We thank you for visiting this page. We aim to provide the best help for your Maryland County Inmate Search. Our goal is to give you clear facts. We want to make your search task less hard. This page holds key details you may need.
If you need to start a Maryland County Inmate Search now, go here: https://marylandinmaterecords.com/county-inmate-search/. This resource lets you begin your search right away. It is made to help find people held in county facilities in Maryland. Using the tool may speed up your search process. Check it out if you want quick access to search functions. It gives a direct path to look for inmate details.
There are a few ways to find an inmate in Maryland county jails. Each way has its own steps. Some counties offer online tools. Others need a phone call. Knowing these options helps your search.
Many Maryland counties manage their own jails. The local sheriff's office often runs these jails. Some counties have websites with inmate search tools. You can check the county sheriff or detention center site. Look for an "inmate locator" or "inmate search" link. If there is no online tool, you must call. Call the jail or sheriff's office main phone line. Ask if they can confirm if someone is held there. Be ready to give the person's full name. You might also need their date of birth. Some places may ask for a middle name or initial. Staff can tell you if the person is in their custody. They might give booking information or housing location. Business hours for phone calls are often Mon to Fri, 8 AM to 5 PM. Check the specific county site for exact hours. Not all information is public over the phone. Staff follow rules on what they can share. This method works best for recent arrests or short stays. It directly checks the local county jail system.
The state of Maryland runs a main inmate locator. This tool is managed by the DPSCS. It mostly lists people in state prisons. These are often people with longer sentences. It also includes some people held for the state in other places. The DPSCS Incarcerated Individual Locator is online. You can find it on the official DPSCS website: https://www.dpscs.state.md.us/services/inmate-locator.shtml. You usually need the person's first and last name. The State Identification Number (SID) can also help. This tool may not show everyone. People serving very short terms in county jails might not be listed. Those held in city jails may also not appear. Use this tool if you think the person is in a state prison. Or if they were moved from a county jail to state care. Always check the county jail first for recent local arrests. The DPSCS main phone is (410) 585-3300 for help.
VINE is a free service for crime victims. It helps track an offender's custody status. It also gives updates on court case events. You can use VINE by phone or online. The official Maryland VINE portal is https://vinelink.vineapps.com/state/MD/ENGLISH. You can search for an inmate using their name or ID number. You can then sign up for alerts. These alerts tell you if the person is moved or let go. Alerts come by phone, email, or text. You need to make a PIN for phone alerts. This confirms you got the call. VINE is private. The inmate will not know you signed up. It is a key tool for safety planning. It gives timely updates. VINE also links to victim service providers. Call 1-866-634-8463 for Maryland VINE by phone. Help is open 24/7.
When you search, you might find different details. What you see depends on the system used. It also depends on what is public record. Know the limits of the data.
A successful inmate search may show several details. This data helps confirm identity and status. Common information includes:
The inmate's full name.
An inmate identification number (Booking or SID).
The name and location of the jail or facility.
The date the person was booked into jail.
Criminal charges listed at the time of booking.
Bail or bond amount, if set.
Court dates related to the current charges.
A projected release date (less common for county jails, depends on case status). Not all counties provide all this information online. Some details may only be given by phone. Some data might be withheld due to privacy rules. Or for safety reasons. Arrest records are often public. But full case files may have limits. Always verify info if you can. Use official sources for the best data.
Maryland has county jails and state prisons. They serve different roles. County jails are run by local sheriffs or county gov. They hold people waiting for trial. They also hold those with short sentences. This is often less than 18 months. State prisons are run by the DPSCS. They hold people convicted of serious crimes. Sentences are usually longer, over 18 months. A Maryland County Inmate Search mainly looks at county jails. The DPSCS locator mainly looks at state prisons. A person might start in county jail. Then they might move to state prison after sentencing. Know which type of place the person might be in. This helps you choose the right search tool. Local police departments might run small city lockups too. These are for very short holds, often less than one day. Finding someone there usually means calling the police dept. direct.
Each county runs its jails a bit differently. Here are details for some major Maryland counties. This includes how to search and contact them.
Anne Arundel County has two main jails. They are the Jennifer Road Detention Center (JRDC) and the Ordnance Road Correctional Center (ORCC). The main phone number for Detention Facilities is (410) 222-7374. JRDC is located at 131 Jennifer Road, Annapolis, MD 21401. ORCC is at 600 East Ordnance Road, Glen Burnie, MD 21060. You can search for inmates online. Use the Anne Arundel County Inmate Locator: https://www.aacounty.org/services-and-programs/inmate-locator. This tool shows current housing location and basic details. You can also call the main number for help. Visiting rules are specific. Check the county website or call for current hours. You need a valid photo ID to visit. Mail must follow strict rules. Photos must come from approved vendors. Commissary funds can be added online or via lobby kiosks. Check the website for full rules on visits and mail.
The Baltimore County Detention Center is the main facility. It is located at 720 Bosley Avenue, Towson, MD 21204. The main phone number is 410-512-3200. Press "0" to speak with an operator for inmate information. Baltimore County does not seem to have a public online inmate search tool. You must call the facility. Or you can use the Maryland VINE system mentioned earlier. Visiting requires scheduling. Call the facility for details. You need valid government photo ID. There is a dress code. No shorts above the knee, no tank tops, no sheer clothes. See the full code online: https://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/departments/corrections/visiting. Inmates can receive funds in their accounts for commissary. Mail rules are strict. Non-legal mail must go to a third-party processor first. Legal mail goes direct to the jail. Call 410-512-3200 for inmate ID numbers needed for mail.
Montgomery County runs two main sites. The Montgomery County Detention Center (MCDC) is in Rockville. The Montgomery County Correctional Facility (MCCF) is in Boyds. The main address for the department seems to be MCCF: 22880 Whelan Lane, Boyds, Maryland 20841. The general phone is (240) 777-9976. To find an inmate, you must call. Contact the Inmate Records Section at (240) 777-9730. They do not have a public online search tool listed. This phone line provides inmate location status. Visiting information varies. Check the county website or call for current schedules and rules for MCDC and MCCF. Commissary orders can be placed online or by phone via a vendor. Find details on the county website under Inmate Information: https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/COR/Inmates/Information.html. This page also has links for mail and phone rules.
For Maryland counties not listed above, follow these steps. Use a search engine online. Search for "[County Name] Sheriff's Office". Or search for "[County Name] Detention Center" or "[County Name] Jail". Look for an official county government website (.gov). Check that site for an inmate locator link. If none exists, find the main phone number for the Sheriff's Office or Jail. Call them during business hours. Ask how to perform an inmate search. Be ready with the person's name and date of birth. Some smaller counties may rely solely on phone calls for inmate information. The Maryland Sheriffs' Association website might list contact info too. Persist in finding the correct local agency contact.
Maryland laws allow access to public records. This includes some inmate information. But there are rules and limits. Know how to request records the right way.
Maryland's Public Information Act gives people the right to see public records. This law covers state and local government agencies. It is like the federal FOIA law. The PIA aims for open government. You can request many types of records. This might include some inmate or arrest records. Find more on the PIA via the Maryland Manual On-Line: https://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/html/laws.html. However, the PIA also protects privacy and safety. Some records must be withheld by law. Examples include medical records or active investigation files. Access to some inmate case records might be limited. The agency holding the record decides access based on the PIA. If denied, they must state the reason in writing. You can appeal a denial. Learn more about DPSCS specific PIA policies here: https://www.dpscs.state.md.us/publicinfo/pia.shtml.
To get official copies of inmate records, you often need a formal request. This usually means writing to the agency holding the records. This could be the county sheriff's office. Or it could be the state DPSCS for state prison records. Your request should be clear. State the specific records you seek. Include the inmate's full name. Add their date of birth. Include their DPSCS SID number if you know it. Provide your contact information. Send the request to the agency's designated PIA contact or records custodian. Addresses can often be found on their websites. For DPSCS records requests, the address is: 6776 Reisterstown Road, Baltimore, MD 21215. There may be fees for searching and copying records. Fees are often based on page count. DPSCS charges 50 cents per page for certified copies. Check with the specific agency about their process and fees. Some agencies may have specific request forms you should use. Look on their website or call to ask.