Maryland Charge Code Lookup

Type a Maryland charge code from a booking sheet, jail roster or ticket and see which law book and section it points to, with a link to the official text. It runs in your browser and nothing is stored.

Enter a code to see which law book it comes from and open the official text.

Maryland criminal code books and abbreviations

Maryland defines offenses in more than one law book, so the abbreviation on the record tells you which one:

  • Maryland Code, Criminal Law Article (Md. Code, Crim. Law, CR). Sections are written as title-section (3-202), for example 3-202, 5-601, 7-104. See section 3-202
  • Maryland Code, Transportation Article (TR, Md. Code, Transp.). Sections are written as title-section (21-902), for example 21-902, 16-303, 20-102. See section 21-902
  • Maryland Code, Criminal Procedure Article (CP). Sections are written as title-section (5-202), for example 5-202, 2-101, 4-202. See section 5-202

After an arrest in Maryland: the first court appearance

A defendant arrested without a warrant must be taken before a District Court judicial officer without unnecessary delay and within 24 hours. (Md. Rule 4-212(e))

When a defendant is arrested without a warrant, the defendant shall be taken before a judicial officer of the District Court without unnecessary delay and in no event later than 24 hours after arrest.

Maryland courts call this hearing the initial appearance.

What this page does not do

  • It does not look up a person, a booking or a case.
  • It does not say what a charge will lead to; the prosecutor decides what is filed.
  • It collects nothing; what you type stays in your browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I read a Maryland charge code?

Find the number and the abbreviation. Md. Code, Crim. Law is the Maryland Code, Criminal Law Article; TR is the Maryland Code, Transportation Article; CP is the Maryland Code, Criminal Procedure Article. A section is written as title-section (3-202). The lookup above links the official text.

How long can you be held in Maryland before seeing a judge?

A defendant arrested without a warrant must be taken before a District Court judicial officer without unnecessary delay and within 24 hours. (Md. Rule 4-212(e)).

Sources

Checked against the sources above on October 20, 2026.

Know someone who could use this? Share this free tool:

Share: