North Carolina Charge Code Lookup
Type a North Carolina 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.
North Carolina criminal code books and abbreviations
North Carolina offenses are cited to one main law book:
- North Carolina General Statutes (G.S., GS). Sections are written as chapter-section (14-33, 15A-501, 20-138.1), for example 14-33, 90-95, 20-138.1. See section 14-33
After an arrest in North Carolina: the first court appearance
An officer must take a person arrested without a warrant, and anyone arrested on a warrant for purposes of bail, before a judicial official without unnecessary delay. (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-501(2))
Must, with respect to any person arrested without a warrant and, for purpose of setting bail, with respect to any person arrested upon a warrant or order for arrest, take the person arrested before a judicial official without unnecessary delay.
North Carolina 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 North Carolina charge code?
Find the number and the abbreviation. G.S. is the North Carolina General Statutes. A section is written as chapter-section (14-33, 15A-501, 20-138.1). The lookup above links the official text.
How long can you be held in North Carolina before seeing a judge?
An officer must take a person arrested without a warrant, and anyone arrested on a warrant for purposes of bail, before a judicial official without unnecessary delay. (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 15A-501(2)).
Sources
Checked against the sources above on October 20, 2026.
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