Md. Code, Criminal Law § 9-201
This is the official text of Md. Code, Criminal Law § 9-201, part of Maryland’s Code, Criminal Law — defines crimes and punishments in Maryland.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
§9–201.
Official statutory text
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2) “Political subdivision” includes a:
(i) county;
(ii) municipal corporation;
(iii) bi–county or multicounty agency;
(iv) county board of education;
(v) public authority; or
(vi) special taxing district that is not a homeowners association.
(3) (i) “Public employee” means an officer or employee of:
1. the State; or
2. a political subdivision of the State.
(ii) “Public employee” includes:
1. an executive officer of the State;
2. a judge of the State;
3. a judicial officer of the State;
4. a member or officer of the General Assembly;
5. a member of the police force of Baltimore City or the Department of State Police; and
6. a member, officer, or executive officer of a political subdivision.
(b) A person may not bribe or attempt to bribe a public employee to influence the public employee in the performance of an official duty of the public employee.
(c) A public employee may not demand or receive a bribe, fee, reward, or testimonial to:
(1) influence the performance of the official duties of the public employee; or
(2) neglect or fail to perform the official duties of the public employee.
(d) A person who violates this section is guilty of the misdemeanor of bribery and on conviction:
(1) is subject to imprisonment for not less than 2 years and not exceeding 12 years or a fine not less than $5,000 and not exceeding $25,000 or both;
(2) may not vote; and
(3) may not hold an office of trust or profit in the State.
(e) A person who violates this section is subject to § 5–106(b) of the Courts Article.
(f) (1) A person who violates this section:
(i) is a competent witness; and
(ii) subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, may be compelled to testify against any person who may have violated this section.
(2) A person compelled to testify for the State under paragraph (1) of this subsection is immune from prosecution for a crime about which the person was compelled to testify.
(2) “Political subdivision” includes a:
(i) county;
(ii) municipal corporation;
(iii) bi–county or multicounty agency;
(iv) county board of education;
(v) public authority; or
(vi) special taxing district that is not a homeowners association.
(3) (i) “Public employee” means an officer or employee of:
1. the State; or
2. a political subdivision of the State.
(ii) “Public employee” includes:
1. an executive officer of the State;
2. a judge of the State;
3. a judicial officer of the State;
4. a member or officer of the General Assembly;
5. a member of the police force of Baltimore City or the Department of State Police; and
6. a member, officer, or executive officer of a political subdivision.
(b) A person may not bribe or attempt to bribe a public employee to influence the public employee in the performance of an official duty of the public employee.
(c) A public employee may not demand or receive a bribe, fee, reward, or testimonial to:
(1) influence the performance of the official duties of the public employee; or
(2) neglect or fail to perform the official duties of the public employee.
(d) A person who violates this section is guilty of the misdemeanor of bribery and on conviction:
(1) is subject to imprisonment for not less than 2 years and not exceeding 12 years or a fine not less than $5,000 and not exceeding $25,000 or both;
(2) may not vote; and
(3) may not hold an office of trust or profit in the State.
(e) A person who violates this section is subject to § 5–106(b) of the Courts Article.
(f) (1) A person who violates this section:
(i) is a competent witness; and
(ii) subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, may be compelled to testify against any person who may have violated this section.
(2) A person compelled to testify for the State under paragraph (1) of this subsection is immune from prosecution for a crime about which the person was compelled to testify.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Dealing with a criminal defense matter in Maryland?
See all Maryland Criminal Defense lawyers
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.