Montana Charge Code Lookup

Type a Montana 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.

Montana criminal code books and abbreviations

Montana offenses are cited to one main law book:

  • Montana Code Annotated (MCA). Sections are written as title-chapter-part+section (45-5-201), for example 45-5-201, 45-9-102, 61-8-1002. See section 45-5-201

After an arrest in Montana: the first court appearance

A person arrested, with or without a warrant, must be taken without unnecessary delay before the nearest and most accessible judge for an initial appearance. (MCA 46-7-101(1))

(1) A person arrested, whether with or without a warrant, must be taken without unnecessary delay before the nearest and most accessible judge for an initial appearance.

Montana 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 Montana charge code?

Find the number and the abbreviation. MCA is the Montana Code Annotated. A section is written as title-chapter-part+section (45-5-201). The lookup above links the official text.

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

A person arrested, with or without a warrant, must be taken without unnecessary delay before the nearest and most accessible judge for an initial appearance. (MCA 46-7-101(1)).

Sources

Checked against the sources above on October 20, 2026.

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