Get Maryland Record Check

If you are seeking employment or to be licensed within Maryland, your employer or licensing agency must request the background record check. You must: Use the fingerprint cards supplied by your employer or licensing agency, and/or. Have your employer's or licensing agency's authorization number available.

Criminal Background Check - contact the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services at 1-888-795-0011 or online at dpscs.maryland.gov.

Criminal Background Check - contact the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services at 1-888-795-0011 or online at dpscs.maryland.gov.

These so-called “Ban the Box” laws generally require employers to wait to pull criminal background checks until either after the first interview (Maryland, Montgomery County, Prince George's County) or after an offer of conditional employment has been made (District of Columbia, Baltimore City).

You will not see information about arrest records, lawsuits, paid tax liens, civil judgments, or collection accounts that are seven or more years old. Under Maryland law, bankruptcies that predate the background check by 10 or more years will not be reported.

While the requested types of information will vary, most companies in Maryland ask for criminal history information, employment history information, and educational information when they conduct pre-employment screenings.

In most cases result of the state background check is mailed out in less than 10 working days from receipt of the initial approved application.

The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) has clear guidelines for conducting credit history checks and how far back screening can go. In most cases, screening can go back a maximum of seven years, but there are some exceptions to that rule. For example, previous bankruptcies can be reported up to 10 years back.