1st Offense
5 hours of community service
What is a Citation?
A citation is a court summons for certain quality‑of‑life offenses. Instead of an immediate arrest, you are given a citation that requires you to appear in District Court on a specific date. The citation initiative was launched to address quality-of-life offenses in Baltimore. The aim is to change the culture of accountability and improve safety in the City.
Important
This program applies to adults only (18+). Juvenile cases are handled by the Department of Juvenile Services.
Who Can Receive a Citation
You may be eligible for a citation if you:
- Are 18 years or older
- Have no pending charges for crimes of violence or handguns
- Are not on parole or probation for crimes of violence or handguns
Who Can Issue Citations
Citations may be issued by:
- Baltimore City Police Department
- Baltimore City Sheriff's Department
- Transit and special police agencies (MTA, MDTA, Morgan State, Amtrak, UMD, ATC)
What Happens When a Citation Is Issued
A citation for quality-of-life offenses will prompt you to to appear in one of the three Baltimore City district courts for an arraignment.
The Process
- An officer will issue a warning first
- An officer will advise you of your rights
- An officer will issue you a citation
Your Citation Will Include
- The crime for which you are being issued a citation
- The court date, time, and location
- Your constitutional rights
The Charging Process
Attend Your Arraignment
The Judge will arraign your case and give you a trial date within 30-45 days. The State will offer you community service and/or wrap-around services to be completed pending the trial date. You may accept or deny the State's offer.
Get Legal Representation
After your arraignment, you should immediately go to the Commissioner's Office in the courthouse to qualify for the services of the Office of the Public Defender to ensure you have representation your trial date.
Review the State's Offer
If you accept the State's offer to either perform community service or enter into an alternative program, the State will dismiss your charges on the next trial date following the successful completion of both.
Failure to Complete
If you refuse to accept the offer of community service and/or diversion, or fail to complete either once you accept the State's offer, you will face prosecution for the original charge.
Citation Penalties
2nd Offense
10 hours of community service
3rd Offense
Prosecution of the crime
pdf
Citation Offenses and Maximum Penalties
(871 KB)
Download the full list of citation-eligible offenses and their maximum penalties.
Common Citation Offenses
- CDS possession
- Theft (up to $1,500)
- Unlicensed street vending
- Dirt bike–related offenses
- Aggressive panhandling
- Malicious destruction of property (over $1,000)
- Loitering
- Failure to obey a lawful order
- Drinking in public
- Disorderly intoxication
- Trespassing
- Public urination
(This is not a complete list)
Upcoming Citation Docket Arraignment Dates (2026)
Schedule is subject to change due to holidays or court closures.
Hargrove Citations
John R. Hargrove, Sr. District Court Building
700 East Patapsco Avenue, Baltimore, MD
Hargrove Courtroom 1 @ 8:30am
- Thursday, August 20, 2026
- Last issuing date: July 25, 2026
- Thursday, September 17, 2026
- Last issuing date: August 25, 2026
- Thursday, October 22, 2026
- Last issuing date: September 25, 2026
- Thursday, November 19, 2026
- Last issuing date: October 25, 2026
- Thursday, December 17, 2026
- Last issuing date: November 25, 2026
Citations and Transmittal Sheets should be returned to:
Cynthia Mellette, Division Chief
District Court of Maryland
700 East Patapsco Avenue,
Baltimore, MD 21225
(410)-878-8306
Wabash Citations
Borgerding District Court Building
5800 Wabash Avenue, Baltimore, MD
Wabash Courtroom 1 @ 8:30am
- Wednesday, August 19, 2026
- Last issuing date: July 25, 2026
- Wednesday, September 16, 2026
- Last issuing date: August 25, 2026
- Wednesday, October 21, 2026
- Last issuing date: September 25, 2026
- Wednesday, November 18, 2026
- Last issuing date: October 25, 2026
- Wednesday, December 16, 2026
- Last issuing date: November 25, 2026
Citations and Transmittal Sheets should be returned to:
Latasha Davis, Division Chief
District Court of Maryland
5800 Wabash Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21215
(410)-878-8020
Contact Us for Help
For questions or concerns about citations contact us at: