Maryland Inmate Search

Maryland's correctional systems house thousands of inmates across various facilities, annually. As of 2022, there are 17,355 inmates locked up in state correctional institutions across Maryland. Similarly, the county jails in the state are home to around 8,193 inmates. Baltimore City has the most incarcerated individuals, with approximately 40% of people in state prisons, amounting to 6,940 inmates. It is followed by Baltimore County with an inmate population of 2,022 and Prince George's County with 1,711 prisoners.

Inmate search tools are essential for several reasons. Inmate search tools promote transparency within the state's correctional system, allowing the public access to information about inmates. It helps families stay informed about the whereabouts and status of their incarcerated loved ones. Furthermore, inmate search in Maryland can help attorneys track their client's location and case details in case of legal arbitrations.

What is Maryland Inmate Lookup?

Maryland Inmate Lookup is an online tool that allows individuals to search for and access information about incarcerated persons within Maryland's correctional facilities. The state offers this service to ensure the public has easy access to information about inmates. Generally, this information includes the location, status, and charges against the incarcerated individual.

The inmate lookup tool in Maryland is accessible online through the Incarcerated Individual Locator provided by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS). To look up inmate information, users typically need to provide the inmate's first or last name. Additionally, you may also utilize the VINELink web tool to conduct a Maryland inmate lookup.

Inmate lookup tools promote transparency within Maryland's correctional system by providing public access to inmate information. It is convenient. Users may access inmate details from anywhere. Maryland inmate lookup helps families stay informed about inmate location. This assures them of their loved ones' safety.

What Information Can You Find in a Maryland Inmate Search?

When you conduct an inmate search in Maryland, you may get access to various details about the incarcerated individual, including:

• The inmate's full name
• Inmate's date of birth
• Inmate ID number
• Facility location
• Custody status

How Are Inmate Records in Maryland Created and Stored?

Maryland inmate records are created by law enforcement and corrections staff throughout the state. Paperwork is completed when someone is arrested. The RAP sheet contains the suspect's name, address, physical description, and details of his or her crime. After that, any event that takes place in the inmate's life is recorded and added to the file.

All these inmate records are stored online in a central repository, and the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS ) is the agency in charge of keeping and maintaining them. They are available to the general public using the inmate lookup web tool.

What Does Maryland's Prison System Look Like?

Maryland's prison system comprises state prisons, county jails, and specialized correctional institutions designed to house offenders at various security levels. The state's prison system offers rehabilitation opportunities to inmates, including educational programs, substance abuse treatment, and job placement assistance.

There are 18 prisons, 13 correctional facilities, and 5 detention centers under the DPSCS. Nearly 12,000 employees work throughout the various correctional facilities in various capacities, from the warden and correctional officers to case managers. There are 45 parole offices in the state, responsible for supervising inmates released from prison on parole.

Maryland has 30 jails across its 23 counties. The local sheriff's department is in charge of managing the county jails. The DPSCS and the local sheriff's department maintain Maryland's prison records. Maryland's prison system operates under different security levels, minimum, medium, and maximum, managing inmates based on the severity of their crimes and risk to public safety.

Minimum security facilities house low-risk and nonviolent inmates who have a record of good behavior. Medium security prisons accommodate inmates convicted of more serious offenses who require closer supervision. Maximum security facilities are designed to house inmates considered high-risk due to the nature of their crimes or violent behavior.

Types of Correctional Facilities in Maryland

Maryland has thirty state prisons and reentry facilities that detain pretrial suspects, hold sentenced inmates in custody, and help transition prisoners before they are released back into society. The state also has twelve juvenile detention centers aimed at holding and rehabilitating youth offenders, so they veer off the criminal path they are on. Many local police stations have jails in Maryland. There are also three federal prisons in Maryland that hold inmates who have broken federal laws. The state is heavy on supervisory programs like parole and probation and has forty-five offices to help inmates stay out of prison.

Maryland State Prisons

Maryland state prisons are managed and operated by the DPSCS. There are thirteen state prisons and five detention facilities in Maryland, each serving a specific role within the state's correctional system. Maryland state prisons include:

Correctional Facilities

• Baltimore City Correctional Center
• Central Maryland Correctional Facility (Formerly CLF)
• Dorsey Run Correctional Facility
• Jessup Correctional Institution
• Eastern Correctional Institution
• Maryland Correctional Institution - Hagerstown
• Maryland Correctional Institution - Jessup
• Maryland Correctional Institution for Women
• Maryland Correctional Training Center
• North Branch Correctional Institution
• Patuxent Institution
• Roxbury Correctional Institution
• Western Correctional Institution

Detention Centers

• Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center
• Chesapeake Detention Facility (Formerly MCAC)
• Maryland Reception, Diagnostic, and Classification Center.
• Metropolitan Transition Center
• Youth Detention Center

Maryland County Jails

Maryland county jails operate under the jurisdiction of local sheriff's offices. County jails house individuals awaiting trial, serving short sentences, or held for transfer to state or federal prisons. Each county jail provides services such as healthcare, education, and rehabilitation programs to inmates. Likewise, each county jail is responsible for maintaining its jail records. You may access Maryland jail records via their website or in person at the local sheriff's office where the jail is located. There are 30 county jails across Maryland's 23 counties. Some of them include:

• Allegany County Detention Center
• Baltimore County Detention Center
• Dorchester County Detention
• Frederick County Adult Detention Center
• Howard County Detention Center
• Montgomery County Correctional Facility
• Prince George's County Correctional Center
• Somerset County Detention Center
• Wicomico County Detention Center
• Worcester County Jail

Maryland Juvenile Detention Centers

Maryland has twelve juvenile detention centers (spread over six geographical regions) to house youth offenders under the age of 18. Each serves a different age population, and some have tighter security measures than others. Due to privacy laws protecting minors, juvenile inmate search is restricted to the legal guardians and legal representatives of the minor. The list includes:

• Alfred D. Noyes Children's Center
• Anne Arundel County Detention Center
• Backbone Mountain Youth Center
• Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center
• Charles H. Hickey, Jr. School
• Charles H. Hickey, Jr. Structured Shelter Care Program
• Cheltenham Youth Detention Center
• Garrett Children's Center
• Green Ridge Youth Center
• Lower Eastern Shore Children's Center
• Thomas J.S. Waxter Children's Center
• Victor Cullen Center
• Western Maryland Children's Center

Maryland's juvenile detention centers are in place to help children get back on track and avoid recidivism within the prison system once they reach 18.

Maryland Community Correctional Facilities

Maryland community correctional facilities offer alternatives to incarceration. These facilities typically focus on rehabilitation, reintegration, and reducing recidivism, by offering programs to address the needs of offenders. Maryland's community correctional facilities serve individuals transitioning from incarceration back into society and offenders on probation or parole.

Maryland's community correctional facilities offer programs such as substance abuse treatment, employment assistance, counseling and therapy, and educational services. The Baltimore Community Correctional Center supports inmates after release through job placement assistance, substance abuse counseling, and mental health support. Likewise, Maryland's Correctional Training Center offers vocational training and educational programs to help support inmate reintegration.

Why are People Incarcerated in Maryland?

Maryland incarcerates people for various offenses which generally fall under nonviolent or violent crimes. Nonviolent offenses are crimes that typically do not involve physical harm to another person but have legal and financial consequences. Nonviolent offenses include theft such as shoplifting, burglary, fraud, drug possession, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and probation violations.

Maryland works towards rehabilitation for nonviolent offenders instead of putting offenders in jail. The rehabilitation program is aimed at reducing re-offense and addressing the root cause of such behavior. The state achieves this through educational courses, vocational training, and drug treatment programs.

Violent crimes are offenses that involve hurting someone or threatening to hurt them. In Maryland, violent crimes are punished because they put people's safety at risk. Some common violent crimes include assault and battery, murder, domestic violence, manslaughter, robbery, and sexual offenses such as rape. Maryland emphasizes jail time for violent offenders to protect public safety.

Persons interested in accessing information about individuals currently incarcerated in Maryland may use the Maryland inmate search tool, Incarcerated Individual Locator, to view the records. Alternatively, you may conduct inmate searches using VINELink.

Maryland's Incarceration Rate and Statistics

Maryland's incarceration rate has fluctuated over the past years reflecting trends in crime rates. Within the last 7 years, the state had its lowest incarceration rate in 2021 with 206 inmates per 100,000 residents, and its highest in 2018 at 469 incarcerations per 100,000 people. As of the latest data, Maryland's incarceration rate remains below its pre-2016 levels. The state's current incarceration rate is 252 per 100,000 people.

Below is Maryland's year-end incarceration rate and total number of inmates over a 7-year period.

Life After Incarceration in Maryland

After release from incarceration ex-inmates face challenges, including securing housing and employment, reconnecting with family, and reintegration into society. Therefore, the state strives to equip individuals with the right tools and resources they need after leaving prison to reduce their chances of returning to prison -recidivism. Maryland has a recidivism rate of 40.5%, showing how easily former inmates re-offend and return to the system.

The DPSCS offers re-entry services through the Reentry and Transition Services Unit. The department is responsible for executing programs and services that prepare incarcerated persons for successful return to society. It offers workshops and training on job readiness, financial literacy, and life skills.

The DPSCS also collaborates with government agencies to assist ex-inmates in reintegrating into society. For instance, the Maryland Reentry Initiative by the Department of Labor assists individuals with criminal backgrounds with access to job resources and training to increase their employability.

How Does Parole Work in Maryland?

Parole is a supervisory program where inmates who have behaved well in prison and do not pose a threat to the public may be released early (before the end of their term). They must follow specific rules, including check-ins with parole officers and other items. If they fail to comply with even one of the parole board's rules, they will return to prison to serve out the remainder of their sentence. There are 8,170 inmates on parole in Maryland as of December 2022.

Maryland Parole Population in 2022

How Does Someone Get Probation in Maryland?

In some cases, instead of prison, a Maryland judge will order probation. This allows the offender to walk free, keep their jobs and families, and return to normal life, however, they must follow explicit rules such as being supervised by a probation officer and submitting to drug tests and regular visits. If they fail to comply with any of the court-ordered regulations, they will go to prison. As of December 2022, Maryland had 59,320 inmates on probation.

Maryland Probation Population in 2022