a person can petition the sentencing court for early termination.

Maryland's 2025 Expungement Reform Act, effective October 1, 2025, expanded eligibility for expungement and changed how courts evaluate petitions. Courts must now consider the person's overall success at probation, parole, or mandatory supervision, and their ability to pay restitution, when reviewing expungement petitions. This is a meaningful change for people who had minor technical violations during supervision that previously blocked expungement access. A criminal defense attorney is the right resource for expungement questions.

[Internal link block to render at foot of article:]

- See every prison and jail in Maryland: /prisons/maryland

- Send mail or photos to someone in Maryland: InmateAid mail and photos service

- Send money to someone in Maryland: InmateAid send money

- Search arrest records in Maryland: Arrest Record Search (honestly labeled affiliate)

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