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Maryland Criminal Background Check
Maryland CJIS Central Repository processes state and authorized state/FBI criminal-history background checks and publishes fingerprint/background-check procedures.
Direct answer
What to use for maryland criminal background check
Maryland CJIS Central Repository processes state and authorized state/FBI criminal-history background checks and publishes fingerprint/background-check procedures.
Route
Official sources that can answer different questions
| Need | Official source | What it can establish |
|---|---|---|
| Rights or scope check. | Maryland DPSCS - CJIS FAQ. | Maryland CJIS states criminal-history information is not public without proper authorization and describes personal record-review access. |
| Separate personal federal review. | FBI Identity History Summary Checks. | FBI Identity History Summary requests are fingerprint based. Maryland directs a personal FBI-copy request to the FBI; this is separate from an authorized employer/licensing state-and-federal check. |
For Maryland individual review, use an authorized fingerprint location if you live in Maryland. If you live outside Maryland, request the Maryland fingerprint card from CJIS at 410-764-4501 or 1-888-795-0011, have it completed, and mail the card and confirmed fee to CJIS Central Repository, P.O. Box 32708, Pikesville, MD 21282-2708. DPSCS says other states’ or FBI fingerprint cards are not accepted for this route.
For employment or licensing, the employer or licensing agency must initiate the check and give you its authorization number and required request type. In-state applicants use approved electronic live scan; hard cards are an exception for a bona-fide medical reason preventing live scan. An organization needs legal/regulatory authority and CJIS approval; approval under the Private Party Petition process permits Maryland history only, not automatic FBI access.
Check
What to verify before treating the result as complete
- Verify the person. Verify the match against the identifiers around the record: compare name spelling, event place, date range, and the strongest available identifier before using it to support a person-level conclusion.
- Define the purpose. Choose the evidence goal before building the source list. A purpose-driven plan also makes gaps in the research easier to see.
- Set the jurisdiction. Treat geography as part of the record definition, not a later filter. This keeps a local result from being treated as universal state coverage.
- Bring the right identifiers. Bring government-issued photo ID, the sponsoring agency’s name and authorization number, and its Z-ORI number if required for government delivery. Print the Livescan Pre-registration Application linked by DPSCS and confirm the provider’s appointment instructions.
- Check the price and payment route. The state-only schedule lists $18 per mail-in check or $38 for CJIS in-person service including its $20 fingerprint service fee; private providers set their own additional service charges. DPSCS’s October 1, 2026 notice changes the federal component from $12 to $15, but the displayed combined schedule and payment instructions are not consistent. Confirm the exact authorized product’s total and accepted payment with CJIS or the chosen provider before paying; do not add the increase twice or use an FBI personal-review fee as the Maryland component.
- Track delivery and correct problems. For the out-of-state card route, DPSCS publishes an expected response within 10–15 days after receipt. The general FAQ says most state results are mailed in less than 10 working days after an approved application is received. For status, the subject or authorized requester can call CJIS with the reference number. Report a suspected identity or record problem to CJIS Customer Service at 410-764-4501 or 1-888-795-0011 and ask which correction evidence is needed; the service cannot disclose criminal history by phone. A D5 rejection requires new fingerprints.
Important
A background check is not one universal record
Choose the record layer. Turn the generic search phrase into a concrete record request. Keep the source and search date with the result so the step can be checked later.
Related Record Guides
Sources
Authoritative next stops
Official state public-safety source; Maryland
Maryland DPSCS - Fingerprint Services
Maryland CJIS Central Repository processes state and authorized state/FBI criminal-history background checks and publishes current fingerprint/background-check procedures.
Maryland
Official state public-safety source; Maryland
Maryland DPSCS - CJIS FAQ
Maryland CJIS FAQ states that criminal-history information is not public without proper authorization and describes own-record review.
Maryland
Official federal source; United States
FBI Identity History Summary Checks
FBI Identity History Summary personal review process and fingerprint-based identity history.
United States
Official state public-safety source
Maryland DPSCS - Background Checks
Individual card/live-scan paths, sponsoring-agency authorization, delivery and status assistance.
Current official procedure, limited to the agency and record type identified in the passage.