Choose between a court-record search and a fingerprint background check
Maryland has two very different ways to research criminal information. Maryland Judiciary Case Search provides public access to many court-case records, while the Criminal Justice Information System Central Repository (CJIS) maintains Maryland’s fingerprint-supported criminal-history records, commonly called a RAP sheet. The correct route depends on whether you are checking a public court case, requesting your own background record, or completing an authorized employment or licensing check.
Maryland court records and CJIS criminal history are not the same thing
This distinction solves most Maryland criminal-record confusion.
Court-case information
Case Search provides public information from Maryland District Court and Circuit Court records. It can show case numbers, charges, filing dates, hearings, dispositions and other selected case information.
Fingerprint-supported criminal history
CJIS Central Repository maintains Maryland’s fingerprint-supported criminal identification records and criminal-history record information, commonly called a RAP sheet.
Use Maryland Judiciary Case Search for public criminal cases
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search & Record Portal provides public access to case-record information maintained by the Maryland Judiciary.
Maryland’s statewide court system includes both District Courts and Circuit Courts, and qualifying public criminal cases from both systems can appear through Case Search.
Open Maryland Judiciary Case SearchWhat you may find online
Case number and court
Identify which Maryland court handled the criminal matter and obtain the case number needed for later copy requests.
Filed offenses
Review charges filed in court rather than treating an arrest allegation as the final criminal case.
Disposition
Review guilty findings, dismissals, PBJ, nolle prosequi, acquittals and other outcomes when available.
How to search Maryland criminal court cases
Open the official Judiciary portal
Start from Maryland Courts rather than a commercial people-search site.
Accept the public-access terms
Maryland requires users to acknowledge its access rules before searching court records.
Search the person’s name
Case Search currently defaults to exact-name matching. If you need a partial last-name search, Maryland Judiciary instructs users to enter at least the first character followed by the % symbol.
Confirm the correct person
Compare the county, court, case number, dates and other available identifying information. Do not rely on a common first and last name alone.
Read the disposition
An arrest or filed charge does not automatically mean conviction. Check how each charge ended.
Visit the courthouse when the online record is incomplete
Contact the clerk where the case was filed to inspect the official file or request copies.
Some Maryland criminal cases are intentionally missing from online Case Search
A particularly important Maryland rule is that certain public criminal records may remain available at the courthouse even though they are no longer shown through Case Search.
Maryland Judiciary currently identifies these examples:
- criminal charges ending in nolle prosequi
- charges that were dismissed
- charges resulting in acquittal or not guilty
- stet charges after three years have passed
Records can also be unavailable online because they have been expunged, shielded, sealed by court order or are confidential under Maryland law.
How to obtain the complete Maryland court record
Most official judicial records are held by the Clerk’s Office at the courthouse where the case was filed or heard.
The online system provides selected data, not every document contained in the physical or electronic case file.
What Maryland CJIS Criminal History actually contains
The Maryland Criminal Justice Information System Central Repository maintains the state’s fingerprint-supported criminal identification records and criminal-history record information.
Maryland DPSCS describes the RAP sheet as a chronological record of reportable events connected with an individual’s involvement in Maryland’s criminal-justice system.
Fingerprint supported
Fingerprints allow CJIS to distinguish people more reliably than an ordinary name search.
Reportable events
Criminal-history information can include qualifying law-enforcement and court events submitted to the Central Repository.
Not public-by-name
CJIS criminal-history information is protected and is not an open statewide name-search database for members of the public.
Can you order a Maryland criminal-history check on another person?
For an ordinary private request, generally no.
Maryland CJIS states that the Maryland Security and Privacy Act and applicable regulations prohibit criminal background checks from being performed on citizens without proper authorization.
Authorized employers, licensing agencies, government entities and other qualifying organizations can obtain criminal-history checks when Maryland law authorizes the purpose and required procedures are followed.
How to obtain your own Maryland criminal-history record
Maryland allows individuals to review their own criminal-history information through the Individual Review background-check process.
This is the appropriate route when you want to know what CJIS has associated with your identity, rather than simply searching court records by name.
Request an Individual Review
Contact Maryland CJIS and use the applicable individual-review procedure.
Submit fingerprints
CJIS uses fingerprints to perform an identity-specific Maryland criminal-history search.
Provide valid identification
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID to the fingerprinting location.
Pay the applicable background-check and fingerprint fees
In-person CJIS fingerprint service has a separate service fee in addition to the underlying criminal-history check charge.
Review the returned record carefully
If something belongs to another person or the disposition is wrong, contact CJIS Customer Service for correction guidance.
Maryland fingerprinting: what to bring and where to go
Maryland CJIS provides fingerprinting at its Baltimore location and authorizes private and government-operated fingerprint service providers around the state.
For employment or licensing, CJIS says applicants should obtain the correct information from the requesting agency before arriving for fingerprints.
- agency name
- authorization number
- Z-ORI number when required
- valid government-issued photo ID
- Livescan pre-registration application
- required payment method
Private fingerprint providers
CJIS also maintains a provider locator for authorized private and government-operated fingerprint locations throughout Maryland. Private providers may charge an additional service fee beyond the state and FBI charges.
Current Maryland criminal background-check fees
Maryland CJIS lists different charges depending on whether the request is state-only, state + FBI, mail-in or completed in person.
| Check type | Current fee guidance | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland state background check — mail-in | $18 | State-only criminal-history check. |
| Maryland state background check — in person | $38 | Includes the CJIS in-person fingerprint service fee. |
| State check with Gold Seal — mail-in | $19 | Certified/Gold Seal option. |
| State check with Gold Seal — in person | $39 | Includes in-person fingerprint service. |
| Authorized Maryland + FBI background — mail-in | $33 effective Oct. 1, 2026 | The federal component increased by $3 on October 1, 2026. |
| Authorized Maryland + FBI background — in person | $53 effective Oct. 1, 2026 | Includes CJIS in-person service plus the updated FBI fee. |
Always confirm the live CJIS fee schedule before paying because the final amount can differ for child-care volunteers, attorney/client requests, authorized government checks or private-provider service fees.
Maryland employment and licensing background checks
If a background check is required by an employer or licensing agency, do not begin with a generic fingerprint appointment.
Maryland CJIS instructs applicants to obtain the requesting organization’s agency name and authorization number. A government agency may also require a Z-ORI number.
How long does a Maryland background check take?
CJIS states that most state background-check results are mailed in less than 10 working days after receipt of a complete and approved application.
Processing includes reviewing the request, verifying required information and payment, conducting the fingerprint search and preparing the response.
If you need to check the status of an authorized background check, CJIS Customer Service asks callers to have the reference number or Social Security number available. Only the record subject or authorized requester may obtain status information.
Search Maryland prison and correctional custody records
The Maryland Incarcerated Individual Locator allows members of the public to locate qualifying people who are currently housed in Maryland correctional facilities.
Open Maryland Incarcerated Individual LocatorThe locator covers individuals committed to the Commissioner of Correction and currently housed at Division of Correction facilities, Patuxent Institution and some short-sentenced individuals housed within Division of Pretrial and Detention Services facilities.
This system should therefore be used as a current custody locator, not as a complete historical Maryland criminal-background search.
Maryland Sex Offender Registry is a separate search
Maryland DPSCS maintains the Maryland Sex Offender Registry.
The registry provides a public search tool for qualifying registered sex offenders and can be searched separately from Judiciary Case Search or CJIS background-check services.
Search Maryland Sex Offender RegistryMaryland federal criminal cases are searched separately
A criminal case filed in federal court will not appear as an ordinary Maryland District Court or Circuit Court case.
Use PACER for federal case records.
Search federal cases with PACERMaryland federal cases are handled by the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, which has court locations in Baltimore and Greenbelt.
District of Maryland
101 West Lombard StreetBaltimore, MD 21201
Phone: 410-962-2600
Southern Division
6500 Cherrywood LaneGreenbelt, MD 20770
Phone: 301-344-0660
If you do not know which federal court contains the case, PACER’s nationwide Case Locator can search the federal index by party.
What to do when your Maryland criminal-history record is wrong
Start by obtaining your own fingerprint-supported CJIS record so you can see exactly what is associated with your identity.
If the error concerns a court disposition, obtain the official disposition from the court that handled the case. Maryland CJIS specifically directs people seeking court dispositions back to the court or to Judiciary Case Search.
If someone else is using your name or identity
Maryland CJIS specifically addresses situations in which another person may be using someone’s name or identifying information.
Because each identity-misuse situation is different, CJIS directs affected people to contact Customer Service directly and explain the circumstances.
CJIS Customer Service
Local:
410-764-4501
Toll-free:
1-888-795-0011
Maryland expungement can remove eligible court and law-enforcement records
Maryland expungement removes qualifying information about a case from court and law-enforcement records when statutory requirements are met.
Maryland Courts Expungement GuideCurrent filing-fee examples
| Situation | Current filing fee |
|---|---|
| Acquittal, dismissal, PBJ, nolle prosequi, stet or not criminally responsible under qualifying form | $0 |
| Eligible guilty disposition using Form CC-DC-CR-072B | $30 per case |
| Early request for qualifying automatic-expungement disposition using CC-DC-CR-072C | $0 |
Maryland also automatically expunges certain qualifying cases after statutory waiting periods. The exact eligibility rules depend on the disposition, offense and other circumstances.
Expungement and shielding are different in Maryland
When a criminal case is shielded, qualifying information is removed from general public access, including Case Search, but the underlying record is not treated the same way as a fully expunged record.
Broader record-removal process
Qualifying court and law-enforcement records are removed under Maryland’s expungement statutes and procedures.
Public-access restriction
Qualifying criminal information can be hidden from public inspection while remaining available in circumstances allowed by Maryland law.
Maryland CJIS contact information
CJIS Central Repository
6776 Reisterstown RoadBaltimore, MD 21215
Phone:
410-764-4501
Toll free:
1-888-795-0011
CJIS Walk-In Fingerprinting
6776 Reisterstown Road1st Floor, Suite 101
Baltimore, MD 21215
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Closed on designated state holidays and state weather closings.
CJIS Central Repository
P.O. Box 32708Pikesville, MD 21282-2708
Confirm appointment requirements
CJIS asks applicants to call Customer Service for appointment information for many applicant fingerprinting services. Bring the correct authorization information and valid photo ID.
Maryland CJIS fingerprinting location map
The main CJIS fingerprinting facility is located on Reisterstown Road in Baltimore. Confirm current appointment requirements before traveling.
Maryland criminal-record search tips that save time
Start with Case Search
If you are simply researching a public Maryland criminal case, the Judiciary portal is usually more appropriate than CJIS.
Use % for partial names
Case Search defaults to exact names. Maryland permits partial last-name searching using the first character or characters followed by the % symbol.
Dismissed case missing online?
Visit the courthouse. Some dismissed, acquitted and nolle-prosequi criminal charges are no longer displayed through remote Case Search.
Your own RAP sheet?
Use fingerprint-based CJIS Individual Review rather than trying to reconstruct your record from individual court searches.
Another person’s background?
Do not assume CJIS will release it. Maryland restricts third-party background checks without lawful authorization.
Employment check?
Get the employer’s authorization number and any required ORI information before being fingerprinted.
Need proof?
Contact the courthouse for an official or certified disposition instead of relying solely on the online case summary.
Current incarceration?
Use the DPSCS locator. It answers a custody question, not a complete historical criminal-record question.
Federal case?
Switch to PACER. Maryland Judiciary Case Search does not replace the U.S. District Court record system.
Questions people often ask about Maryland criminal-history records
1. Can I search Maryland criminal court cases for free?
Yes. Maryland Judiciary Case Search provides free public access to selected information from qualifying District Court and Circuit Court cases. The online result is a summary and not the complete official court file.
2. Can I request another person’s Maryland CJIS background check?
Generally not as an ordinary private requester. Maryland CJIS states that criminal background checks cannot be performed on citizens without proper authorization under Maryland security, privacy and regulatory rules.
3. How can I obtain my own Maryland criminal-history record?
Request an Individual Review through Maryland CJIS. The process uses fingerprints so the criminal-history search is matched to your identity rather than relying only on a name.
4. How much is a Maryland state-only background check?
Maryland currently lists a state-only background check at $18 for mail-in processing and $38 when completed in person through CJIS, with the in-person total including the CJIS fingerprint service fee.
5. How much is a Maryland and FBI fingerprint background check?
Effective October 1, 2026, the FBI component increased by $3. For authorized state-and-FBI checks, Maryland’s prior $30 mail-in and $50 in-person totals therefore become $33 and $53, subject to the applicant category and any private-provider fee.
6. Why can a dismissed Maryland criminal case disappear from Case Search?
Maryland Judiciary no longer remotely displays certain charges ending in dismissal, nolle prosequi or acquittal/not guilty. A stet charge may also disappear from remote Case Search after three years. The public may still be able to inspect these records at the courthouse.
7. How long does a Maryland criminal background check take?
CJIS says most state background-check results are mailed in less than 10 working days after receipt of a complete and approved application.
8. How do I find someone currently incarcerated in Maryland?
Use the Maryland DPSCS Incarcerated Individual Locator. It covers qualifying people currently housed within specified state correctional facilities but does not include every person ever held by DPSCS or every local jail detainee.
9. Can an expunged Maryland case still appear publicly?
Qualifying expungement removes information from court and law-enforcement records according to Maryland law. Maryland Judiciary advises keeping copies of the expungement documents because the case record may no longer be obtainable after expungement.
10. Where do I search a federal criminal case filed in Maryland?
Use PACER. Federal criminal cases in Maryland are handled through the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, with courthouses in Baltimore and Greenbelt.
Official Maryland and federal sources
- Maryland Judiciary Case Search & Record Portal
- Maryland Courts — Access to Court Records
- Maryland Courts — Court Records
- Maryland Courts — Courthouse Directory
- Maryland DPSCS — Fingerprint Services
- Maryland CJIS — Criminal Justice Information Services FAQ
- Maryland DPSCS — CJIS Central Repository
- Maryland DPSCS — Incarcerated Individual Locator
- Maryland Sex Offender Registry
- Maryland Courts — Adult Expungement
- PACER — Federal Court Records
- PACER — U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland