Perform a Free Maryland Probation Search (Information Lookup)

Run a free Maryland probation search to find details of any offender serving time under court supervision.

Probation is a sentence generally given to convicted offenders who show the capacity for rehabilitation; it provides specific conditions and restrictions. It differs from parole, which is a form of supervision over inmates released from a correctional facility after serving some time behind bars.

This article breaks down the most useful starting points for learning about an offender’s probationary status in Maryland. It also provides guidelines for looking up related information, including probation officers and violations, and touches on the subject of parole searches.

Run a Maryland Probation Search for Free

There are two main resources for a probation search in Maryland. The first is a case search tool provided by the Maryland courts. The second is through the community field offices of the state’s Division of Parole & Probation, under the umbrella of the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services.

The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is a free and flexible online search tool provided for public use through the state courts.

• It provides a range of different ways to search for cases, including searches by the defendant’s name.
• The case summaries brought up by these searches are thorough and include, where applicable, the sentences pronounced in a case, including probationary sentencing.

It’s important to recognize that there are limitations to these records. They don’t include cases where information would be protected under the Maryland Rules on Access to Court Records, and all information may not be fully up to date.¹

It’s also considerably easier to find a specific summary the more information you have, such as a case’s type and filing date, the court type and specific court that tried it and the case number.

However, within those parameters, this case search tool provides a useful starting point for determining whether an individual has been sentenced to probation in Maryland. Where a case has resulted in a sentence of probation, the date and basic details of that sentence (such as its start and its conclusion) will appear under “Charge and Disposition information.”

Similar to some other states, the supervision of offenders on both parole and probation falls mainly to a single consolidated agency which is the Division of Parole & Probation.²

The Probation & Parole Division supports many community field offices in Maryland’s various counties and municipalities. These field offices are a starting point for finding specific probation officers, although it may take some calling around to work out which specific field office is relevant to your needs.

There are larger concentrations of these field offices in the more populous counties of Maryland, a few of which are specified in the section below. Dealing with these offices involves working by phone and fax or making an in-person visit.

Though it’s not as convenient as an online search, using a field office as an initial point of contact can ultimately lead to worthwhile information about a specific offender.

Search Probationers via County & City Agencies in Maryland

Some more populated counties offer resources of their own that may touch on the needs of a probation search in Maryland. Baltimore County offers a directory of phone numbers for the local courts and for probation and parole.

Montgomery County’s Department of Correction & Rehabilitation has a records office where more information can be sought.³ For those willing to go directly to the courts in Anne Arundel County for information, there’s a directory for locations and contact information.

Still, the most significant resources in any given county tend to come from the Department of Probation & Parole (DPP) Community Field Offices. The distribution of these field offices follows the demand of larger populations, and in some of Maryland’s most densely inhabited communities, it may not be immediately clear which office you need to visit.

• Baltimore has five offices, while Baltimore County has another five offices that are distinct from the ones in the city.
• Montgomery and Prince George’s counties each have three office locations, while Harford, Frederick and Anne Arundel counties have two offices apiece.

All of them are places where it would be necessary to deal with the head of the office through phone, fax or personal appearance. Just come prepared for a bit of extra legwork.

At least one county recommends a third-party provider for a probation search in Maryland. Third-party providers are managed by nongovernmental entities through tools that may track a range of record types through several states at a time and may draw on nongovernmental data, such as information found on social media sites.

On a much broader scale, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) offers a free, publicly accessible Online Inmate Locator, which can be searched by name or inmate number.⁴

This provides information about offenders who’ve been processed through the federal system. While it doesn’t directly touch on probation, it may prove useful in determining which inmates have been in front of a federal court at any time.

Find Someone’s Probation Officer & Violations in Maryland

Finding someone’s probation officer and violations in Maryland involves a process that requires navigating through legal channels and possibly utilizing public records. There are various practical steps to finding someone’s probation officer and violations in Maryland.

Maryland Courts offers Judiciary Case Search where you can search for someone’s probation and violations records.⁵ It requires the specific case number or the individual’s full name to search.

This search tool can provide someone’s probation status and any associated violations. However, searches may be limited because of privacy laws.

Alternatively, there are instances where someone can contact the court where the parolee’s case was heard. This case applies in situations where the individual’s probation is related to a criminal case. The court clerk may provide access to records related to the parolee’s case, which could contain the probation officer’s information alongside the parolee’s violations.

Additionally, you can contact the Maryland Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services (DPSCS). Supervised persons on probation and/or parole require supervision and guidance to focus on the ultimate goal of meeting their parole requirements set by the criminal justice system.

You can contact the DPSCS and inquire about the process of obtaining a parolee’s probation officer and any violations they may have committed.

Maryland Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services
6776 Reisterstown Road
Baltimore, MD 21215

Phone: 877.379.8636
Phone: 410.585.3300

Lastly, it is good to consider reaching out to the Maryland Department of Corrections’ Division of Probation & Parole Services or the appropriate county probation office.⁶ These offices can provide details about the assigned supervision officers and the terms of an individual’s probation or parole.

How To Track Down Someone on Parole in Maryland

When offenders abscond from probation, it’s the kind of incident that the authorities in Maryland take seriously. Probation violations can involve major threats to public safety, depending on the nature of the offender, making the flow of information to and from the public a critical issue.

The same is true for parole violations or “parole jumping,” as it involves people the state originally deemed necessary to incarcerate.

Maryland does not offer a search tool specifically to look up parole information, however, there are several options available that may help with your search.

One option is through Maryland Judiciary Case Search. This tool allows concerned citizens to search by case number or party name. Search results will show detailed information about the offender, case status and charges.

Moreover, if the search doesn’t yield the desired results, you may consider contacting the Maryland Department of Public Safety & Correctional Services (DPSCS) directly.⁷ The department may be able to assist you in locating such information.

Another option is through the Maryland Probation & Parole Division. The division supervises individuals on probation and parole.

Maryland Division of Parole & Probation
6776 Reisterstown Rd.
Baltimore, MD 21215

Phone: 410.585.3500
Email: dpp.pio@maryland.gov

Contacting the relevant Maryland Parole Offices directly, can also be a good option in your search. This may help you gain the information you need, including the individual’s current parole status.

You may also reach out to the Maryland Parole Commission, as they may have the information you need.⁸

Maryland Parole Commission
6776 Reisterstown Rd., Ste. 302
Baltimore, MD 21215

Phone: 410-585-3200
Phone: 877-241-5428

Doing an online search is almost always more convenient and efficient than dealing with someone over the phone or by fax or going to an office in person — but citizens may ultimately find they need to combine the two.

This article summarizes the best free Maryland probation search tools currently available to the public and, to some extent, explains how to search parole information.