Md. Code, Criminal Procedure § 5-101

in effect

(a) This section shall be liberally construed to carry out the purpose of relying on criminal sanctions instead of financial loss to ensure the appearance of a defendant in a criminal case before verdict or pending a new trial. (b) (1) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, if, from all the circumstances, the court believes that a minor or adult defendant in a criminal case will appear as required for trial before verdict or pending trial, the defendant may be released on personal recognizance. (2) A failure to appear as required by personal recognizance is subject to the penalties provided in § 5-211 of this title. (c) A defendant may not be released on personal recognizance if the defendant is charged with: (1) a crime listed in § 5–202(d) of this title after having been convicted of a crime listed in § 5–202(d) of this title; or (2) a crime punishable by life imprisonment without parole.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://mgaleg.maryland.gov/mgawebsite/Laws/StatuteText?article=gcp&section=5-101&enactments=falseFetched: 10/16/2026