Are Maryland Inmate Records Public Information?
Yes. Maryland inmate records are publicly accessible per Maryland's Public Information Act (PIA). Due to the availability of inmate records in Maryland, individuals can request information from corrections departments about who's in custody. This includes an inmate's full name, date of birth, jail/prison number, holding facility, custody status, release date, and more. Nonetheless, some information may be withheld because of confidentiality or privacy issues. An example is an inmate's psychological treatment information.
Maryland Inmate Search
Maryland inmate records are documents containing data on offenders who have been detained, booked, or incarcerated in correctional inmate facilities in Maryland. Inmate records contain general information such as the inmate's full name, date of birth, race, and sex. Persons who conduct a Maryland inmate search to obtain Maryland inmate records may also include inmate-specific data such as the inmate's booking number, current location, and custody status.
Inmate records fall under the umbrella of public records and, therefore, can be accessed by the public in compliance with Maryland's Public Information Act (PIA). The usual way to access inmate records in Maryland is through correctional agencies, such as the local Department of Corrections and the Maryland Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services (DPSCS). Per the law, these agencies offer access to physical copies of Maryland inmate records upon request at their brick-and-mortar locations. They also provide electronic access to inmate records through online Maryland inmate lookup and Maryland inmate search tools that make it easy to find someone in jail/prison or find out who's in custody.
Inmate records are considered public in the United States and, therefore, are made available by both traditional governmental agencies as well as third-party websites and organizations. Third-party websites may offer an easier means to search, as these services do not face geographical limitations. However, because third-party sites are not government-sponsored, the information obtained through them may vary from official channels. To find inmate records using third-party aggregate sites, requesting parties must provide:
- The location of the sought-after record, including state, county, and city where the inmate resides.
- The name of the person listed in the record, unless it is a juvenile.
How to Find Someone in Jail in Maryland
The best way to find someone in jail in Maryland is to contact the corrections department overseeing the person's confinement. Some agencies also provide Maryland inmate search databases that can be searched to find information about incarcerated individuals.
For instance, the Anne Arundel County Department of Detention Facilities provides an inmate locator that requesters can use to find out what jail someone is in. Interested persons can search this inmate database with an inmate's first and last name or jail identification number (JID). Search results include an inmate's housing facility, custody status, personal information, and future court dates. However, information seekers trying to find out why someone is in the Anne Arundel County jail cannot obtain that information with the county jail's inmate locator, nor can they perform a Maryland inmate search with pictures to find an inmate's Maryland mugshot.
Note: A federal inmate search cannot be performed with a county jail's inmate lookup tool or the Maryland inmate lookup site provided by the DPSCS to find state prisoners. One should use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator to find a federal inmate.
Facilities are operated by the Maryland Department of Corrections.
Headquartered in Towson, the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) oversees the activities of 24 state prisons and pre-release centers. This list contains the addresses and contact information of these correctional facilities:
Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center
901 Greenmount Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: (410) 545-8080
Fax: (410) 545-8289
Baltimore Pretrial Complex
531 East Madison Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: (410) 209-4130
Fax: (410) 209-4105
Metropolitan Transition Center
954 Forrest Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: (410) 230-1452
Fax: (410) 385-1049, (410) 209-4105
Youth Detention Center
926 Greenmount Avenue
Baltimore, MD 2120,
Phone: (410) 230-1452
Fax: (410) 385-1049
Baltimore City Correctional Center
901 Greenmount Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21202.
Phone: (410) 332-4340
Fax: (410) 576-9470
Brockbridge Correctional Facility
7930 Brock Bridge Road
Jessup, MD 20794
Phone: (410) 799-1363
Fax: (410) 799-7404
Chesapeake Detention Facility (Formerly MCAC)
401 East Madison Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Central Maryland Correctional Facility (Formerly CLF)
7301 Buttercup Road
Sykesville, MD 21784
Correctional Mental Health Center – Jessup
7555 Waterloo Road
Jessup, MD 20794
Dorsey Run Correctional Facility
2020 Toulson Road
Jessup, MD 20794
Phone: (410) 379-6020
Fax: (410) 379-6078
Eastern Correctional Institution
30420 Revells Neck Road
Westover, MD 21890
Phone: (410) 845-4000, (877) 802-6074
Fax: (410) 651-958
Eastern Correctional Institution – Annex
30420 Revells Neck Road
Westover, MD 21890
Phone: (410) 845-4000
Fax: (410) 651-3327
Eastern Pre-Release Unit
700 Flat Iron Square Road
Church Hill, MD 21623
Phone: (410) 810-5400
Fax: 410) 758-4329
Jessup Correctional Institution
Post Office Box 534
Jessup, MD 20794
Phone: (410) 799-6100, (877) 304-9755
Fax: (410) 799-1025
Maryland Correctional Institution - Hagerstown
18601 Roxbury Road,
Hagerstown, MD 21746,
Phone: (240) 420-1000, (877) 229-1351,
Fax: (301) 790-4939
Maryland Correctional Institution - Jessup
7803 House of Correction Road
Jessup, MD 20794
Phone: (410) 799-7610, (877) 313-0632
Fax: (410) 799-7527
Maryland Correctional Institution – Women
7943 Brockbridge Road
Jessup, MD 20794
Phone: (410) 379-3800, (877) 280-1185
Fax: (410) 799-6146
Maryland Correctional Pre-Release System
7931 Brock Bridge Road
Jessup, MD 20794
Phone: (410) 799-1363, (877) 839-8655
Fax: (410) 799-5793
Maryland Correctional Training Center
18800 Roxbury Road
Hagerstown, MD 21746
Phone: (240) 420-1601, (877) 692-8136
Fax: (301) 797-8574
Maryland Reception, Diagnostic and Classification Center
550 East Madison Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: (410) 878-3500
North Branch Correctional Institution
14100 McMullen Highway, Southwest
Cumberland, MD 21502
Phone: (301) 729-7400
Fax: (301) 729-1259
Patuxent Institution (Correctional Mental Health Center – Jessup)
7555 Waterloo Road
Jessup, MD 20794
Phone: (410) 799-3400
Fax: (410) 799-7457
Southern Maryland Pre-Release Unit
14320 Oaks Road
Charlotte Hall, MD 20622
Phone: (301) 274-4701
Fax: (301) 274-0753
Threshold Inc.
1702 St. Paul Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Phone: (410) 727-0100
Fax: (410) 727-0103
Western Correctional Institution
13800 McMullen Highway, Southwest
Cumberland, MD 21502
Phone: (301) 729-7000, (877) 286-3965
Fax: (301) 729-7024
How to Send Money to an Inmate in Maryland Prison and Jail
The DPSCS is responsible for supervising detained and incarcerated offenders in the state. Inmates incarcerated under this department can receive money orders through the lockbox service. These money orders are then processed and delivered to inmates held in Maryland state correctional facilities. The DPSCS's Divisions of Correction handles payments made to inmates, which must be made through money orders. Money orders are to be addressed and sent to the following address:
Name of the inmate, SID number, Institute
P.O. Box 17111
Baltimore, MD 21297-0382
The following information is typically required when sending money to inmates in Maryland:
- Inmate's full name
- Name of facilities of incarceration
- The inmate's state identification (SID) number
- Sender's name
- Sender's address
Senders must write these details in capital letters with either blue or black pens before mailing it out. Generally, it takes 3 to 7 business days to process and deliver money orders to inmates. On the other hand, the procedure for sending money to county jail inmates is usually determined by the facility where the inmate is incarcerated. For instance, some county correctional facilities limit how much money can be sent to an inmate. An example of this is the Montgomery County jail, which permits a maximum deposit of $300 per transaction into an inmate's account. The Baltimore County jail, however, does not have any such limits. This facility also provides interested parties with several payment options, including phone payments, online payments through its detention center kiosk, or walk-in payments at specific retail locations. Fees may also be required when sending money to these jails and are typically based on the amount of money sent to the inmate.
How to Get Approved to Visit an Inmate in Maryland Prisons and Jails
Only persons included on an inmate's official visiting list may visit persons serving time in Maryland prisons and jails. Most of the Maryland facilities require inmates to fill out an application before their visit. Depending on the detention center, inmates may be allowed up to 15 visitors on a list. In addition, visitors will be required to present a valid government-issued ID, such as a valid birth certificate, passport, or military ID, during each visit.
Maryland correctional facilities generally have certain rules and requirements regarding visitation. Any interested parties who wish to visit with inmates under their care must strictly adhere to the requirements. Some of these rules include:
- Visitation is solely by appointment, and parties should make this appointment at least seven days before the proposed visit. In-person visitations can be scheduled by sending an email to the assigned email addresses of the facility where the inmate is incarcerated. Note that approvals for visitations are typically given on a first-come, first-serve basis.
- Visitors must meet certain eligibility requirements. These usually include being at least 12 years old and having their names listed on an approved visitors list. Depending on the facility, the number of visitors allowed to see an inmate at a time may also be limited.
- Visitors can only visit during designated visitation hours and must arrive on time for these visitations.
- Visitors must follow a strict dress code. Note that the enforcement of this dress code is usually dependent on the correctional facility.
- Visitors are strictly prohibited from delivering contraband items to inmates or delivering contraband items to inmates. Individuals convicted of violating this rule can be charged with a criminal offense punishable by a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment of anywhere between three to 10 years, or both.
Questions concerning inmate visitation in Maryland can be directed to the DPSCS at (410) 724-5722. It is also advisable to contact the specific correction facility where the inmate is located to inquire about any additional visitation requirements particular to that location.
How to Find a County Inmate Roster in Maryland
A person may find a county inmate roster on the website of a county sheriff's office or county detention center/correctional facility. This roster can be reviewed to obtain the personal and administrative information of all inmates in a county detention center or jail. For example, a county inmate roster may show Maryland mugshots and inmates' names, ages, ID numbers, charges, physical descriptions, release dates, or bond amounts.
Note that a jail's county inmate roster may be called an "inmate lookup" or "Maryland inmate search". Also, some local corrections departments (e.g., the Baltimore County Department of Corrections) do not have county inmate rosters on their websites. In such cases, a person must contact the agency to know what jail someone is in or how to find out why someone is in jail.
How to Perform a Maryland Prison Inmate Search
Interested parties can search for incarcerated individuals in Maryland prisons by using the inmate locator to perform a free prison inmate search by name. However, note that escapees, inmates sentenced to short-term sentences, or those released will not appear on this online search. A typical Maryland inmate lookup will furnish the individual with the inmate's biodata and sentencing information. The DPSCS handles inquiries regarding Maryland inmate searches at (410) 339-5000.
How to Perform a Maryland County Jail Inmate Search
Maryland county jails typically have online databases where local law enforcement offices store inmate information. Persons who wish to find a person in jail may also contact the local sheriff's office or police department to obtain information on inmates.
The difference between prisons and jails in Maryland relies on the severity of the offenses committed. Inmates are held in jails when they are given short-term sentences for minor crimes, while prisons are for inmates who have committed more severe crimes and are given long-term sentences or life sentences. The state governs prisons, while county jails are under the jurisdiction of the office of the local sheriff or the local corrections department.
Maryland State Prisons and County Jails: Understanding the Difference
The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services operates Maryland state prisons and county jails. There are 18 state correctional facilities and 30 county jails in Maryland.
The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services is responsible for the operation of all state prisons and county jails in Maryland. The department is divided into two main divisions: the Division of Correction and the Division of Pretrial Detention and Services.
The Division of Correction is responsible for the operation of all state prisons in Maryland. The division is divided into five regions: Central, Eastern, Southern, Western, and Northern. Each region is responsible for the operation of a certain number of state prisons.
The Division of Pretrial Detention and Services is responsible for the operation of all county jails in Maryland. The division is divided into three regions: Central, Eastern, and Western. Each region is responsible for the operation of a certain number of county jails.
Maryland state prisons are classified into four levels: minimum security, low security, medium security, and high security. County jails are classified into two levels: minimum security and medium security.
Minimum security prisons are typically used for non-violent offenders with short sentences. Low-security prisons with longer sentences are typically used for non-violent offenders. Medium security prisons are typically used for violent offenders with long sentences. High-security prisons are typically used for violent offenders with very long sentences or those who have been sentenced to death.
County jails are typically used for two purposes: to hold offenders who are awaiting trial and to hold offenders who have been sentenced to serve a term of one year or less.
As of FY 2022, there were 14,955 inmates in Maryland state prisons. About 97% (14,456) were males, while approximately 3% (499 inmates) were females. According to the Maryland DPSCS FY 2022 Q4 report, the average age of incarcerated individuals was 39.5 years. In contrast, the average sentence length (in months) was 247.6, and the average stay (in months) was approximately 97.6. Furthermore, more people were sent to prison for the crime of homicide - which amounted to 4,514 incarcerated persons in 2022 - than any other serious offense.
How to Find an Inmate Release Date
The inmate release date is available online via the prison lookup tool. Concerned persons may also contact the jail administrator directly. However, the record custodian may sequester this information for privacy or security reasons. Only eligible persons, including the inmate's immediate family members, crime victims, attorneys, and authorized law enforcement officials, will have access to the exact inmate's release date. At best, interested members of the public will only see the month and year of release.
