Clicking on any of the Maryland Counties or Cities below will direct you to a list of all the City Jails, County Jails and Juvenile Detention Centers in that specific County.
Maryland has 23 counties and Baltimore City, which operates as a separate local government. Most counties have a detention center that serves as the local jail. Some are managed by the county sheriff, while others are run by a county department of corrections. Montgomery, Prince George's, Anne Arundel, Baltimore, and Howard counties have large correctional systems. Smaller counties, especially on the Eastern Shore and in western Maryland, operate smaller facilities. Baltimore City is different. The state runs its main jail and booking facilities through the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. Police stations may have temporary holding cells, but most people kept in custody are transferred to a detention center.
Jails in Maryland hold people who have been arrested and are waiting for court, along with those serving shorter sentences. A judge may sentence someone to a county correctional facility for up to 18 months under Maryland law. Longer sentences generally mean placement in a state prison, although the actual placement depends on the sentence and legal requirements. The Division of Correction operates the state prison system. Its institutions include North Branch and Western Correctional Institutions in Cumberland, Maryland Correctional Institution in Hagerstown, Eastern Correctional Institution in Westover, and Jessup Correctional Institution. Maryland Correctional Institution for Women in Jessup houses women serving state sentences. People convicted of federal crimes are handled by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, not the county jail system.
Maryland's correctional population is spread between county detention centers, Baltimore City's state-operated detention facilities, and state prisons. A state legislative report recorded an average of 18,613 people in state correctional and pretrial facilities in September 2024. That number does not include everyone held in county jails. Many state prisoners are housed in the Baltimore and Jessup areas, while others serve sentences in western Maryland or on the Eastern Shore. The state also runs reception and classification facilities where newly sentenced prisoners are evaluated before being assigned to an institution. County detention centers may temporarily hold people waiting to be transferred into state custody.
Maryland has 23 county detention systems, plus Baltimore City's separate state-run system. That does not mean there are only 24 jail buildings. Some counties operate more than one detention or correctional facility. Montgomery County has a detention center and a correctional facility. Prince George's County operates its correctional system in Upper Marlboro, while Anne Arundel County uses the Jennifer Road Detention Center and the Ordnance Road Correctional Center. Baltimore County operates its detention center in Towson. In Baltimore City, people arrested by police generally pass through the Baltimore Central Booking and Intake Center. Other state-operated facilities in Baltimore hold people awaiting trial, transfer, or other court decisions. Counties may also house people for another jurisdiction or under a government contract.
Maryland's Department of Juvenile Services operates five juvenile detention centers. They are the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center, Charles H. Hickey Jr. School in Baltimore County, Cheltenham Youth Detention Center in Prince George's County, Western Maryland Children's Center in Hagerstown, and Lower Eastern Shore Children's Center in Salisbury. These facilities hold young people who are waiting for juvenile court hearings, placement decisions, or other court action. A juvenile in detention has not necessarily been found responsible for breaking the law. Juvenile detention is different from a treatment program ordered after a judge finds that a youth committed an offense.
The Department of Juvenile Services also operates separate residential treatment programs for youth placed in its care by the courts. These programs provide schooling, counseling, mental health services, and treatment designed to help young people return to their communities. Some facilities are secure, while other placements have fewer restrictions. Counties do not each operate their own juvenile detention center. A teenager arrested in one county may be placed in a regional facility somewhere else in Maryland. Most young people involved in the juvenile justice system remain at home under supervision rather than being placed in detention.
To find an adult who has been arrested, begin with the county where the arrest happened. For Baltimore City arrests, check the state-operated booking and detention system. For a juvenile, contact the Department of Juvenile Services or the appropriate juvenile court. Information about minors is generally restricted and is not available through the same public inmate searches used for adults.
After an arrest, the person is normally taken to a police station, booking center, or county detention facility. Officers confirm the person's identity, take fingerprints and a photograph, check for outstanding warrants, and record the charges. Personal belongings are collected and stored. A medical screening checks for injuries, illness, mental health concerns, and possible drug or alcohol withdrawal. The person is then taken before a judicial officer, often a District Court commissioner, who reviews the charges and makes an initial release decision. If the person remains in custody, a judge reviews the release decision under Maryland's court rules. Some people are released without paying money, while others remain detained or receive conditions they must follow.
Jail life follows a strict routine. Officers conduct head counts, serve meals, supervise recreation, and control movement between housing units. New arrivals may spend time in an intake area before receiving a regular housing assignment. Larger facilities can separate people based on security risk, medical needs, mental health concerns, and other factors. Smaller jails have fewer housing options. Someone who has never been locked up may find the experience frightening. Sleep can be interrupted by noise, lights, and security checks. People withdrawing from alcohol or drugs may need immediate medical attention. Family members should contact the facility if they have urgent information about an inmate's health or safety.
Maryland detention centers provide ways for inmates to communicate with family, although the rules differ from one facility to another. Many use outside companies for telephone calls, electronic messages, video visits, and commissary deposits. Some allow in-person visits by appointment. Others require visitors to register or complete an approval process. Money sent for commissary is generally placed in an inmate account, but deposits, purchases, and refunds are subject to facility rules. A person transferred from a county jail to a state prison may have to use an entirely different phone or money service. Each county page on this site provides the jail's contact information, inmate search options, visitation rules, telephone services, and instructions for sending money.