Maryland Background Check


Conduct a thorough criminal background check in Maryland by searching criminal history, Maryland court records, find current past addresses, check Maryland prison, jail inmate records, and Maryland department of corrections records. Also check Maryland professional licenses and other credentials.



Free Background Check in Maryland

Background Checks

Individual Background Check For Employment Purposes:

  • If you are seeking employment in the state of Maryland, your employer must request the background record check.
  • You must:
    • Use the fingerprint cards supplied by your employer, or
    • Have your employer's authorization number available.

    Individual State Background Check (For example; Visas, Gold Seal letters, and Individual Reviews):

    If you live within Maryland:

    • You may go to any authorized location that provides fingerprinting services.
    • You may go to your local law enforcement agency to be fingerprinted on the state fingerprint card known as Form 015.
    • Once you've been fingerprinted, you may overnight it to CJIS-Central Repository located at 6776 Reisterstown Road, Suite 102, Baltimore Maryland 21215, or mail it to CJIS-CR P.O. Box 32708, Pikesville, Maryland, 21282-2708.
    • If you are requesting a copy of your FBI cirminal history record you must send your request directly to the FBI.

    If you live outside of Maryland:

    • You may write CJIS-Central Repository P.O. Box 32708, Pikesville, Maryland 21282-2708, or call the Central Repository in Baltimore City at 410-764-4501 or toll free number 1-888-795-0011 to reques t a fingerprint card.
    • You may mail the fingerprint card and associated fee to CJIS-Central Repository P.O. Box 32708 Pikesville Maryland 21282-2708, or overnight the fingerprint card to 6776 Reisterstown Road, Suite 102, Baltimore Maryland 21215.
    • Please include a check or money order made out to "CJIS Central Repository".
    • You may expect a response in 10 - 15 business days.

    Fees are required to process each criminal background record check request.

    All fees must be paid by credit card, check or money order in United States currency. The Central Repository cannot accept cash.


    Full background [state and FBI

    for authorized agencies only $37.25
    child care volunteers $33.25
    State background check only $18.00
    with Gold Seal $19.00

    Criminal Justice

    full background No fee
    state only No fee

    Attorney/Client civil $18.00

    Attorney/Client pending criminal case: No fee

    The fingerprinting fee at the CJIS Central Repository is $20.00 with no card limit. You may choose to have your fingerprints taken at another agency. Make sure to check with that agency for their fingerprinting fees as fees may vary.



    What Is an Maryland Background Check?

An Maryland Background Check offers a comprehensive search in public records for:

  • Vital records, like births, deaths, marriages, and divorces
  • Current contact information and previous addresses
  • Criminal records, convictions and prison records or sex offender registration
  • Civil court filings, like civil judgments
  • Tax liens and bankruptcies
  • Records of real estate ownership and registered assets
  • Professional and business licenses

Maryland background check is available through the state or through premium data aggregation services who conduct public record data searches and provide you with a report.. Each state, and sometimes each county, has different rules on how much information is available and who can access background check data. Therefore a background check may still not contain every record about a person, however in most cases it is very thorough. Most premium background check services use multiple databases of public records in order to provide you with their background reports.


Learn More About Background Checks