Find Sex Offenders in St. Mary's County
St. Mary's County sex offender records are publicly accessible through the Maryland statewide registry and managed locally by the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office in Leonardtown. You can search registered sex offenders in St. Mary's County by name, ZIP code, or address using the free public tool run by the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services. This page explains how to use the registry, how to contact the Sheriff's Office for registration matters, what court records are available, and where victims in St. Mary's County can get help.
St. Mary's County Overview
Search St. Mary's County Sex Offender Records
The Maryland sex offender registry is the primary tool for finding registered sex offenders in St. Mary's County. It is free and requires no account. The Maryland DPSCS registry lets you search by county, name, ZIP code, or map area. When you filter by St. Mary's County, results show only offenders with a current registration address in the county. Each result includes a photo, current address, tier level, offense description, and compliance status.
St. Mary's County is a Southern Maryland peninsula bordered by the Potomac River to the west and the Patuxent River to the east. Communities include Leonardtown, Lexington Park, California, and Great Mills, along with smaller rural areas and military-affiliated communities near Patuxent River Naval Air Station. Entering a specific ZIP code and setting a search radius on the registry map is the most useful way to check any specific part of the county. The map view pins each offender's registered address so you can see the geographic distribution.
The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office website at firstsheriff.com provides contact information, registration details, and general law enforcement resources for the county. The screenshot below shows the Sheriff's Office homepage.
The Sheriff's Office site is the primary local resource for residents who need to contact law enforcement about sex offender registration, compliance, or reporting concerns.
For court records tied to sex offense cases in St. Mary's County, the Maryland Judiciary Case Search portal gives free access to both Circuit and District Court records. The screenshot below shows that portal at casesearch.courts.state.md.us.
Case Search is available at all hours. Search by name or case number to find case summaries, charge details, dispositions, and hearing records from St. Mary's County courts.
Note: The National Sex Offender Public Website checks all 50 state registries in a single search, useful when you need to verify whether someone has a registration outside Maryland.
St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office
The St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office is the designated local registration unit for all sex offenders living in the county. All periodic check-ins and initial registrations must be completed through the Criminal Investigation Division (CID) at the Sheriff's headquarters in Leonardtown. The Sheriff's Office is at 23150 Leonard Hall Drive, Leonardtown, MD 20650. The main phone number is 301-475-8000. The non-emergency line is 301-475-8008. The records line is 301-475-8500. The Sheriff's website is firstsheriff.com.
Under CP § 11-705, new registrants must appear within three days of release from a correctional facility, the start of community supervision, or moving into Maryland. That three-day window applies in St. Mary's County. Any change in address, employment, school, vehicle, phone, or email must also be reported within three days under CP § 11-704. Sex offender registration in St. Mary's County is routed through CID, not the general records window. Calling ahead before visiting is always advisable to confirm appointment availability.
St. Mary's County is a single-sheriff jurisdiction. There are no separate police departments in the unincorporated areas. The Sheriff's Office provides all law enforcement services county-wide, including registration compliance checks. If you observe what you believe is a violation of registration requirements, call the main Sheriff's number or the non-emergency line to report it.
| Sheriff's Office Address | 23150 Leonard Hall Drive, Leonardtown, MD 20650 |
|---|---|
| Main Phone | 301-475-8000 |
| Non-Emergency | 301-475-8008 |
| Records Phone | 301-475-8500 |
| Registration Contact | Criminal Investigation Division (CID) |
| Sheriff Website | firstsheriff.com |
St. Mary's County Court Records
St. Mary's County is served by a Circuit Court and a District Court, both in Leonardtown. The Circuit Court handles felony sex offense cases, including first and second degree rape, first and second degree sex offense, and other Tier III charges. The District Court handles misdemeanor sex offenses, protective order applications, and preliminary hearings on felony cases. The combined court phone number for both St. Mary's County courts is 301-475-4568. You can reach the clerk's offices at that number during business hours.
All case records from St. Mary's County Circuit and District Courts are searchable for free through the Maryland Judiciary Case Search. That tool runs 24 hours a day and covers both current and older cases. Standard copy fees at Maryland courts are $0.50 per page for regular copies and $5.00 for certified copies. For in-person access to full case files, visit the clerk's office in Leonardtown during business hours. For certified copies needed for legal proceedings, in-person requests at the clerk's office are generally faster than mail requests.
Failure to register as required is a criminal charge heard in St. Mary's County courts. Under CP § 11-721, a first failure-to-register offense is a misdemeanor with up to three years in jail and a $5,000 fine. A second offense is a felony with up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. Cases are prosecuted by the St. Mary's County State's Attorney, whose office is located in Leonardtown.
Sex Offender Registration in St. Mary's County
Maryland's three-tier system applies uniformly in St. Mary's County. Tier I offenders register for 15 years and verify every six months. Tier II offenders register for 25 years with bi-annual check-ins at the Sheriff's Office. Tier III offenders must register for life and check in every three months. Under CP § 11-707, these registration periods and check-in schedules are set by state law and do not vary by county.
At each in-person check-in, the offender must confirm their current address, employment, vehicle information, phone numbers, and internet identifiers. Initial registration at the CID office requires a photo, fingerprints, and a DNA sample. Homeless offenders with no fixed address must check in weekly at the Sheriff's Office for as long as they lack stable housing. Any change in registered information must be reported within three days of the change.
Residents of St. Mary's County can use the Maryland Sex Offender Alert Line at 1-866-559-8017 to monitor any ZIP code in the state. The line sends automated phone calls when a registered offender moves into the monitored area. iCrimeWatch supports email and phone alerts for a specific address and radius. Both are free. Under CP § 11-717, registration statements are public records and must be provided upon request.
Registered sex offenders in St. Mary's County may not enter school or licensed daycare property without the written permission of the principal or owner under CP § 11-722. This covers all public and private schools and licensed childcare providers throughout the county, including those near Lexington Park and California.
For written requests for a specific registration statement, contact the statewide Sex Offender Registry Unit at P.O. Box 5743, Pikesville, MD 21282-5743, or call 410-585-3600. Fax requests go to 410-653-5690. The unit processes requests under the Maryland Public Information Act and has up to 30 working days to respond.
Victim Services in St. Mary's County
The St. Mary's County Department of Social Services provides victim services for residents affected by sexual assault or abuse. Their 24-hour hotline is 301-475-8888. The DSS office in Leonardtown connects residents with crisis support, emergency assistance, and referrals to counseling and legal advocacy. For victims involved in active criminal cases, the Sheriff's Office can refer you to a victim advocate who can help with court accompaniment, safety planning, and victim compensation paperwork.
VINE at VineLink is available free to any victim who wants to be notified when an incarcerated person's custody status changes. Notifications go by phone call, text, or email. This is a separate tool from the sex offender registry and covers the broader population of people held in Maryland correctional facilities, not only registered sex offenders.
The Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA) at 301-328-7023 maintains a statewide network of providers and can connect St. Mary's County residents with services when local capacity is limited. For out-of-hours crisis support beyond what the DSS hotline covers, MCASA can provide referrals to programs serving Southern Maryland.
Note: Victims of crime in St. Mary's County who are involved in active cases can also contact the State's Attorney's office in Leonardtown for assistance navigating the criminal justice process and understanding their rights.
Nearby Counties
St. Mary's County is bordered by Calvert and Charles counties. Offenders who move across county lines must re-register with the new county's law enforcement within three days of any address change.