Maryland Warrant Search

Search Maryland Warrants by Name

Maryland, like everywhere else in the United States, issues warrants for a variety of reasons. The most common being Maryland arrest warrants and bench warrants. To begin your Maryland warrant search, you will need the name of the individual you want to look up. Then simply input the person’s name into the public record search form, as well as any additional information you may have about that person. The more information you can input into the search form, the more accurate your results will be. If you find that you get multiple results for your warrant search, you may need to filter those results by a middle name or age. Occasionally there are people with the same name and a middle name or initial is helpful in choosing the correct record. 

Types of Warrants in Maryland

Warrants are legal orders from a judge or magistrate that authorize law enforcement, often the sheriff department, to take a particular action, often related to criminal matters. Understanding the types of warrants, how to look them up, and what steps to take if one is issued against you is helpful information to have on hand. 

• Maryland Arrest Warrants are the most serious of the warrant types. This is an authorization of Maryland law enforcement to arrest someone for an alleged involvement in a crime. These are signed by a judge that has been presented with strong evidence to suggest that a person has committed a crime and needs to be brought to court. That person is then arrested and detained until their court hearing, unless they can make bail. 
• Maryland Bench Warrants are typically summons for a person to appear in court for various reasons such as missing a court date, not complying with jury duty instructions, unpaid court fees, or neglecting a court order. If these are ignored, then they can lead to arrest but for the most part they can be handled by contacting the clerk of the court and following up on the what is requested of them on the bench warrant. 

How to Run a Maryland Arrest Warrant Search

You can perform a Maryland arrest warrant search through a public record website anonymously, which is why this is a popular option for many. Another option is to research active arrest warrants through various law enforcement agencies. The caveat to the latter is you may be arrested on the spot if you are researching your own arrest warrant where a public record site gives you anonymity and an opportunity to talk to an attorney before surrendering yourself if it leads to that. 

How to Run a Maryland Bench Warrant Search

To run a Maryland bench warrant search there are a couple of options. Since these are not typical offenses that result in an arrest, you cannot usually find these by searching through law enforcement websites. You will either need to know the county it was issued and search from the relevant county courthouse website or use a public record resource where you can search statewide.  

What to Do if You Have a Warrant For Your Arrest in Maryland

If you discover there’s a warrant out for your arrest in Maryland, there are some key steps to remember that might be helpful. 

• Consult with a Defense Lawyer: If you are not already arrested, get a criminal defense lawyer. It could help you out quite a bit and save you some jail time. They have a lot of experience in the court room which can be beneficial when planning your defense. 
• Self-Surrender: If your lawyer says it’s in your best interest to turn yourself in, it can sometimes be the best course of action and show the judge that you are respecting the warrant orders. 
• You Have the Right to Remain Silent: If you are arrested or you decide to turn yourself in, remember you have the right to remain silent. Keep your court case conversations between you and your lawyer, this is very important as it may not benefit you to talk to anyone else and could even hurt your criminal defense. 
• Prepare Your Criminal Defense: If you are able to bond out of jail after being arrested or surrendering yourself, use the time before your hearing to best prepare your court battle. Your good name is at stake and if you are convicted of the alleged crime, it can have consequences that transcend through your life. Remember that you are not guilty until proven to be, that is important to remember. You get one chance to get it right so study up and go over every detail of your court case with your lawyer so that when you get to court you are as prepared as possible.

How to Lookup Maryland Warrants Through State Agencies

Maryland warrants are public records, which means the general public can access and view them through state run agencies. Some city, county and state run agencies may have online access to this information but for others, you may need to call in your request or visit an office in person. 

• Maryland Judiciary Case Search: This is an online database provided by the state’s judiciary where one can search for cases and associated warrants in Maryland. A court record of a person’s case can reveal a lot of useful information, and these are all publicly available.
• Local Sheriff’s Office or Police Department: Often, local police departments and county sheriff departments maintain a list of active Maryland warrants. Some jurisdictions might have their lists of fugitives or the state’s most-wanted online, while others might require an in-person visit or phone call to search for these records. 

Maryland Warrants Are Criminal Records

While warrants are public records, they are considered criminal records. A warrant is an order for an action (like an arrest), but even a bench warrant is a violation of the law that is recorded on your public record as a criminal offense.  

That said, a warrant is not a conviction whereas many criminal records are offenses where a conviction, or a guilty plea, is recorded on a person’s criminal record. Some warrants can be removed, or the person found innocent of the alleged crime. It’s important to remember that people are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This means that warrants do not always lead to convictions. 

Conclusion

In wrapping up, getting a grasp on the different kinds of Maryland warrants and how they work is key for making well-informed decisions. Warrants play a pivotal role in the Maryland criminal justice system, acting as a check to make sure police actions have proper legal backing, which protects individuals through 4th amendment to the Constitution. But, if you ever find yourself with a warrant against your name, it’s super important to handle it wisely, armed with the right information and legal guidance. If you are uncertain if you have a warrant and would like to find out, running a background check through a public record website is a great way to go about finding out what records are attached to your good name.

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