Caroline County Inmate Population
Caroline County inmate population records are managed by the Caroline County Department of Corrections at their detention center in Denton, Maryland. The facility has a capacity of 132 inmates and handles pretrial detainees along with those serving shorter sentences. Online search options are limited for Caroline County, so you will mostly rely on state tools like the DPSCS locator and Case Search, or call the jail directly. This page walks through how to look up the Caroline County inmate population, request records, and understand the visitation system at the local detention center.
Caroline County Detention Overview
Caroline County Detention Center
The Caroline County Detention Center sits at 101 Gay Street, Denton, MD 21629. The main phone line is 410-479-4120. Central booking has its own line at 410-479-2515. The facility can hold up to 132 inmates. It serves as the only local jail for the county, handling everyone booked in the area from the time of arrest through sentencing or transfer.
The Caroline County Department of Corrections runs this facility under the Sheriff's Office. It holds pretrial detainees, people serving sentences under one year, and inmates waiting for transfer to state custody. The detention center follows Maryland's Correctional Services Article, which sets rules for how county facilities manage their inmate populations. Under Section 8-101, the facility must keep records on every person received, held, or released. These records include the inmate's name, age, charges, sentence, and conduct while in custody.
Caroline County is a smaller county on the Eastern Shore. The detention center reflects that size with its 132-bed capacity. Despite the smaller scale, it follows the same legal framework as larger Maryland jails.
Search Caroline County Inmate Population Online
Caroline County has limited online search options for its inmate population. The county does not run its own inmate search tool on its website. To check who is in custody, your best bet is to call the detention center at 410-479-4120 and ask directly. Staff can tell you if a person is currently held at the facility.
For state-level searches, the DPSCS Incarcerated Individual Locator is a free online tool. It lets you search by name for anyone committed to the Commissioner of Correction. If a Caroline County inmate has been moved to a state prison, this is where you will find them. The locator uses partial name matching, so you do not need the full exact spelling. Keep in mind that people still held at the county level may not show up in this system.
The Maryland Judiciary Case Search is another free tool. It covers criminal, civil, and traffic cases from courts across the state, including the Caroline County Circuit Court and District Court. Search by name, case number, or filing date. You can see charges, hearing dates, and case status. This is not a custody check tool. It shows court records, not who is currently in the jail. But it fills in the legal picture for people in the Caroline County inmate population.
Here is the DPSCS inmate locator search page, which works for finding Caroline County inmates who have been transferred to state facilities.
The tool is free and open to anyone with no login needed.
Note: Since Caroline County lacks its own online inmate search, calling the detention center at 410-479-4120 is the fastest way to check local custody status.
VINELink for Caroline County Inmates
VINELink is a free victim notification tool that covers the Caroline County Detention Center. Search by name, ID, or case number. The system runs around the clock. You can sign up for alerts that notify you by email, text, or phone when an inmate's status changes. Registration is free and anonymous.
This is one of the most useful tools for tracking the Caroline County inmate population since the county itself does not have a web-based roster. Instead of calling the jail every day, you can set up a VINELink alert and get notified when there is a change. The system supports over 200 languages. Their toll-free number is 1-866-277-7477 if you need help setting things up.
Caroline County Inmate Records Requests
You can request Caroline County inmate population records through the Maryland Public Information Act. The PIA representative for the Caroline County Sheriff's Office is Captain James A. Henning. His email is jhenning@carolinemd.org. You can also call 410-479-4120 or send a written request to 101 Gay Street, Denton, MD 21629. All formal records requests go through his office.
Under General Provisions Article Section 4-301, any person can inspect public records at a reasonable time. Section 4-305 lists what inmate data is public. Names, charges, convictions, sentences, and facility placement are available. Medical records, social security numbers, and sealed files are not. Be specific in your request. Include the inmate's full name and date of birth if you have it. The more detail you give, the faster staff can pull the right records.
The first two hours of search and prep work are free under state law. After that, you pay the actual hourly rate of the person doing the work. Copies run at the standard rate. Payment is due before records are handed over. You can ask for a fee waiver under Section 4-308 if your request serves the public interest. Agencies have 30 days to respond to your PIA request, though they can ask for more time with a written reason.
Visiting Caroline County Inmates
The Caroline County Detention Center uses Google Duo for visitation. All visits are video-based. The inmate must start the call. Visitors need to download Google Duo on their phone or tablet before the scheduled visit. There are no in-person visits at this facility.
The visitation schedule is set by housing unit. Each wing has its own days and times. A-Wing visits run on Monday from 1 to 2 PM and Tuesday from 7 to 8 PM. E-Wing gets Monday from 2 to 3 PM and Wednesday from 7 to 8 PM. The medical unit has Monday from 3 to 4 PM and Tuesday from 8 to 9 PM. Male work release inmates visit on Tuesday from 1 to 2 PM and Wednesday from 8 to 9 PM. C-Wing is Tuesday from 2 to 3 PM and Thursday from 7 to 8 PM. F-Wing goes Wednesday from 1 to 2 PM and Monday from 7 to 8 PM.
These times can change. Call the detention center at 410-479-4120 to confirm the schedule before planning a visit. Since the inmate has to start the call, make sure they know when to expect it and that you have Google Duo ready on your end.
Caroline County Inmate Mail and Intake Rules
Mail at the Caroline County Detention Center follows strict rules. All incoming mail is inspected. The county sets guidelines on what can be sent and how it must be packaged. Contact the facility for the most current mail policy, as rules can shift over time.
During the first seven days after booking, inmates can only receive certain items, and they must be in unopened packages. The allowed items are white undershirts, white underpants, white bras without underwire, and white socks. No shoes are allowed. No thermal underwear either. Everything must be white and factory-sealed. After the first week, the facility's regular commissary and mail rules take over. These first-week rules are in place to keep contraband out and make the intake process smoother for the Caroline County inmate population.
Note: All items sent during the first seven days must be white, unopened, and factory-sealed or they will be rejected.
Caroline County Inmate Population and State Tools
The Maryland DPSCS oversees all state-level corrections in Maryland. When a Caroline County inmate gets transferred to state custody, DPSCS takes over their records and housing. Their website has the inmate locator, PIA forms, visitation rules, and statistical reports. The statistics page tracks inmate population counts across all Maryland facilities.
Maryland law under Correctional Services Article Section 1-202 gives the Commissioner of Correction authority over all state correctional facilities. County jails like the Caroline County Detention Center operate under county authority but still follow state rules set out in the Correctional Services Article. This dual system means some records sit at the county level while others are held by the state, depending on where the inmate is in the process.
The Office of Planning, Policy and Research at DPSCS publishes reports on how the inmate population changes over time across the state. These can help you see how Caroline County fits into broader trends. The reports break down numbers by facility, sentence type, gender, and other factors.
Nearby Counties
Caroline County sits on Maryland's Eastern Shore and borders several counties that each maintain their own detention centers and inmate population records.