How to Find and Contact a Loved One in Maryland DPSCS: Inmate Locator, Phone, and Money Guide

The Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services (DPSCS) operates 13 state correctional facilities plus pre-release and community supervision programs. Here is a complete guide for families on finding a loved one, establishing communication, and providing support during incarceration.

Finding Your Loved One: DPSCS Inmate Locator

DPSCS provides a free public inmate locator at dpscs.maryland.gov — navigate to "Inmate/Offender Locator" (also linked at dpscs.state.md.us/corrections). Search by name or DPSCS ID number. The search returns current facility, commitment information, and projected release date for people in state custody.

Newly sentenced individuals are processed through a reception facility before being assigned to a permanent institution — most men go through the Baltimore City Correctional Center or the Metropolitan Transition Center before assignment. Allow a few days to a week for the system to reflect a new placement.

Phone Calls: Securus Technologies

Maryland DPSCS uses Securus Technologies for inmate telephone services at most facilities. To receive calls:

1. Create a free account at securustech.net
2. Register the phone number where you want to receive calls
3. Add funds to your AdvanceConnect balance
4. Make sure your number is on the inmate's approved call list

Inmates call out — you cannot call in. All calls except attorney-client calls are monitored and recorded. Maryland law governs per-minute rates for state prison calls; the Public Service Commission has regulated correctional calling rates.

Sending Money: JPay

DPSCS uses JPay for inmate trust account deposits at Maryland state facilities. To send money:

1. Go to JPay.com and create a free account
2. Search for the inmate by name and DPSCS number under "Maryland DPSCS"
3. Deposit using a credit or debit card — transaction fees apply

Money orders sent by mail directly to the facility are also accepted in most cases, payable to the inmate with their full name and ID on the memo line.

Visiting Maryland State Prisons

Each facility has its own visiting schedule and procedures. General requirements across all DPSCS facilities:

• Approved visitor list — the inmate submits visitor names through their housing officer or case manager
• Valid government-issued photo ID required for all adult visitors
• Dress code enforced — clothing similar to inmate uniforms, camouflage, and revealing clothing are prohibited
• No personal items in the visiting area — leave bags, phones, and wallets in your vehicle or facility lockers

Hours and current visiting status for each facility are at dpscs.maryland.gov. Call ahead — visiting can be suspended or modified due to lockdowns or operational events.

Maryland's 13 State Correctional Facilities

• Western Correctional Institution — Cumberland (maximum security, men)
• North Branch Correctional Institution — Cumberland (maximum security, men)
• Maryland Correctional Training Center — Hagerstown (medium security, men)
• Roxbury Correctional Institution — Hagerstown (medium security, men)
• Maryland Correctional Institution–Jessup — Jessup (medium security, men)
• Patuxent Institution — Jessup (special treatment facility)
• Maryland Correctional Institution for Women — Jessup (all security levels, women)
• Eastern Correctional Institution — Westover (medium/minimum, men)
• Plus several pre-release and minimum-security facilities

Parole in Maryland

The Maryland Parole Commission makes release decisions for eligible inmates. Under Maryland law, most inmates serving life or long sentences have parole eligibility set by statute. Victims and families of victims may attend parole hearings. The Maryland Parole Commission is reached through dpscs.maryland.gov.

DPSCS headquarters: 300 East Joppa Road, Suite 1000, Towson, MD 21286. Main line: (410) 339-5000. Website: dpscs.maryland.gov.

Further reading for families

For practical guidance on supporting your loved one, see our step-by-step guides on how to bail someone out of jail, how to write a letter to an inmate, and why inmate phone calls are so expensive — and what families can do to reduce those costs.

Many of these services are run by private companies. See how the main providers work, including fees and how to sign up: Securus, ViaPath (GTL), JPay, Access Corrections, CorrLinks, GettingOut. For every phone, video, money, mail, and care-package company, browse our full inmate service provider directory.