Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services
Statewide, Maryland
How we verified this
As of August 2026 the DPSCS transportation and warrant talkgroups on the First Responders Interoperable Radio System Team (FIRST) are in the clear ("7701 MCTU C1 — T") while the Baltimore Central Booking channels are encrypted — "7717 BCBIC 7717 — Central Booking — T Enc", plus 7718 and 7720.
Encryption Details
What This Means
Encryption here is a mixed bag: some talkgroups are locked, others aren't. It varies by channel and by what the department is doing at the time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services radio encrypted?
Yes. Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services uses P25 AES encryption. Encryption here is a mixed bag: some talkgroups are locked, others aren't. It varies by channel and by what the department is doing at the time.
Can I listen to Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services on a police scanner?
Partially. Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services encrypts some of its talkgroups while leaving others open, so some channels may still be accessible. Check RadioReference for specific talkgroup status.
Why did Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services encrypt their radio?
Agencies cite officer safety and operational security. Those are assertions rather than findings — no local evidence is typically produced — while the effects are concrete and land straight away on anyone who relied on hearing Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services to know what was happening nearby.
Can Statewide County reverse the encryption decision?
It can. The radios support open and encrypted operation equally well, so this is a configuration and a policy, not a constraint — and policies set by Statewide County officials are policies those officials can revisit when constituents press for it.
What can I do about Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services encryption?
File a FOIA request for Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services's radio recordings and encryption-decision paperwork, then show up to speak at a council or commission meeting. Find other residents or journalists in Statewide County who want the same access — state legislation requiring public radio access is the longer-term fix, but organized local pressure is what usually moves the needle first.