Maryland Warrant Search

Accessibility to warrant information is essential to everyday citizens, attorneys, law enforcement agencies, and the Maryland Criminal Justice System. A warrant search helps all these parties find information on active or outstanding warrants within the state or a specific municipality (city, county, or town). This information may be pertinent to the arrest and trial of an arrestee or offender or investigation into the practice of law enforcement agencies.

Maryland has no central agency or online database for warrant information. Hence, persons looking for warrant information must contact the record custodian directly. Generally, the custodians of warrant information in the state are the Maryland Courts, County Sheriff and Police Departments, and the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (prisons and jails). All inquiries for warrant information may be directed to any of the agencies listed above. Warrant information may be obtained online, in person, or via mail.

What is a Warrant in Maryland?

A warrant is a writ issued by a judge, magistrate, or any other judicial officer authorized by law to issue warrants commanding a law enforcement officer to carry out an act that may otherwise be unconstitutional without a warrant.

A warrant may direct an officer of the law to apprehend a suspect, take a person into custody, bring them before the court, or search and seize items from a person or premises. The forms of warrants issued and recognized under Maryland statutes are arrest warrants, search warrants, bench warrants, and retake warrants.

What is an Arrest Warrant in Maryland?

An arrest warrant is an order by a judge or magistrate directing a law enforcement officer to arrest a person accused or charged with a crime. An arrest warrant should contain sufficient information about the subject of the warrant, including full name, address, race, sex, physical features, social security number, driver's license number, and other substantial identifying information (Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 2-107).

What is a Search Warrant in Maryland?

A search warrant is an order by a judge or magistrate permitting an officer of the law to search a person, building, apartment, place, or thing (this could be a house, storage facility, vehicle, computer, or mobile phone). The warrant shall include the name, address, or description of the place, premises, or thing to be searched and the grounds for the search. A search warrant must be executed within 15 days from the day it was issued.

What is a Bench Warrant in Maryland?

A bench warrant is issued to demand a person to appear in court. It may be issued where an individual either fails to attend a scheduled court hearing, fails to comply with a writ requiring them to testify in court or produce a document (subpoena), violates the terms of probation, or neglects and refuses to pay traffic tickets or court-ordered child support. While a bench warrant may be executed similarly to an arrest warrant, the difference is that the former is initiated by a judge or magistrate and the latter by law enforcement officers.

What is a Retake Warrant in Maryland?

A manager of a local correctional facility may issue a retake warrant authorizing a sheriff, police officer, or any member of the Division of Parole and Probation to apprehend and return an escapee to the correctional facility where he was initially incarcerated (Md. Code, Corr. Servs. § 11-803). A retake warrant does not contain a criminal charge; therefore, no court appearance is necessary. A Parole Commissioner or the Maryland Parole Commission may also issue a retake warrant to re-arrest an offender for violating parole or probation (Directive: 16-101 Maryland Capitol Police).

Are Arrest Warrants Public Record in Maryland?

Yes. Per the Maryland Rules of Procedure, Rule 16-1002, records prepared or maintained by the court are deemed open for public inspection. As arrest warrants are issued by Maryland courts, the public may view and request copies of these records. However, per the Maryland Public Information Act (PIA), records containing sensitive information may not be open to the public. For example, arrest warrants for juveniles are not public information. Similarly, if the disclosure of an arrest warrant will compromise a criminal justice procedure, it may be sequestered from public access.

Are Search Warrants Public Records in Maryland?

It depends. Search warrants that have not been executed are restricted from public access. An application for a search warrant usually includes a request for the affidavit to be sealed. Once the judge finds probable cause, they may order for the affidavit filed with an application for a search warrant to be sealed for 30 days, subject to a further extension by another 30 days (Maryland Criminal Procedure, § 1-203(e)). After the warrant is executed and the seal has expired, certain information from the search warrant may be available to the public.

How Do I Find out if I Have a Warrant in Maryland?

People who want to find out if they have a warrant in Maryland can direct their requests to the court clerk of the courthouse where the warrant was issued or their county law enforcement office. Concerned persons may visit the circuit court in the county or city where their case was filed during its usual business hours.

The clerk shall provide information on your case or warrant status and guide you on how to proceed. When conducting an in-person search at a courthouse or police department, the requester will be asked to provide a copy of a valid ID card. Note, however, that if a warrant instructs the authorities to execute an arrest, such an individual may be arrested immediately, even on court grounds. It is, therefore, prudent for concerned persons to consult a defense attorney to handle warrant inquiries.

Alternatively, where the option is available, requesters can send a written mail request to the mailing address of the relevant court. The mail must be written in the format the public agency prescribes and with all required search, copying, certification, and postal fees.

How Do I Look Up Warrants in Maryland?

Third-party aggregate search services are an alternative means to look up warrants in Maryland. Third-party sites are independent service providers who compile their information from multiple sources, including government agencies and official warrant databases. They are not government-affiliated. Unlike state websites, third-party sites enlist data from various state government websites in the US and are accessible to users in and out of Maryland.

To lookup a warrant, searchers must provide the subject's first name, last name, age, and date of birth, as well as the city and state where the warrant was issued. On some privately owned search sites, researchers may be able to search warrant information on a county-by-county basis. Although it is possible to lookup warrants for free, most private sites charge per search or on a subscription basis.

When using third-party services, remember that these service providers are not affiliated with or regulated by the government. Hence, the accuracy and completeness of the records obtained may vary. Thus, searchers must confirm the authenticity and accuracy of the information retrieved, especially if they intend to use it for official purposes like tenant screening.

Can You Check Warrants Online in Maryland?

Yes. Researchers can check online for active warrants on the websites of Maryland Circuit Courts or the county sheriff. For example, the Anne Arundel County Sheriff maintains an online warrant database with information on outstanding warrants in the county that have been active for six months or longer.

Free Warrant Check in Maryland

Concerned persons may find out if they have a warrant in Maryland for free by:

• Checking the Maryland Judiciary Case Search website
• Checking the local sheriff or police department website
• Hiring an attorney to visit or contact the relevant law enforcement agency or courthouse.

How to Find Out if Someone Has a Warrant Online For Free in Maryland

Interested individuals can find out if another person has an active warrant online in Maryland by checking the circuit courts or county sheriff’s online database. There are generally no restrictions to accessing arrest or bench warrants. But, in recent times, law enforcement officials may not provide public access to recently obtained warrants online to prevent the offender from evading arrest.

How Long Does a Warrant Stay Active in Maryland?

It depends. Except for search warrants, warrants do not have expiration dates. Search warrants are valid for ten days and must be executed within that time (Md. Crim. Causes. § 4-601(h)(1)). Once those ten days elapse, the warrant will be considered expired and void. Bench warrants, however, remain active until executed by a police officer or recalled by the court. Similarly, arrest warrants remain active and can be executed by a law enforcement officer at any time or place.

How Do I Find Out If I Have a Federal Warrant?

Federal warrant records are maintained by the U.S. Marshal’s Service Warrant Information System (WIN). The system contains all the information on individuals named in federal warrants (court records, warrants, correspondence between state and federal agencies with the warrant). Federal warrant records are not public records. As such, most individuals do not find out about such warrants until their arrest. Individuals may discover a federal warrant in good time where they:

• Contact a federal defense attorney.
• Receive notification from a court or,
• Receive information from a relative or relation contacted or arrested by federal agents.