Maryland Warrant Search: How to Find Warrant Information in Maryland

Crime rates in Maryland fluctuate annually, but most of the time, it is slightly above the national average. Changing law enforcement practices, economic conditions, and societal regulations continue to affect the state's unstable crime rate. 
 

According to Maryland's public information act (PIA), public members can access all information relating to crime in the state, including warrant details. You can request warrants at the local courthouse clerk's office through mail or by visiting in person during business hours. 

This article investigates Maryland warrant information, what are warrants in the state, their types, and how to find and resolve Warrants in Maryland. 

Overview of warrants in Maryland
 

Maryland warrants are legal judicial documents authorizing law enforcement officials to take specific actions against an individual or on a property. These actions often involve infringing an individual's constitutional rights. 
 

The courts in Maryland grant various kinds of orders, including arrest warrants, search warrants, bench warrants, warrants for failure to pay fines, tax warrants, no-knock warrants, warrants for failure to appear, capias warrants, and execution warrants.

Maryland arrest warrants
 

An arrest warrant is a means of ensuring the protection of a resident's rights in Maryland. It allows law enforcement officers to detain an individual at any location or time. It is issued by a district court commissioner, circuit court judge, or circuit court clerk, as directed by a judge.
 

Common criminal cases that result in the issuance of arrest warrants in Maryland include: 
 

● Suspicion of burglary, 
● Kidnapping,
● Trafficking, 
● Larceny, 
● Sexual assault, 
● Homicide, 
● Grand theft 
 

It's essential to mention that in cases where a felony or misdemeanor is committed in the presence of law enforcement officers, they have the authority to arrest without a warrant.

What are the contents of an arrest warrant?
 

In Maryland, the sheriff's office provides an official written statement outlining the case details and explaining why the accused must be arrested. Some of this information includes: 
 

● The accused individual's first and last names,
● Physical characteristics like height, weight, hair, and eye color,
● Identifying marks such as tattoos or scars, 
● Court case number, 
● Type of warrant, 
● And the nature of the offense
 

Maryland search warrants
 

A Maryland search warrant is a written judicial directive that grants a peace officer the legal authority to search an individual or their property and seize any relevant evidence. Search warrants are primarily issued in cases where there is probable cause to suspect that a misdemeanor or felony offense has occurred or is currently taking place on the property in question.
 

Some of the grounds items sought for a search warrant include:

 
● Money
● Weapons believed to have been used in a robbery or violent crime
● Stolen items
● Illegal drugs
● Clothing that was worn during criminal activities
● Computers, storage media, and hard drives
● Biological material such as DNA, hair, and blood samples
● Records such as photographs, papers, and documents

When does a search warrant become invalid? 
 

Whenever you receive search warrants, ensure you check if the information accurately identifies you and your property or concisely describes the subject of the record. In Maryland, search warrants remain valid only if executed within 15 days of issuance. 
 

The suspect's defense attorney may also void a warrant if they can prove it was improperly granted by the judge or the officers didn't follow the specific orders in the document.  
 

Maryland bench warrants
 

In Maryland, a bench warrant is a court-issued order that allows a person to be arrested for disobeying a court instruction, breaking the terms of their probation, or failing to appear in court. It can also be issued for someone accused of a crime, released on bail, or promised to appear in court but fails to turn themselves in. 

Additionally, if a defendant breaks a pretrial release condition, the courts can issue a bench warrant for their arrest. The defendant will appear before the court when arrested, which can cancel or change their pretrial release conditions.

Maryland failure to pay warrants
 

If a person in Maryland cannot pay a fine ordered by a court, they may be issued a "failure to pay" warrant. A defendant can apply to have the amount reduced if they cannot pay. The court will then investigate the defendant's financial situation to determine if their claim is valid. If the court confirms their inability to pay, they may reduce the fine to an amount the defendant can afford.
 

Maryland failure to appear warrants
 

Whenever an individual misses a court appearance, there are consequences, like receiving a warrant. For instance, any license issued to them can be suspended until they appear in court to answer the charges. 

How to know if I have a warrant in Maryland?

In Maryland, the first place anyone can search for warrant information is the Clerk of Court's office in the judicial branch at 580 Taylor Avenue, Annapolis, MD 2140. This unit holds a copy of all warrant information from all counties. 

But you may have to pay 50 cents per page of each warrant you want to copy. You may also request the report via mail for a token of $2 per copy request. The other contact information for the judicial branch clerk of the court's unit includes the following: 

Phone number: 410-260-1275
Email: [email protected]
Online requests: Maryland Courts

If this unit doesn't have comprehensive information about the warrant you seek, you can contact the issuing court in the exact county where the crime occurred or, better still, visit their website.  

Another guaranteed method of obtaining a person's warrant information is by checking the Criminal Justice Information System (CJIS). 

The state's Department of Public Safety & Correctional Service maintains this public record system. Furthermore, you may contact local police departments in your county. 

Not all Maryland safety departments respond to warrant requests online; some only provide the necessary details to the individual in person. 

Alternatively, you can use public records third-party websites like Truepeoplesearch.io. It requires the record owners' full names and county.