Maryland State Criminal Background Check: Complete Guide

What Is a Maryland State Criminal Background Check?

A Maryland state criminal background check is a formal review of a person's criminal history as recorded within the state's court and law enforcement systems. These checks are processed through the Maryland Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS) Central Repository, which is operated by the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS). This is the authoritative source for all criminal history records in the state - not a third-party data aggregator, not a Google search, and not a county courthouse lookup.

The CJIS Central Repository maintains fingerprint-based records of arrests, charges, and convictions that occur within Maryland's jurisdiction. When you request a Maryland state criminal background check through official channels, the record returned reflects what's actually in that system - which is important to understand because it is distinct from an FBI nationwide check, which pulls from a broader federal database but does not disclose the specific crimes committed. Maryland state checks do disclose the specific offenses - a meaningful difference when you're making a hiring or screening decision.

People run Maryland criminal background checks for a wide range of reasons: pre-employment screening, licensing applications, housing decisions, adoption home studies, professional credentialing, volunteer programs, and personal self-checks. Each use case comes with its own rules about who can request what, and under what legal framework.

The Official CJIS Process: Step-by-Step

If you're going through the state's official channel, here's exactly how the process works. Understanding these steps helps you avoid common delays and mistakes.

Step 1: Determine Which Request Type Applies to You

The CJIS system handles several different types of background check requests, and getting the wrong form means starting over. The primary categories are:

• Individual Self-Check: You can request your own Maryland criminal history record by submitting the CJIS 015 Form along with an $18.00 fee. This is a name-based check and is primarily used to review your own record for accuracy.
• Employer / Private Party: Employers who want to screen job applicants must first complete a Private Party Petition Packet and get approved before they can request records. Once approved, they are entitled to Maryland state criminal history only - not federal FBI records - unless they also have authorization for the federal component.
• Authorized Agency: Government agencies, healthcare licensing boards, and regulated industries (childcare, healthcare, transportation) may have separate application pathways with their own forms and authorization numbers.

If you are seeking employment or licensing within Maryland, note that your employer or licensing agency must be the one to request the background record check on your behalf - you cannot simply submit it yourself for employment purposes.

Step 2: Get Fingerprinted

Most Maryland criminal background checks require fingerprinting, and the state has strict rules about how and where this happens. For in-state applicants applying for employment or licensing purposes, fingerprints must be submitted electronically through an approved Live Scan fingerprinting unit. Ink-and-roll hard card fingerprints are only accepted when there is a documented medical reason why Live Scan cannot be used.

If you are applying from outside Maryland, you may need to submit FD-258 ink fingerprint cards by mail instead. Importantly, fingerprint cards from other states or from the FBI cannot be accepted by the CJIS Central Repository. Maryland state law also requires fresh fingerprints for each background check request - previously submitted prints cannot be reused for a new check.

The DPSCS has agreements with authorized private contractors at more than twenty locations throughout the state, and the state itself operates six locations. Some local law enforcement agencies also provide fingerprinting services. The CJIS Fingerprinting Office is located at 6776 Reisterstown Road, Suite 102, Baltimore, Maryland 21215, open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Step 3: Submit the Request and Pay the Fee

For a mail-in individual self-check, the fee is $18.00. In-person fingerprinting carries an additional $20.00 CJIS service fee, making the in-person state-only check $38.00. If you need both a state and FBI combined check (for authorized agencies only), the mail-in cost is $30.00 and the in-person cost is $50.00. Child care volunteers needing a full state and FBI check pay $28.00 for mail-in or $48.00 for in-person. An optional Gold Seal authentication costs an additional $1.00 and is sometimes required for adoption or immigration purposes.

Payment is accepted by personal check or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover). The Central Repository cannot accept cash or money orders, and checks are electronically processed. Mail requests and the associated fee go to: CJIS Central Repository, P.O. Box 32708, Pikesville, Maryland 21282-2708.

Step 4: Wait for Results

After the CJIS Central Repository receives your fingerprint card, expect results within 10 to 15 business days. Same-day state background checks are possible only in extreme, verifiable circumstances and must be requested in person at the Baltimore CJIS location. For employers who submitted through the Private Party Petition process, they must first wait for petition approval before the clock on that 10-to-15-day window even starts.

Once processed, your background check report will be mailed to the authorized requestor. You can also check the status of a current background history request by contacting CJIS Customer Service - you will need either the reference number or a Social Security number to check status.

Complete CJIS Fee Schedule at a Glance

One of the most confusing parts of the Maryland background check process is knowing which fee category applies to your situation. Here is the full schedule:

• State background check only (mail-in): $18.00
• State background check only (in-person): $38.00 (includes $20.00 CJIS fingerprinting fee)
• State background check with Gold Seal (mail-in): $19.00
• State background check with Gold Seal (in-person): $39.00
• Full background - state and FBI - authorized agencies only (mail-in): $30.00
• Full background - state and FBI - authorized agencies only (in-person): $50.00
• Full background - state and FBI - child care volunteers (mail-in): $28.00
• Full background - state and FBI - child care volunteers (in-person): $48.00
• Maryland Mentor for child care volunteers (in-person, with certification card): $15.00
• Attorney/Client civil (mail-in): $18.00
• Attorney/Client pending criminal case: No fee

There is no fee required to become an authorized agency to receive criminal background information, but you must have the legal or regulatory authority that authorizes your agency to receive federal and/or Maryland criminal history before you can be approved.

What Does a Maryland State Criminal Background Check Show?

A Maryland state criminal background check pulls records from within Maryland's jurisdiction. This includes:

• Arrest records within Maryland
• Criminal charges and dispositions (guilty pleas, convictions, acquittals, nolle prosequi)
• Specific crimes committed - unlike FBI background checks, Maryland state checks do disclose the nature of the offense
• Felony and misdemeanor records

What it does not necessarily include: criminal records from other states, federal offenses prosecuted in federal court, or records that have been expunged or sealed under Maryland law. If you need a broader picture that spans multiple states, you'll need either an FBI check or a nationwide criminal database search.

This is exactly where a tool like Galadon's Criminal Records Search becomes valuable for research purposes. It searches sex offender registries, corrections records, arrest records, and court records nationwide - giving you a much wider net than a single-state CJIS query. While it doesn't replace a legally mandated fingerprint-based check for employment or licensing, it's an excellent starting point for due diligence, tenant screening research, or simply verifying public record information before you invest time in a formal request.

The NGI Rap Back Service: Ongoing Monitoring for Employers

One feature of Maryland's background check system that many employers overlook is the NGI Rap Back Service. Maryland participates in the FBI's Next Generation Identification (NGI) Record of Arrest and Prosecutions Back (Rap Back) Service, which is a Federal Bureau of Investigation program that allows authorized government agencies to receive notification of subsequent criminal activity on individuals who hold positions of trust or are under criminal justice supervision or investigation.

In plain terms: rather than running a one-time background check on a new hire and never revisiting the issue, Rap Back allows eligible agencies to be automatically notified if an enrolled employee or licensee is arrested or convicted of an offense anywhere in the United States after the initial check was run. This continuous monitoring approach is especially valuable for employment, licensing, and criminal justice supervision in high-trust roles.

To be eligible to participate in Rap Back, your governmental agency must have a current Public Law 92-544 Maryland Statute authorization. Agencies can enroll by completing the CJIS-CR Authorization Update Form. Under the Privacy Act, an applicant is entitled to receive notification of the retention of fingerprints by the FBI and CJIS and a summary of intended uses - this notice must be provided at the time of enrollment.

For private employers not eligible for Rap Back, the practical alternative is periodic re-screening through a Consumer Reporting Agency. The risk of a single point-in-time check is that it only captures a person's history up to the date of the search - anything that happens afterward goes undetected unless you run another check.

Maryland Background Check Laws Employers Must Know

If you're a business running background checks on candidates in Maryland, you're operating within a layered legal framework. Here's what matters most:

The FCRA Applies to All Employer Background Checks

The federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) sets the baseline for any employer using a Consumer Reporting Agency (CRA) to conduct background checks. You must get written consent from the applicant before running the check, and the written disclosure must be provided as a standalone document - burying it in the fine print of an application form does not satisfy FCRA requirements. If the results lead to an adverse hiring decision, you must follow the FCRA's adverse action process, which includes providing the applicant with a pre-adverse action notice, a copy of the report, and a reasonable window to dispute any inaccuracies.

Maryland's Seven-Year Lookback Rule

Maryland imposes restrictions on how far back a CRA can report certain information. Under Maryland Code, CRAs cannot report civil judgments, civil lawsuits, paid tax liens, arrests, or convictions older than seven years. Bankruptcies cannot be reported if they are older than ten years. There is an important exception: under the FCRA, positions paying salaries of at least $75,000 annually are not subject to the seven-year restriction for older information. Additionally, under Maryland's own rules, the seven-year restriction can be lifted for positions paying $20,000 or more annually for non-conviction records - making it important to confirm both the FCRA threshold and Maryland's own salary thresholds when screening for higher-paying roles.

It is also worth noting that CRAs must register with the Maryland Department of Labor before conducting pre-employment background checks in the state - re-registrations are only required when the information changes from the previous registration.

Ban-the-Box Laws: State and Local Variations

Maryland's statewide ban-the-box law - the Maryland Fair Criminal Record Screening Act (FCRSA), enacted on February 29, 2020 - prohibits employers with 15 or more full-time employees from asking about an applicant's criminal history before the first in-person interview. This applies to both public and private employers. Notably, phone and video conference interviews conducted in real time are treated as in-person interviews under the law.

The law covers a broad definition of employment including contractual, temporary, seasonal, contingent work, and work through a staffing agency. Violations can result in a civil penalty of up to $300 for each applicant or employee affected.

Several Maryland jurisdictions take ban-the-box protections even further:

• Baltimore City: Prohibits employers with 10 or more employees from screening for or asking about criminal records before extending a conditional job offer - a stricter standard than the state law.
• Montgomery County: Originally covered employers with 15 or more employees, but expanded rules now cover employers with one or more employees, and the law extends to housing providers as well - requiring that criminal history inquiries wait until after a conditional offer is made.
• Prince George's County: Applies to employers with 25 or more full-time employees and also requires an individualized assessment considering only specific offenses that may demonstrate unfitness to perform the job, the time elapsed since the offense, and any evidence of inaccuracy in the record.

Employers hiring for Baltimore-based positions must comply with the city ordinance's more restrictive provisions rather than applying only state-level requirements. Multi-state employers hiring Maryland residents must apply Maryland-specific timing rules regardless of where the company is headquartered.

Individual Assessment Requirement

If a pre-employment background check reveals a criminal record, Maryland employers - consistent with EEOC guidance - must conduct an individual assessment of whether the specific conviction is actually related to the job in question before deciding not to hire the applicant on that basis. Blanket exclusions based on any criminal history are a legal risk. Employers should consider the nature and recency of the crime, the relevance to the position's responsibilities, and whether the candidate shows evidence of rehabilitation.

An institution may not deny employment to an applicant based solely on a record of arrest in the absence of a conviction, other criminal penalty, or substantiation of facts underlying the arrest that relate to the applicant's fitness for the job.

Industries With Mandatory Background Check Requirements

Certain Maryland industries are not just permitted to run background checks - they're legally required to. These include:

• Childcare providers: Federal law requires that providers complete a comprehensive eight-component check every five years. The eight components are: (1) criminal registry check using fingerprints in the current state of residency; (2) sex offender registry check in the current state of residency; (3) child abuse and neglect registry check in the current state; (4) FBI fingerprint check (national); (5) National Crime Information Center National Sex Offender Registry check; (6) criminal registry check in any other state where the individual has resided in the past 5 years; (7) sex offender registry check in those other states; and (8) child abuse and neglect registry check in those other states. In some instances, Maryland regulation requires a shorter renewal period for certain components, such as a child protective services clearance every two years.
• Healthcare professionals: The Maryland Board of Nursing requires Criminal History Records Checks for all new RN, LPN, and CNA applicants, and for selected renewal applicants.
• Physicians and licensed professionals: The Maryland Board of Physicians requires CJIS background checks for initial licensure, reinstatement, and registration - and does not accept background checks conducted in other states or by other agencies.
• Handgun purchasers: Maryland requires a background check for all handgun purchases, including private sales, administered by the Maryland State Police Licensing Division.
• Commercial drivers transporting hazardous materials: The Transportation Security Administration requires commercial drivers who transport hazardous materials to undergo a security screening that includes a criminal history background check. Commercial drivers in Maryland can apply for their Hazardous Material Endorsement and receive the required security screening at the same time.
• Adult dependent care programs: A CJIS Record History check is required for employees who work in adult dependent care programs, including programs serving the elderly and dependent adults.

Maryland Expungement and Record Sealing: What Employers and Applicants Need to Know

Expunged and sealed records are a critical factor in any Maryland background check - both for applicants who want to understand what employers can see, and for employers who need to know what they're legally allowed to act on.

What Is Expungement?

Expungement refers to the removal of police and court records from public inspection. When a record is expunged in Maryland, it is completely removed from public view and most government databases - it is as if the arrest or charge never happened. Police, courts, and employers cannot see expunged records during background checks, and applicants can legally deny the arrest or charge occurred in most situations.

Records that have been expunged will not appear in searches conducted through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search or through CJIS. Employers, landlords, and licensing boards who discover expunged records through other means are generally prohibited from using them in decision-making.

Who Is Eligible for Expungement?

Not all records are expungeable. Maryland law distinguishes between non-conviction records and conviction records, with different rules for each:

• Non-conviction records (acquittals, dismissals, nolle prosequi): For cases where all charges have a disposition of acquittal, not guilty, dismissal, or nolle prosequi entered on October 1, 2021 or later, the court will expunge the case automatically after three years. Applicants may request expungement before that three-year mark by filing a petition.
• Probation before judgment (PBJ): The record may be expunged after a three-year waiting period or the successful completion of probation, whichever is longer. DUI PBJ dispositions cannot be expunged.
• Guilty convictions: Certain misdemeanor convictions may be filed for expungement after 5 years. Certain felony convictions, second-degree assault, and common law battery may be filed after 7 years. First or second-degree burglary and felony theft may be filed after 10 years. Domestically related convictions may be filed after 15 years.

If you were charged with more than one offense based on the same incident, you can only have records from that case expunged if all charges from that incident are eligible for expungement - this is known as the Unit Rule. The only exceptions to the Unit Rule are minor traffic violations and cannabis possession.

Expungement vs. Record Sealing

Maryland also offers record sealing for people who do not qualify for full expungement. Sealed records remain in the court system and law enforcement databases but are hidden from public view. Employers conducting standard background checks will not see sealed records. However, government agencies and employers in fields such as law enforcement, childcare, and healthcare may still have access to sealed records when conducting more thorough background investigations.

For most misdemeanor convictions, you must wait at least seven years from the date you completed your sentence before you can petition for record sealing. The distinction matters: expungement provides true erasure, while sealing provides privacy but not complete removal from the system.

The Maryland Second Chance Act expanded automatic expungement eligibility, making certain records legally inaccessible and unactionable for employment decisions. Employers may see different background check results over time as previously visible records undergo expungement, which is why coordination between HR teams, legal counsel, and screening vendors is essential.

How Long Does It Take - and How to Speed Things Up

The official CJIS route takes time. Between the petition approval process (for employers), fingerprinting appointments, mail transit, and processing queues, the realistic timeline from start to finish is often several weeks. Same-day results through official channels exist only for extreme in-person cases at the Baltimore CJIS office.

For businesses that move fast, this is a real operational bottleneck. That's why many employers partner with third-party background screening services that have established court-runner networks and database access - turning what could be a multi-week wait into results within one to five business days for many types of checks.

For situations where you need to check publicly available criminal records quickly - without a formal CJIS request - Galadon's free Criminal Records Search lets you search sex offender registries, corrections records, arrest records, and court records across the country in seconds. This is particularly useful for sales professionals doing due diligence on potential business partners, property managers doing initial tenant screening research, or HR teams who want to do a preliminary review before committing to the cost and time of a formal fingerprint-based check.

Maryland Judiciary Case Search: The Public Option

Separate from the CJIS fingerprint process, Maryland maintains a public-facing tool called the Maryland Judiciary Case Search, which allows anyone to look up court case information by name. This is a free, publicly accessible resource - but it has real limitations.

A criminal record in Maryland includes information from both the Maryland Judiciary Case Search and the official RAP (Record of Arrests and Prosecutions) sheet from CJIS. For many cases, you can access basic case information through the Case Search website. However, if you have an older case or a very new case, the website may not reflect a complete criminal record. Some charges where the disposition is acquitted, dismissed, nolle prosequi, stet, pardoned, or not guilty may not show up in Case Search - but this does not mean those charges don't exist in the CJIS system. They are still part of the official criminal record.

For a complete and authoritative record, the fingerprint-based CJIS process is the only option. The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is useful for quick public lookups, but it should not be used as a substitute for a formal background check in hiring, licensing, or other regulated contexts.

Special Use Cases: Adoption, Immigration, and Hazmat CDL

Adoption and the Gold Seal Letter

If you currently live in Maryland and your adoption will be finalized in Maryland, you follow the instructions of the agency conducting your home study for a full background childcare record check. However, if the child is being adopted from outside the United States, you may need a Gold Seal Letter in addition to the childcare record check. This optional Gold Seal authentication is available for an additional $1.00 and should be confirmed with your adoption agency before submitting.

Immigration and Visa Requests

Fingerprinting for non-employment purposes - including adoption, immigration, and visa applications - follows a slightly different process. You will be provided the appropriate card at the time of fingerprinting rather than obtaining it from an employer. You can also request the correct card in advance by calling CJIS Customer Service at (410) 764-4501 or toll-free at 1-888-795-0011.

Hazmat CDL Endorsement

The Transportation Security Administration requires commercial drivers who transport hazardous materials to undergo a security screening that includes a criminal history background check. Commercial drivers in Maryland can apply for their Hazardous Material Endorsement and receive the required security screening simultaneously through the Motor Vehicle Administration.

Checking Records Beyond Maryland's Borders

One of the most common mistakes people make with the Maryland CJIS process is assuming a state check gives them a complete picture. It doesn't. If someone committed a crime in Virginia, Pennsylvania, or Florida - or was convicted of a federal offense - that record won't show up in the Maryland CJIS database. Federal database findings can also be inconsistent with state records, as the federal database reflects only the information that has been provided to the federal government by each individual state.

For a full picture, you need either an FBI fingerprint-based check (which costs more, takes longer, and doesn't disclose specific crimes) or a nationwide criminal records database search. That's one of the strongest use cases for Galadon's Criminal Records Search - it casts a wider net across jurisdictions, including sex offender registries and corrections records, without the bureaucratic overhead of a formal CJIS request.

If you're also doing broader due diligence - looking into someone's business background, verifying professional claims, or building a more complete profile - Galadon's Background Checker generates comprehensive reports with trust scores, which can surface useful public information before you invest resources in a formal legal process. And if your outreach or screening workflow involves finding contact information for individuals you're vetting, the Mobile Number Finder can help you locate cell phone numbers from a name and company, while the Email Finder can confirm professional contact details.

Disputing Inaccurate Records

If your background check contains incorrect information, you have legal rights. Maryland law and federal law both give applicants the right to challenge inaccurate records. For CJIS records specifically, you can contact the CJIS Central Repository directly at 410-764-4501 (local Baltimore) or toll-free at 1-888-795-0011 to dispute the contents of your record. For FBI-held records, there is a separate challenge process outlined under Title 28, CFR, 16.34.

If someone else is using your name and it has created a false match on your record, contact CJIS Customer Service directly by phone and explain your situation - they will advise on the appropriate steps given the unique circumstances of identity mix-ups.

Inaccurate records are more common than most people expect - especially when records from other people with similar names get mixed in. If you've been told you have a criminal record and you believe it's wrong, act quickly. Many employers have adverse action windows during which you can dispute the findings before a final hiring decision is made. Under Prince George's County's local ordinance, for example, employers must delay rescinding an offer for seven days to permit the applicant to give notice of any inaccuracy.

Quick Reference: Maryland Criminal Background Check Essentials

• State agency: CJIS Central Repository, operated by DPSCS
• Individual self-check fee: $18.00 (mail-in)
• In-person fingerprinting fee: $20.00 CJIS service charge (included in in-person totals above)
• State-only check in-person: $38.00
• Combined state + FBI check (authorized agencies, mail-in): $30.00
• Combined state + FBI check (authorized agencies, in-person): $50.00
• Processing time: 10-15 business days after fingerprint card receipt
• Lookback limit (non-convictions via CRA): 7 years (exceptions apply for higher-salary positions)
• Employers need: Written consent before running any background check
• Ban-the-box (statewide): Applies to employers with 15 or more full-time employees; criminal history inquiry prohibited before first in-person interview
• Ban-the-box (Baltimore City): 10+ employees; inquiry prohibited until conditional offer
• Ban-the-box (Montgomery County): Expanded to all employers; inquiry prohibited until conditional offer
• Ban-the-box (Prince George's County): 25+ full-time employees
• Rap Back enrollment: Requires Public Law 92-544 Maryland Statute authorization; complete CJIS-CR Authorization Update Form
• CJIS phone: 410-764-4501 or 1-888-795-0011, Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• CJIS mailing address: P.O. Box 32708, Pikesville, Maryland 21282-2708
• CJIS in-person office: 6776 Reisterstown Road, Suite 102, Baltimore, Maryland 21215

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I run a background check on someone else without their knowledge in Maryland?

No. The Maryland Security and Privacy Act and the Code of Maryland Annotated Regulations (COMAR) prohibit background checks being performed on citizens without proper authorization. All CJIS information is kept secure and is not available to the public without authorization. Employers using a CRA must also obtain signed written consent from the applicant before initiating a search.

Can I reuse fingerprints from a previous background check?

No. Maryland state law requires that fingerprints be taken fresh for each requested background check. Previously submitted prints cannot be reused for a new check regardless of how recently they were taken.

What happens if my fingerprints are rejected?

If the quality of your fingerprint characteristics is too low to be used, you will receive a rejection letter with a rejection code (for example, D5 indicates quality too low). You must submit another set of fingerprints to continue the process. This is one reason why delays can extend beyond the standard 10-to-15 business day window.

Does a Maryland background check show out-of-state crimes?

No. A Maryland state-only CJIS check covers records within Maryland's jurisdiction. For out-of-state records, you need either the FBI check (available only through authorized agencies) or a multi-state database search. Galadon's Criminal Records Search covers sex offender registries, corrections records, arrest records, and court records nationwide - making it a useful starting point for any situation where cross-state visibility matters.

What is the difference between expungement and record sealing in Maryland?

Expungement completely removes the record from public view and most government databases - it is as if the event never happened, and the applicant can legally deny it occurred in most situations. Record sealing leaves the record in restricted databases but hides it from most public searches. Standard employer background checks will not show sealed records, but certain government agencies, law enforcement, and employers in sensitive fields like healthcare and childcare may still access sealed records under specific circumstances.

Understanding the Maryland state criminal background check system takes time, but knowing the rules upfront prevents costly delays, compliance violations, and incomplete information. Whether you're an HR professional, a property manager, a recruiter, or just checking your own record, the key is knowing which process applies to your situation - and using the right tools to fill in the gaps the official system leaves behind.