Choose between a public court search and an official criminal-history check
Maryland has two very different ways to look at criminal-record information. Maryland Judiciary Case Search lets the public search many court cases, while the Criminal Justice Information System Central Repository (CJIS-CR) maintains Maryland’s fingerprint-supported criminal-history records. A Case Search result is not the same thing as an official criminal-background check, and Maryland specifically warns users not to treat Case Search as one.
Maryland court records and criminal-history records are not the same thing
This distinction is the most important part of searching criminal records in Maryland. Several government systems can hold different information about the same event.
Maryland Judiciary Case Search
Shows selected public information from Maryland court case-management systems. It can include party names, case numbers, dates, charges and dispositions.
It is useful for researching a court case, but the Judiciary says Case Search should not be used for criminal background checks.
CJIS Central Repository
Maintains Maryland’s fingerprint-supported criminal identification records and criminal-history record information, commonly referred to as a Maryland RAP sheet.
CJIS information is not an unrestricted public database. Access requires the proper legal authority, authorization or an individual review by the subject of the record.
Search Maryland criminal court cases online
The official Maryland Judiciary Case Search & Record Portal is the primary public online tool for Maryland court-case information.
Maryland launched its redesigned Case Search & Record Portal on March 14, 2026. Public access continues to include qualifying Maryland case information, while attorneys and authorized parties can have enhanced access through connected Judiciary systems.
Open Maryland Case SearchWhat types of criminal cases are included?
Criminal cases
Maryland District Court criminal and qualifying traffic case information is available through Case Search.
Felony and other cases
Circuit Court criminal case information is included, subject to public-access rules and historical coverage.
Appellate cases
Public information from the Appellate Court of Maryland and Supreme Court of Maryland is also searchable.
Case Search is a summary of information maintained in the official case file. It does not automatically provide every pleading, exhibit, transcript or restricted document.
How to search Maryland Case Search step by step
Open the official Judiciary portal
Use the Maryland Judiciary Case Search & Record Portal and accept the public-access terms before continuing.
Choose the appropriate search
Search by person name or case number depending on what information you already have. A case number is usually the fastest and most precise route.
Enter the person’s name carefully
Maryland’s system defaults to exact-name searching, so spelling and name format matter.
Filter the results
Compare jurisdiction, case type, birth date when shown, filing date and other available identifiers before deciding that a result belongs to the person you are researching.
Open the case
Review the case number, court, charge information, hearing dates and disposition entries.
Move to the courthouse when you need the complete file
Maryland Judiciary explains that Case Search contains selected information rather than the entire official record. Contact the clerk where the case was heard for the complete public file.
The Maryland name-search trick many users miss
Maryland Case Search currently defaults to exact-name searches. That can make an otherwise valid case appear to be missing when you enter only part of a surname.
For example:
Searching Ander% can be useful when you are not certain whether the surname is Anderson, Andersen or another longer spelling beginning with “Ander.”
Maryland says the wildcard cannot be inserted at the beginning or middle of a word. A partial first name can also use known characters followed by the percent symbol.
Before paying someone else to search, try these combinations
- full legal first and last name
- surname only when permitted
- middle name or initial
- former or maiden name
- known spelling plus % wildcard
- court case number
Why a real Maryland criminal case may be missing from online Case Search
Maryland has several unusual public-access rules that make “no result” especially easy to misinterpret.
Favorable dispositions are suppressed from online Case Search
Criminal and incarcerable traffic charges with outcomes such as:
- acquittal
- not guilty
- dismissal
- nolle prosequi
are automatically suppressed from Maryland Case Search under current Judiciary rules. Depending on the record and applicable access rules, the underlying court record may still be available to the public at the courthouse.
Stet charges can disappear after three years
Under Maryland’s Expungement Reform Act of 2025, the Judiciary’s Case Search notices state that charges recorded as stet are removed from Case Search after three years.
Certain cannabis cases are also suppressed
Maryland law prevents Case Search from referring to certain cases in which possession of cannabis under the specified Maryland statute was the only charge and the matter was disposed of before July 1, 2023.
Older cases may predate electronic systems
District Court criminal coverage generally reaches back to the early 1990s, while Circuit Court electronic-history dates vary substantially by county. Older records may require a clerk search.
How to get the complete Maryland criminal court record
Most public court files are maintained by the local clerk at the courthouse where the case was filed or heard. Maryland Judiciary recommends contacting that clerk when you need the actual case documents.
Official Maryland criminal-history checks come from CJIS
Maryland’s fingerprint-supported criminal-history repository is the Criminal Justice Information System Central Repository within the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.
CJIS maintains Maryland fingerprint-supported criminal identification records and criminal-history information, commonly called a RAP sheet.
Maryland CJIS Background ChecksCan you order a Maryland criminal-background check on someone else?
Not simply because you know the person’s name.
Maryland DPSCS states that the Maryland Security and Privacy Act and applicable regulations prohibit criminal-background checks on another person without the proper authorization.
Public court cases
You can search qualifying public court information through Maryland Judiciary Case Search.
Your own CJIS record
You can request an Individual Review of your own Maryland fingerprint-supported history.
Employment / licensing
An employer, licensing agency or other qualifying organization must use the legally authorized CJIS process.
How to obtain your own Maryland criminal-history record
Maryland allows you to request an Individual Review Background Check through CJIS. Fingerprints are used to associate the record with your identity.
Choose Individual Review
Tell the fingerprint provider or CJIS that the purpose is to review your own Maryland criminal history.
Complete the LiveScan pre-registration information
Maryland’s form includes an Individual Review option along with several other background-check purposes.
Bring government-issued photo identification
CJIS requires valid government-issued photo ID for in-person fingerprint processing.
Submit fingerprints
Maryland residents can use an authorized LiveScan provider or qualifying government-operated fingerprint service.
Review the returned Maryland record
If an event or disposition appears incorrect, contact CJIS and the agency or court that created the source record.
Where to get fingerprinted in Maryland
Maryland uses LiveScan for many employment, licensing and personal-review background-check transactions.
DPSCS lists state-operated locations and authorized private providers throughout Maryland. Private-provider fingerprinting charges can differ from the CJIS criminal-history fee.
Find Maryland fingerprint servicesState-operated fingerprinting locations currently include
- Baltimore
- Bel Air
- Frederick
- Glen Burnie
- Salisbury
- Waldorf
The Baltimore location at 6776 Reisterstown Road offers walk-in fingerprinting. CJIS services at MVA locations generally require appointments.
Maryland criminal-background check fees
Maryland separates the criminal-history processing fee from fingerprint collection charges. Private fingerprint providers may also charge their own service fee.
| Background check | Mail-in | State CJIS in-person guidance | Important note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maryland state only | $18 | $38 | In-person amount includes the published $20 CJIS fingerprint service fee. |
| State only + Gold Seal | $19 | $39 | Use when a Gold Seal record is specifically required. |
| State + FBI | $30 through Sept. 30, 2026 | $50 through Sept. 30, 2026 | Available only for authorized purposes/agencies. |
| Attorney / client civil | $18 | $38 | Authorization requirements apply. |
Always verify the live DPSCS fee table before paying because background-check and fingerprint-provider charges can change.
How to request your Maryland record if you live outside Maryland
DPSCS provides a separate path for people who are outside Maryland and need an individual state criminal-history review.
Mailing address
Criminal Justice Information System – Central RepositoryP.O. Box 32708
Pikesville, MD 21282-2708
DPSCS warns that fingerprint cards from other states or the FBI may not automatically satisfy Maryland’s own card requirements, so contact CJIS before mailing.
Maryland arrest records and police reports are usually local
A court case and a police arrest report are different records. Maryland does not provide one statewide public website containing every local police incident, arrest report or county jail booking.
If you need the law-enforcement record itself, identify the agency that created it:
- Maryland State Police barrack
- county police department
- county sheriff
- Baltimore Police Department
- municipal police department
- other arresting agency
Public access and redactions depend on Maryland law, the nature of the investigation and the agency maintaining the record.
Do not treat Case Search as a statewide active-warrant database
Maryland court-access rules restrict public access to certain warrant records. For example, records concerning an unserved arrest warrant are not generally available to the public in the same way as ordinary docket information.
Search-warrant materials can also be restricted before execution and filing, and some executed warrant materials may remain subject to access limitations under Maryland court rules.
Find someone currently incarcerated in Maryland
The Maryland DPSCS Incarcerated Individual Locator provides public location information for many people currently under Maryland correctional custody.
Open the Incarcerated Individual LocatorThe locator covers people committed to the Commissioner of Correction and housed at Division of Correction facilities, Patuxent Institution and some short-sentence individuals in Division of Pretrial Detention and Services facilities.
County jail or local detention?
A person held in a county detention center may require a separate search through that county’s correctional or sheriff agency. Do not assume the state locator covers every local detention facility.
Maryland has a separate public sex-offender registry
DPSCS operates the Maryland Sex Offender Registry.
The registry allows members of the public to search qualifying registered sex-offender information by name and geographic criteria.
Search the Maryland registryDPSCS also warns that registry information can be time-sensitive and that fingerprints are the method used for positive identification.
Maryland criminal appeals can also be searched
Maryland Case Search includes public case information from the state’s appellate courts.
Appellate Court of Maryland
Formerly called the Court of Special Appeals. Public case information is available for term years beginning in 2016.
Supreme Court of Maryland
Formerly the Court of Appeals. Case Search includes public information for cases beginning with term year 2015.
Published and unreported appellate opinions are also available through the Maryland Judiciary’s official opinion-search pages.
Search Maryland appellate opinionsFederal criminal cases are separate from Maryland state records
Maryland Judiciary Case Search does not contain federal criminal cases. Federal cases filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland are part of the federal judiciary.
Use PACER to search federal criminal court dockets.
Search federal court casesMaryland expungement can remove court and law-enforcement records
Maryland Courts explains that expungement removes information about an eligible case from court and law-enforcement records.
Eligibility depends on the disposition, offense, waiting period and other factors. Maryland now allows expungement in a wider range of situations than many older guides suggest, so use the Judiciary’s current forms and eligibility guidance.
Current filing-fee basics
| Situation | Current Judiciary guidance |
|---|---|
| Acquittal, dismissal, PBJ, nolle prosequi, stet or not criminally responsible | No filing fee for the qualifying expungement petition. |
| Eligible guilty disposition | $30 per case; fee is nonrefundable if the petition is denied. |
| All charges acquitted/not guilty/dismissed/nolle prosequi on or after Oct. 1, 2021 | Automatic expungement after three years; earlier petition may be available without a fee. |
Shielding is different from expungement
Maryland’s Second Chance Act permits certain eligible convictions to be shielded from public view.
When a qualifying record is shielded:
- it no longer appears publicly in Case Search
- the public generally cannot inspect the shielded record
- the record is not necessarily destroyed
- law enforcement and certain authorized entities may still have access
The current Judiciary guidance says applicants generally must wait three years after completing the sentence, including parole, probation or mandatory supervision, for Second Chance Act shielding.
Maryland also says there is currently no filing fee for a Second Chance Act shielding petition.
Maryland shielding guideWhat to do when a Maryland criminal record is wrong
First identify which government record contains the problem.
Contact the court
Maryland’s portal instructs users who believe court information is inaccurate to notify the court where the original record was created or filed.
Contact CJIS
Obtain your own fingerprint-supported review and ask CJIS about the appropriate correction or challenge process.
Explain the problem clearly
DPSCS says people whose names are being used by someone else should contact CJIS Customer Service because the appropriate resolution depends on the circumstances.
Maryland employment and licensing background checks use a different process
If a Maryland employer or licensing agency requires a fingerprint-supported background check, the applicant normally needs the requesting organization’s authorization number and, in some situations, an ORI number.
DPSCS says applicants should obtain the appropriate information from the employer or licensing authority before appearing for fingerprinting.
Private employers
Maryland allows qualifying private employers to seek authorization through a Private Party Petition. DPSCS states that approved private employers receive Maryland state criminal-history information according to their legal authorization.
A private employer cannot simply create its own unrestricted CJIS access; it must complete the registration and approval process.
Maryland CJIS contact information
CJIS Central Repository
Baltimore area: 410-764-4501
Toll free: 1-888-795-0011
Customer-service hours:
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Criminal Justice Information System
CJIS Central RepositoryP.O. Box 32708
Pikesville, MD 21282-2708
CJIS fingerprinting and background-check location
The main CJIS complex is at 6776 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, Maryland 21215. Because different DPSCS service pages currently list different suite numbers for specific functions, confirm the correct suite before visiting.
The map is lazy-loaded to reduce its effect on page speed.
Maryland criminal-record search tips that prevent common mistakes
Start with Case Search for a court case
It is the fastest free way to identify the Maryland court, case number and visible disposition.
Do not call Case Search a background check
Maryland Judiciary specifically directs official background-check users to CJIS.
Use the % wildcard correctly
Add it after known characters for a partial surname or first-name search.
Missing dismissed case?
Favorable dispositions may be intentionally suppressed online while remaining accessible at the courthouse.
Case Search is only a summary
Go to the clerk when you need the actual complaint, order, certified disposition or complete public case file.
Your own full record?
Use fingerprint-supported Individual Review rather than searching your name repeatedly online.
County jail is not state prison
A local detainee may not appear in the Maryland DPSCS incarcerated-individual locator.
Check appeals when necessary
Criminal appellate information can also be found through Maryland Judiciary Case Search.
Federal cases need PACER
Maryland state court databases do not include prosecutions in federal court.
Common questions about Maryland criminal records
1. Is Maryland Judiciary Case Search free?
Yes. Maryland Judiciary provides public Case Search access without a search fee. It displays selected information from qualifying public court records but is not the official complete case file.
2. Can I search another person’s Maryland court cases?
Yes. Qualifying public court-case information can be searched through Maryland Judiciary Case Search. Records that are confidential, sealed, shielded or expunged will not appear as ordinary public results.
3. Can I order another person’s CJIS criminal history?
Not as an ordinary unrestricted public request. DPSCS says criminal-history information maintained by CJIS is not public without proper authorization. Authorized agencies and employers must follow the applicable statutory process.
4. How do I get my own Maryland criminal record?
Request an Individual Review through Maryland CJIS. The process uses fingerprints to identify the correct record. Maryland residents can use authorized LiveScan fingerprint providers.
5. Why does a dismissed Maryland criminal charge not show online?
Maryland suppresses qualifying criminal and incarcerable traffic charges with dispositions such as dismissal, nolle prosequi, acquittal or not guilty from online Case Search. The record may still be available at the courthouse unless another restriction applies.
6. How do I search part of a name in Maryland Case Search?
Maryland defaults to exact-name searching. For a partial surname, enter at least the first character followed by the percent symbol. The wildcard cannot be placed at the beginning or middle of the word.
7. How much does a Maryland state criminal-history check cost?
DPSCS currently lists the Maryland state-only criminal-history fee at $18 for mail-in processing. State-operated in-person processing is listed at $38 because it includes the published CJIS fingerprint service fee. Private fingerprint providers may charge different service fees.
8. Where can I find someone incarcerated in Maryland?
Use the DPSCS Incarcerated Individual Locator for many people currently housed under Maryland correctional custody. It does not contain every person held in every local jail or everyone who was previously incarcerated.
9. Does expungement remove a Maryland case from public search?
Expungement removes qualifying case information from court and law-enforcement records. Shielding is different: it removes qualifying records from public view while allowing certain law-enforcement agencies and authorized entities to retain access.
10. Does Maryland Case Search include federal criminal cases?
No. Federal criminal cases are part of the federal judiciary and should be searched through PACER. Maryland Case Search covers qualifying Maryland state court records.
Official Maryland sources used for this guide
- Maryland Judiciary Case Search & Record Portal
- Maryland Courts — Court Records
- Maryland Case Search — Frequently Asked Questions
- Maryland Courts — Access to Court Records
- Maryland DPSCS — Background Checks
- Maryland DPSCS — Fingerprinting Services
- Maryland CJIS — Frequently Asked Questions
- Maryland DPSCS — CJIS Central Repository
- Maryland DPSCS — Incarcerated Individual Locator
- Maryland Sex Offender Registry
- Maryland Courts — Adult Expungement
- Maryland Courts — Shielding Criminal Records
- Maryland Courts — Current Fee Schedules
- PACER — Federal Court Case Search