Criminal Procedure - District Court - Issuance of Summonses and Arrest Warrants

HB 336 amends Maryland law to restrict District Court commissioners from issuing arrest warrants based on applications from anyone other than police officers or State’s Attorneys. It also adds specific circumstances under which warrants may be issued (e.g., if a defendant skipped a summons, is unknown to authorities, or is in custody for another offense). Additionally, the bill increases the penalty for knowingly making false statements about crimes or public safety dangers to officials, raising the maximum jail term from six months to three years. These changes directly affect law enforcement, prosecutors, and individuals who file complaints or reports with authorities.