Maryland Arrest Records Search | Free Public Access Online
Maryland · County bookings, court cases, DPSCS custody and CJIS history
Find a Maryland Arrest and Verify What Happened Next
Maryland does not place every arrest in one public database. Start with the county detention center or Baltimore City booking system, save the official identifiers and then verify the prosecution through Judiciary Case Search. This guide also covers reports, warrants, bail, jail visitation, mail, calls, public defenders, victim services, state custody, CJIS checks, record corrections, expungement and shielding.
MARYLAND RECORD ROUTER
VERIFYING
LOCAL BOOKING
SEARCH
JAIL
COURT
CJIS
JUDICIARY CASE SEARCH
OUTCOME FOUND
IDENTITY + DISPOSITION VERIFIED
An arrest is not a conviction. The booking charge records an allegation at the beginning of the process. Prosecutors may change or decline charges, and a court may dismiss the case or find the defendant not guilty.
Recent arrestSearch the county or Baltimore City booking system.
Court outcomeUse Maryland Judiciary Case Search.
State custodyUse the DPSCS Incarcerated Individual Locator.
State historyMaryland-only CJIS checks begin at $18.
ExpungementFavorable cases normally have no filing fee.
Which Maryland record answers your question?
LOCAL DETENTION
Was the arrest recent?Booking status, custody, charges, detention location, bail, holds and release information.
Use the county where the person was booked.
ARRESTING AGENCY
What did officers report?Incident report, arrest report, probable-cause narrative and releasable supplements.
Request the record from the agency that created it.
CASE SEARCH
Were charges filed?Case number, court, charges, hearings, warrant events, disposition and sentence.
The clerk maintains the complete official file.
DPSCS LOCATOR
Is the person in state custody?Current state correctional or qualifying detention-facility housing location.
Most county jail detainees are not included.
CJIS HISTORY
What appears statewide?Fingerprint-supported Maryland criminal-history information through an authorized request.
Case Search is not an official background check.
How to find someone arrested in Maryland
Identify the arrest location
Start with the county or Baltimore City where the person was taken into custody, not only the person’s home address.
Identify the arresting agency
Determine whether the arrest involved local police, a county sheriff, Maryland State Police, transit police, campus police or a federal agency.
Find the local detention facility
Search the official county government, sheriff, police or corrections website for Inmate Search, Detention Center, Corrections, Booking or Current Inmates.
Begin with the last name
Add the first name, birth date or booking number only when necessary.
Allow time for processing
Identification, fingerprinting, medical screening, charging documents and commissioner review can delay a new result.
Open every plausible match
Similar names and repeated bookings can create several records.
Save the official identifiers
Record the booking number, identification number, arresting agency, report number, tracking number and court case number.
Read every charge and hold
Separate charges can involve different cases, warrants, bail conditions or detainers.
Search Maryland Judiciary Case Search
Verify whether charges were filed and locate the current court status.
Open Maryland Judiciary Case Search
Check DPSCS only when state custody is possible
The state locator is not a complete county jail roster.
Open the DPSCS locator
Choose the correct Maryland jurisdiction
Western Maryland
Allegany, Garrett and Washington counties
Capital and Central Maryland
Frederick, Montgomery, Prince George’s and Howard counties
Baltimore Region
Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Anne Arundel, Carroll and Harford counties
Southern Maryland
Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties
Upper Eastern Shore
Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne’s, Caroline and Talbot counties
Lower Eastern Shore
Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties
Important Baltimore City exception: Baltimore City pretrial detention and central booking are operated by Maryland DPSCS. County detention centers elsewhere are generally operated locally.
How Baltimore City arrest processing works
Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center
300 E. Madison Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Main: 410-545-8080
Detainee services: 410-545-8080, 410-545-8120, 410-545-8128 or 410-545-8122
Start with Baltimore Central Booking
Everyone arrested in Baltimore City, or on a Baltimore City warrant, is processed through the state Division of Pretrial Detention and Services.
Allow time for intake
Arrest paperwork, fingerprinting, medical screening, commissioner review and housing assignment must be completed.
Search DPSCS by full name
Some Baltimore pretrial detainees appear in the state locator, but the locator does not guarantee coverage of every person in state custody.
Call detainee services when the locator is blank
Provide the full legal name, birth date and approximate arrest date.
Search the court case separately
Use Baltimore City District Court or Circuit Court information shown in Case Search.
What Maryland booking fields actually mean
| Field | What it identifies | What it does not prove | Next action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Booking number | One intake or detention event. | The final charge or conviction. | Save it for detention, reports, visits and deposits. |
| Identification or control number | The person’s identifier inside a correctional system. | The person remains in the same facility. | Recheck before mailing or visiting. |
| Arresting agency | The agency responsible for the arrest. | The detention center wrote the police report. | Request the incident record from the named agency. |
| Arrest date | When the arrest was recorded. | When the alleged conduct occurred. | Compare the incident and filing dates. |
| Booking charge | The allegation entered during arrest or intake. | The State’s Attorney formally prosecuted it. | Read the charging document and disposition. |
| Tracking number | A reference connected to criminal-justice processing. | The number is the court case number. | Save both the tracking and case numbers. |
| Bail or bond | Security or conditions associated with pretrial release. | Posting it clears every warrant or detainer. | Confirm all cases and holds with the commissioner or clerk. |
| Release date | The displayed detention event ended. | The criminal case was dismissed. | Check the court outcome. |
| Housing location | The current facility or unit when published. | The person will remain there. | Recheck before visiting or mailing. |
| Mugshot | A photograph created during processing when released publicly. | Identity alone, prosecution or guilt. | Match stronger official identifiers. |
Confirm the person before using the record
Full legal name matches
Middle name, alias or suffix is consistent
Date of birth or age matches
Arrest date matches the known event
Arresting agency matches the location
Booking number matches another official record
Court case follows the same incident
Control or tracking number is consistent
Minimum standard: Confirm at least two independent identifiers before sending money, publishing an allegation or treating a record as belonging to a particular person.
Why a Maryland arrest may not appear
Intake is incomplete
Fingerprinting, commissioner review and housing assignment may still be underway.
The wrong county was searched
Search where the person was taken for booking, not only where the incident occurred.
The person was released quickly
Some county tools list current detainees rather than historical bookings.
The name differs
Try a surname alone, alias, maiden name, suffix or alternate spelling.
The arrest was in Baltimore City
Use Baltimore Central Booking and the state pretrial-detention system.
The person entered federal custody
A federal arrest will not necessarily appear in a Maryland county jail search.
The case is protected
Juvenile, sealed, shielded and expunged records may be unavailable.
Case Search suppresses the entry
Certain favorable dispositions, older stet entries and protected cases are removed from public display.
Missing-custody call script
I am trying to confirm the booking or custody status of [full legal name], date of birth [date]. The arrest may have occurred on [date] through [agency] in [county or Baltimore City]. Can you confirm whether the person is being processed, detained, released, transferred or listed under another identifier?
What happens after a Maryland arrest?
Law-enforcement arrest
The arresting agency creates its police report, arrest record and probable-cause documentation.
Booking and fingerprinting
Detention staff record identity, property, charges, medical needs, warrants and holds.
Commissioner initial appearance
The commissioner reviews probable cause, explains charges and rights, considers public-defender eligibility and determines pretrial release.
Release or continued detention
The person may be released on recognizance, released with conditions, required to post bail or held for judicial review.
District Court case
Misdemeanors, incarcerable traffic charges and certain felony proceedings begin in District Court.
Circuit Court case
Felony indictments, jury-trial cases and certain appeals proceed in Circuit Court.
Final disposition
Each charge may end through acquittal, dismissal, nolle prosequi, stet, probation before judgment, plea or conviction.
Correction or record relief
Inaccurate information may be challenged, while eligible cases may qualify for expungement or shielding.
Request the arrest report from the agency that created it
Identify the record owner
A county detention center may hold the person even though municipal police, a sheriff or Maryland State Police created the report.
Name the exact record
Ask for the incident report, arrest report, probable-cause narrative and specifically identified supplements.
Provide narrow identifiers
Include the report number, date, location, names, booking number and court case number.
Request electronic delivery
Digital copies can reduce paper, postage and handling charges.
Set a maximum cost
Ask the agency to obtain written approval before exceeding a stated amount.
Expect protected information to be removed
Ongoing investigative, medical, juvenile, victim, witness and security information may be withheld or redacted.
Keep the acknowledgment
Under the Maryland PIA, an agency generally must provide a written notice within 10 working days when additional processing time is needed.
Maryland’s PIA generally provides the first two hours of search and preparation time without a search-time charge. An agency may charge reasonable fees for additional search work and copies.
Copy-ready Maryland police-record request
Under the Maryland Public Information Act, I request an electronic copy of the releasable incident report, arrest report, probable-cause narrative and identified supplements concerning [full legal name] for the event on [date] at [location]. Known identifiers are report number [number], booking number [number] and court case number [number]. Please provide a written estimate before processing if the charge will exceed $[amount], and identify the legal basis for material withheld or redacted.
When Maryland State Police created the report
Maryland State Police Central Records Division
1201 Reisterstown Road
Pikesville, MD 21208
Records support: 410-281-2700
Main: 410-486-3101
Find the filed charges and final court outcome
Maryland Judiciary states that Case Search is a summary of the official court file and should not be used as a criminal background check.
Open the official Case Search portal
Complete the CAPTCHA when requested.
Open Maryland Judiciary Case Search
Search the case number first
A case number provides the safest route to the correct matter.
Use an exact legal name
Case Search defaults to exact-name matching.
Use the percent wildcard for a partial surname
Enter the beginning of the last name followed by %. Do not place the symbol at the beginning or middle of a word.
Narrow large result sets
Add a filing-date range, court, county, first name or case type when more than 500 records are found.
Confirm identity carefully
Compare the birth date, city, filing date, court and charge information.
Open every connected case
One arrest may create District Court and Circuit Court records or several separate case numbers.
Read the event history chronologically
Later events can change an earlier warrant, release condition, charge or hearing date.
Locate the disposition for every charge
Do not treat the case status alone as the result of each count.
Request the official document when proof is needed
Contact the clerk where the case was filed.
Case Search times out after approximately two minutes of inactivity. Save the case number before opening another page.
Understand common Maryland dispositions
| Entry | Plain-language meaning | What to check next |
|---|---|---|
| Acquittal or not guilty | The defendant was not convicted of that charge. | Check whether another charge in the same unit remains. |
| Dismissed | The court ended the charge without a conviction. | Determine whether expungement is automatic or requires a petition. |
| Nolle prosequi | The prosecutor declined to continue that charge. | Review the unit and expungement timing. |
| Stet | The charge was placed on an inactive docket rather than immediately tried. | Check the date, later reopening and current expungement rules. |
| Probation before judgment | The court stayed entry of a conviction and imposed probation or conditions. | Confirm successful completion and waiting-period rules. |
| Guilty | A conviction was entered for the charge. | Read the sentence and check whether the offense is expungeable. |
| Transferred to Circuit Court | The matter continued under a different Circuit Court case. | Open the connected Circuit Court record. |
| Warrant issued | The court issued a warrant at that point in the case. | Read later events and confirm status directly. |
| Released from commitment | The displayed commitment or custody event ended. | Check release conditions and the next hearing. |
Some acquittals, dismissals, nolle prosequi dispositions and older stet entries are no longer displayed publicly in Case Search even though courthouse access or an expungement process may still be relevant.
Get a complaint, disposition or sentence record
Identify District Court or Circuit Court
Use the court name and case number shown in Case Search.
Find the correct clerk
Maryland’s court directory provides addresses and telephone numbers for every jurisdiction.
Find the court and clerk
Name the exact document
Examples include the statement of charges, complaint, indictment, register of actions, dismissal, PBJ order, judgment or sentence.
Ask for an ordinary copy or certified copy
Confirm what the recipient requires before paying.
Provide the case number and party name
Include the court and approximate filing date.
Request a fee estimate
Copy, certification, retrieval and mailing charges can depend on the court and document.
Visit the courthouse for suppressed public information
Some criminal information removed from Case Search may still be publicly reviewable at the courthouse.
Copy-ready court-document request
Please provide a copy of [exact document] in State of Maryland v. [defendant], case number [number], filed in [court and county]. Please confirm the charge for an electronic ordinary copy and for a certified copy before processing.
Check a possible Maryland warrant safely
Maryland does not provide one complete public statewide warrant database covering every local, state and federal warrant.
Identify the possible court and county
Use an earlier case, citation, notice, booking record or charging document.
Search the related case
Look for warrant issued, served, recalled, quashed or other later events.
Search Maryland court events
Read the newest entry
An old warrant event may no longer represent current status.
Contact the issuing court
Use the court directory and provide the exact case number.
Contact the responsible agency
The sheriff or police department executing the warrant may provide appropriate public instructions.
Contact a lawyer when the warrant concerns you
Counsel can explain appearance, surrender, bail and representation.
Payment scam warning: Do not pay an unexpected warrant demand through gift cards, cryptocurrency, QR codes or a text-message link. Contact the court independently.
Confirm every charge and hold before posting bail
After arrest, a District Court commissioner conducts an initial appearance, explains the charges and rights, considers public-defender eligibility and determines pretrial release.
Recognizance releaseThe person is released on a promise to appear and obey the stated conditions.
Conditional releaseThe order may require supervision, reporting, location restrictions or another condition.
Secured bailCash, acceptable property, credit or debit payment, or surety arrangements may be used when authorized.
Continued detentionThe person may remain held pending judicial review or because another warrant or detainer applies.
Verify the correct defendant
Match the legal name, birth date, booking number and case number.
List every active case
One person may have separate release conditions in several matters.
Identify outside holds
Ask whether another county, state, federal or immigration detainer prevents release.
Read the newest release order
A judge may review or change the commissioner’s initial decision.
Confirm the accepted posting method
Contact the commissioner or clerk before bringing money or property documents.
Understand professional bond charges
A bondsman’s fee is nonrefundable and collateral terms should be written on the bond paperwork.
Keep the receipt and court date
The person posting bail accepts responsibility connected to the defendant’s appearance.
Allow release processing
The facility must confirm the order, clear holds, complete paperwork and return property.
Bail-verification call script
I am calling about [full legal name], booking number [number] and case number [number]. Please confirm the current release condition for every charge, all outside holds, the accepted posting methods and whether a judge has changed the commissioner’s order.
Prepare for a Maryland county jail visit
County detention centers establish their own approval, scheduling, provider, minor, dress and cancellation rules. State-prison rules do not automatically apply.
Confirm current custody
A release or transfer changes the correct facility and visitor process.
Open the official county detention page
Look for Visitation, Inmate Services, Family Services or Video Visits.
Check whether approval is required
Some facilities require an application, background review or approved visitor list.
Create only the approved provider account
Use the vendor linked by the detention center.
Confirm onsite or remote options
Charges, schedules and participant rules can differ.
Add minor visitors correctly
Check relationship, birth-certificate and supervision requirements.
Wait for confirmation
A submitted request does not guarantee approval.
Bring original photo identification
The ID information must match the approved visitor record.
Leave prohibited property outside
Phones, smartwatches, cameras, weapons, tobacco, food and bags are commonly restricted.
Recheck before traveling
Court movement, lockdown, weather, medical status or transfer can cancel a visit.
Correct detention facility
Confirmed approval and appointment
Original government photo ID
Minor documents when required
Approved clothing
No electronic devices
No prohibited property
Updated custody check
Understand the 2026 BCBIC visit process
Baltimore Central Booking’s published 2026 calendar alternates in-person and virtual visitation weeks. The facility page should be checked before every appointment.
Detainees are permitted one visit per day
Visitors age 16 or older need valid state-issued photo ID
Children must remain supervised
Visitors must clear the security screening
Phones, tobacco and electronics must remain in the vehicle
A prior arrest history can require review
Attorney visits may be approved separately
The housing unit controls the visit day
Published BCBIC clothing standard
Required coverageClothing must cover visitors from the neck to the kneecaps.
Not allowedTube, tank or halter tops, see-through clothing and garments exposing the midriff, side or back.
Also restrictedShort skirts, shorts above the kneecap, leggings, spandex and excessively revealing necklines or splits.
Search Maryland state correctional custody correctly
The locator may include
- People committed to the Commissioner of Correction.
- People housed in Division of Correction facilities.
- People housed at Patuxent Institution.
- Certain people housed in state pretrial or detention facilities.
- The current state housing location.
The locator may exclude
- Most county jail detainees.
- Some short-sentenced people in state detention facilities.
- People no longer in custody.
- Every historical Maryland arrest.
- The complete criminal court record.
Open the official locator
Search using the incarcerated person’s first and last name.
Search the DPSCS locator
Confirm the full name and facility
Do not rely on a similar name.
Record the identification information
Use the state identifier for facility, visit, mail and account questions.
Open the facility page
Each institution publishes its address, telephone number, visit schedule and security rules.
Find the Maryland correctional facility
Return to the court judgment
The locator is not the official conviction or sentence document.
Schedule a Maryland state correctional visit
Confirm the current institution
Use the state locator immediately before scheduling.
Open the facility-specific page
Visit days, units, duration, participant limits and registration cutoffs differ.
Use the published visit-request email
DPSCS lists the correct request contact for each institution.
Find the institution’s visit request
Wait for approval or confirmation
Do not travel based only on a sent email.
Bring valid government photo identification
Follow the facility’s minor and relationship rules.
Prepare for metal-detector screening
Medical devices that prevent clearance may require supporting documentation.
Wear compliant clothing
Many DPSCS facilities require coverage from the neck to the kneecaps.
Recheck current restrictions
Facility lockdowns, medical restrictions and operational changes can suspend visitation.
DPSCS facility pages warn that introducing weapons, controlled substances, tobacco, alcohol, unauthorized telecommunications devices or escape-related contraband can result in arrest and prosecution.
Address Maryland DPSCS mail correctly
Confirm the current facility
Transfers make an old address unusable.
Use the person’s committed name and identifier
Include every item required by the facility page.
Add the facility acronym
DPSCS requires the correct institution acronym in the address.
Add the sender’s full name and return address
Mail lacking required sender information can be rejected.
Do not include money
Personal mail may not contain cash, money orders, checks or stamps.
Use the banking process for deposits
Money and ordinary correspondence must not be mixed.
Follow publication rules
Mailed books cannot be hardcover or contain removed or reattached pages or covers.
Content that can be rejected
Contraband
Cash, checks, money orders or stamps
Escape or security-breach instructions
Correctional security-system designs
Unauthorized union-formation instructions
Hardcover or altered books
Send money and set up Maryland correctional calls
Trust-account deposits
Lockbox depositThe DPSCS lockbox accepts money orders, approved vendor checks and official business checks only.
Electronic depositUse only the deposit provider identified by DPSCS and verify the person and facility before payment.
Keep mail separateCards, letters, magazines, notes and packages must not be sent to the banking lockbox.
Telephone accounts
Confirm that phone service is available at the facility
Open the institution page before funding an account.
Create the authorized ConnectNetwork account
Select the correct facility and add the correct incarcerated person.
Choose the correct account type
AdvancePay places funds on the receiving telephone number; PIN Debit places calling funds in the incarcerated person’s account.
Review transaction charges
Fees and terms are displayed during the deposit process.
Avoid discussing case facts
Ordinary correctional calls can be monitored or recorded.
ConnectNetwork account support: 877-650-4249
Apply for a Maryland public defender
The Maryland Office of the Public Defender has at least one district office in every county and Baltimore City and represents qualifying defendants in incarcerable criminal, traffic and juvenile matters.
Apply through a District Court commissioner for new charges
Commissioners determine financial eligibility for new criminal and incarcerable traffic charges.
Complete form DC-099
Provide accurate income, expense and asset information.
Bring financial documentation
Prepare pay information, benefit records, household obligations and other requested proof.
Confirm that the charge carries possible incarceration
Public-defender representation is tied to the type of case and financial qualification.
Use the separate application for probation, contempt or sentence matters
Post-conviction and violation applications follow a different process.
Confirm the assigned lawyer
Filing an application does not by itself establish that representation has begun.
Keep case discussions off personal jail calls
Use the attorney communication process for confidential legal advice.
Maryland Office of the Public Defender
6 St. Paul Street, Suite 1400
Baltimore, MD 21202
Main assistance: 877-430-5187
Receive custody alerts and victim-services help
Keep the police report and court case numbers
These identifiers help advocates locate the correct matter.
Contact the local State’s Attorney victim-witness unit
Local advocates explain hearings, rights, safety planning, restitution and impact statements.
Register for Maryland VINE
VINE can provide automated custody alerts by telephone, text, email or app.
Register for VINE notifications
Keep VINE contact information current
A changed phone number or email can prevent delivery of an alert.
Submit a written DOC notification request when applicable
Written Division of Correction notifications and VINE are separate services.
Ask about crime-victim compensation
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board assists eligible victims and claimants.
Maryland VINE
866-634-8463
DPSCS Division of Correction Victim Services
866-606-7789
Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
6776 Reisterstown Road, Suite 209
Baltimore, MD 21215
410-585-3010 or
888-679-9347
Use Maryland CJIS for an authorized background check
Maryland Judiciary Case Search should not be used as a criminal background check. CJIS maintains Maryland’s fingerprint-supported criminal identification and history records.
| Request type | Mail-in fee | In-person fee |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland state background check | $18 | $38 |
| Maryland state check with Gold Seal | $19 | $39 |
| Authorized state and FBI check | $30 | $50 |
| Authorized child-care volunteer state and FBI check | $28 | $48 |
| Attorney/client civil check | $18 | $38 |
| Attorney/client pending criminal case | No CJIS fee | No CJIS fee |
In-person amounts include the current $20 CJIS fingerprint service fee. A private or government fingerprint provider may charge a different additional service fee.
Choose the correct request purpose
Employment, licensing, individual review, visa, attorney and authorized-agency requests follow different procedures.
Obtain the authorization number when required
Employment and licensing applicants need the agency’s authorization and, when applicable, ORI information.
Schedule authorized fingerprinting
Maryland operates CJIS services at Reisterstown Road and selected MVA locations and authorizes private providers.
Bring valid government photo identification
Complete the pre-registration paperwork before the appointment.
Use an accepted payment method
CJIS accepts qualifying credit, debit or check payments and does not accept cash or money orders at the Central Repository.
Protect the reference number
CJIS customer service uses the reference number or authorized identifying information to check processing status.
Maryland CJIS Central Repository
6776 Reisterstown Road
Baltimore, MD 21215
Customer service: 410-764-4501
Toll-free: 888-795-0011
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Correct a wrong Maryland arrest or disposition
Identify which system is wrong
Compare the local booking record, arresting-agency report, court file and CJIS history.
Save the incorrect result
Record the date, URL, booking number, tracking number, case number and disputed field.
Obtain your fingerprint-supported Maryland history
An individual review provides a stronger identity basis than a name-only court search.
Obtain the controlling court document
Request the certified dismissal, acquittal, PBJ order, amended judgment or sentence.
Correct the originating agency first
Police or booking errors begin with that agency; court-data errors begin with the clerk.
Contact CJIS about an identity or history problem
Explain the issue and provide the reference number and supporting official documents.
Recheck connected systems
A correction in one database may not automatically update another government or private report.
CJIS customer service: 410-764-4501 or
888-795-0011
Correction versus expungement: Correct a record when the information is factually wrong. Use expungement or shielding when the information is accurate but may qualify for legal restriction.
Choose expungement, automatic removal or shielding
Expungement
Removes eligible case information from court and law-enforcement records available for public inspection.Automatic expungement
Certain cases in which every charge ended in acquittal, not guilty, dismissal or nolle prosequi are automatically expunged after the statutory period.Case Search suppression
Some favorable charges and older stet entries are removed from online display even when a separate expungement question remains.Second Chance shielding
Keeps certain eligible conviction records out of ordinary public view without destroying them.Current expungement forms and filing charges
| Form or route | Used for | Current filing fee |
|---|---|---|
| CC-DC-CR-072A | Acquittal, dismissal, PBJ, nolle prosequi, stet, not criminally responsible and certain favorable dispositions. | No filing fee |
| CC-DC-CR-072B | Eligible guilty dispositions. | $30 per case |
| CC-DC-CR-072C | Request early expungement when all charges ended in acquittal, not guilty, dismissal or nolle prosequi and less than three years have passed. | No filing fee |
| CC-DC-CR-072D | Eligible marijuana or cannabis-related offenses. | $30 for eligible guilty dispositions |
| CC-DC-CR-148 | Maryland Second Chance Act shielding. | No filing fee |
Save the complete record before filing
Keep the booking, police report, court documents, disposition and immigration-related records that may be needed later.
List every charge in the unit
Two or more charges arising from the same incident are treated together for many eligibility decisions.
Confirm the disposition of every charge
One nonqualifying charge can affect the entire unit.
Use the current 2025–2026 forms
The Expungement Reform Act of 2025 changed eligibility language and official forms.
Open current Maryland expungement instructions
Check the eligible-conviction list
Use form CC-DC-CR-072G2 for the current offenses and waiting periods.
Use the General Waiver and Release when required
An early favorable-disposition petition may require form CC-DC-CR-078.
File in the court where the case was concluded
Use the District or Circuit Court that maintains the record.
Request a fee waiver when eligible
The $30 guilty-disposition fee may be waived by the court for an eligible person.
Keep certified copies of the order
After expungement, it may become difficult or impossible to obtain another copy of the case file.
Verify every agency update
Check the court, arresting agency, detention system and CJIS record after processing.
Automatic expungement and online suppression
Qualifying all-favorable cases entered October 1, 2021 or later are automatically expunged after three years
Form 072C can request qualifying expungement before three years
Certain favorable dispositions are automatically suppressed from Case Search
Stet charges are removed from Case Search after three years under the 2025 reform
Online suppression is not always identical to full expungement
Cannabis cases use separate rules and forms
Second Chance Act shielding rules
Wait at least three years after completing the entire sentence
Probation, parole and mandatory supervision must be complete
No pending criminal matter
No new disqualifying conviction during the waiting period
Domestically related convictions are not eligible
All convictions in the unit must qualify
Only one shielding petition can be granted during the person’s lifetime
The petition is limited to one court and one county
Maryland Court Help Center
Expungement and shielding form assistance
410-260-1392
Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
A noncitizen should consider speaking with an immigration attorney before expunging a case because the original record may later be needed to prove the exact disposition.
Maryland arrest, custody and record contacts
DPSCS Main Office
6776 Reisterstown Road
Baltimore, MD 21215
410-585-3300
877-379-8636
CJIS Background Checks
6776 Reisterstown Road
Baltimore, MD 21215
410-764-4501
888-795-0011
Baltimore Central Booking
300 E. Madison Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
410-545-8080
Maryland State Police
1201 Reisterstown Road
Pikesville, MD 21208
410-486-3101
Office of the Public Defender
6 St. Paul Street, Suite 1400
Baltimore, MD 21202
877-430-5187
Maryland VINE866-634-8463
Automated custody alerts by telephone, text, email or app.
DOC Victim Services866-606-7789
Written correctional notification and victim assistance.
Maryland Court Help Center410-260-1392
Expungement and shielding help, Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m.
Maryland CJIS and DPSCS map
Baltimore Central Booking map
Confirm before traveling: Recheck custody, the correct court, facility visitation status, office hours, identification requirements and accepted payment methods.
What this Maryland guide solves inside the page
Local arrest routingCounty versus Baltimore City custody, recent booking steps, jurisdiction groups and missing-record troubleshooting.
Court verificationExact-name rules, wildcard searching, result limits, disposition decoding, suppressed records and document requests.
Police recordsCorrect-agency routing, PIA response rules, free search-time allowance, cost controls and copy-ready request language.
Custody and family servicesBail, county visits, Baltimore Central Booking rules, state visitation, mail, banking and telephone accounts.
CJIS history checksCurrent Maryland-only, Gold Seal, state-and-FBI, mail-in and in-person fees.
Record relief2025 reform, current forms, automatic expungement, favorable dispositions, guilty cases and Second Chance shielding.
