Massachusetts Charge Code Lookup

Type a Massachusetts 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.

Massachusetts criminal code books and abbreviations

Massachusetts offenses are cited to one main law book:

  • Massachusetts General Laws (MGL, M.G.L.). Sections are written as chapter + section (c. 265, § 13A); section alone (13A), for example 13A, 24, 32A. Official code site

After an arrest in Massachusetts: the first court appearance

A defendant who is arrested and not released must be brought for arraignment before a court that is in session, or at its next session. (Mass. R. Crim. P. 7(a))

A defendant who has been arrested and is not released shall be brought for arraignment before a court if then in session; and if not, at its next session.

Massachusetts courts call this hearing the arraignment.

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.
  • Massachusetts does not publish a free page for every section, so some results link the official code index.
  • It collects nothing; what you type stays in your browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I read a Massachusetts charge code?

Find the number and the abbreviation. MGL is the Massachusetts General Laws. A section is written as chapter + section (c. 265, § 13A); section alone (13A). The lookup above links the official text.

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

A defendant who is arrested and not released must be brought for arraignment before a court that is in session, or at its next session. (Mass. R. Crim. P. 7(a)).

Sources

Checked against the sources above on October 20, 2026.

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