North Dakota Charge Code Lookup

Type a North Dakota 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 Dakota criminal code books and abbreviations

North Dakota offenses are cited to one main law book:

  • North Dakota Century Code (NDCC, N.D.C.C.). Sections are written as title-chapter-section (12.1-17-01); link opens the chapter PDF, for example 12.1-17-01, 19-03.1-23, 39-08-01. See section 12.1-17-01

After an arrest in North Dakota: the first court appearance

A person making an arrest must take the arrested person without unnecessary delay before the nearest available magistrate. (N.D.R.Crim.P. 5(a)(1))

An officer or other person making an arrest must take the arrested person without unnecessary delay before the nearest available magistrate.

North Dakota 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 Dakota charge code?

Find the number and the abbreviation. NDCC is the North Dakota Century Code. A section is written as title-chapter-section (12.1-17-01); link opens the chapter PDF. The lookup above links the official text.

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

A person making an arrest must take the arrested person without unnecessary delay before the nearest available magistrate. (N.D.R.Crim.P. 5(a)(1)).

Sources

Checked against the sources above on October 20, 2026.

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