Maryland Sex Offender Registry

Click on MD Sex Offender Registry to access the registry and conduct a search.

The Maryland Sex Offender's Registry is maintained by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS). It was created as part of the State's effort to protect children and others from those with histories of crimes against children and other sexual offenses.

The Cecil County Sheriff's Office is the designated local law enforcement unit for Cecil County. This office maintains the registration records of sex offenders who reside in Cecil County.

The DPSCS website contains important cautionary information concerning the Sex Offender's Registry. You may access this information directly by clicking here.

Frequently Asked Questions

The DPSCS web site contains answers to the following FAQ's about the Sex Offender Registry.

  • Who Must Register?
  • What About Individuals Who Move Into Maryland?
  • Do Non-Residents Have to Register?
  • When Does Registration Occur?
  • Who Are the "Supervising Authorities"?
  • What Does "Release" Mean in This Law?
  • When Does Registration Begin and How Long Does It Last?
  • What Happens If an Individual Doesn't Register?
  • What Does a Registration Statement Contain?
  • What Happens If a Registrant Changes Address?
  • Who May Obtain Registration Statements or Registration Information?
  • Why would a registrant be removed from the Sex Offender Registry?

Click to access this information.

Summary of Maryland's Law

In response to public safety concerns focusing on child sexual offenders and individuals who commit sexual offenses in general, Congress passed the "Wetterling Act" in 1994.1 Chapter 142 of the Acts of the General Assembly of 1995 was Maryland's first response to the new federal requirements setting out minimum standards for state sex offender registration programs. Since its inception, Maryland's law, codified in the Criminal Procedure Article, §§ 11-701-11-721 of the Annotated Code of Maryland, has been subsequently amended six times, so that it now has become a comprehensive framework reflecting the gradual evolution of federal legislation and corresponding regulations.

Under the law, the Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services is charged with certain responsibilities, among which is the creation and maintenance of a central registry of individuals convicted of certain crimes against children and other sexual offenses. Accordingly, the Department established the Sex Offender Registry Unit which is administered by the Information Technology and Communications Division. This unit maintains the central registry, disseminates information from the central registry, and promotes public education and awareness concerning the availability of information under this law.

Briefly stated, Maryland's registration program encompasses four categories of individuals required to register because of convictions for certain crimes. Registrants may be Maryland residents or non-residents. The minimum term of registration is 10 years. However, some registrants, including those whose crimes are classified as "aggravated" or who have committed a second violation, must register for life. All registrants must re-register at least annually, and there are penalties for failure to register or for providing false information.

Each Maryland County and Baltimore City has a "designated local law enforcement unit" that serves as a local, in-person registration site for Child Sexual Offenders and a mail-in for periodic registration of Sexually Violent Predators.

Resident and non-resident Child Sexual Offenders must register, in person and annually either for ten years or for life, with the designated local law enforcement unit serving the jurisdiction in which the registrant lives or where a non-resident registrant works or attends school.

Sexually Violent Predators are required to submit verification of current address to the designated local law enforcement unit in the jurisdiction in which the registrant lives every 90 days for life.
A copy of a registration statement on record with a designated local law enforcement unit may be obtained from the unit by submitting a written request including the reason for the request.

For a copy of the Maryland Statute click here.