STATE PROSECUTOR

ORIGIN & FUNCTIONS

The office of State Prosecutor was established by Constitutional amendment in 1976 (Chapter 612, Acts of 1976, ratified Nov. 2, 1976). An independent unit within the Office of the Attorney General, the State Prosecutor's office began operation in January 1977.


[photo, 300 East Joppa Road, Towson, Maryland] On the State Prosecutor's own initiative, or at the request of the Governor, the Attorney General, the General Assembly, the State Ethics Commission, or a state's attorney, the State Prosecutor investigates and, where warranted, prosecutes criminal offenses involving the honesty and integrity of government officials, employees or institutions, and the electoral process. These include violations of State election, public ethics and conflict of interest laws; bribery laws involving public officials or employees; misconduct in office by public officials or employees; and extortion, perjury, or obstruction of justice related to any of these laws; as well as criminal offenses related to voting in a municipal election.

300 East Joppa Road, Towson, Maryland, May 2004. Photo by Diane F. Evartt.


At the request of the Governor, Attorney General, General Assembly, or a state's attorney, the State Prosecutor also may investigate alleged crimes conducted partly in Maryland and partly in another state, or in more than one county in the State.

If a violation of the criminal law is established, the State Prosecutor makes a confidential report of these findings, with recommendations for prosecution, to the Attorney General and the State's Attorney having jurisdiction. The report need not be made to the State's Attorney, however, if the State Prosecutor alleges offenses were committed by the State's Attorney. If the State's Attorney to whom the report is made fails to file charges within 45 days in accordance with the State Prosecutor's recommendations, the State Prosecutor may initiate prosecution. The State Prosecutor immediately may prosecute the offenses in the report and recommendations if they are alleged to have been committed by a state's attorney.

Nominated by the State Prosecutor Selection and Disabilities Commission, the State Prosecutor is appointed to a six-year term by the Governor with Senate advice and consent (Code Criminal Procedure Article, secs. 14-101 through 14-114).

Maryland Constitutional Offices & Agencies
Maryland Departments
Maryland Independent Agencies
Maryland Executive Commissions, Committees, Task Forces, & Advisory Boards
Maryland Universities & Colleges
Maryland Counties
Maryland Municipalities
Maryland at a Glance


Maryland Manual On-Line

Search the Manual
e-mail: mdmanual@maryland.gov


This web site is presented for reference purposes under the doctrine of fair use. When this material is used, in whole or in part, proper citation and credit must be attributed to the Maryland State Archives. PLEASE NOTE: The site may contain material from other sources which may be under copyright. Rights assessment, and full originating source citation, is the responsibility of the user.


Tell Us What You Think About the Maryland State Archives Website!


[ Archives' Home Page  ||  Maryland Manual On-Line  ||  Reference & Research
||  Search the Archives   ||  Education & Outreach  ||  Archives of Maryland Online ]

Governor     General Assembly    Judiciary     Maryland.Gov

© Copyright May 22, 2023 Maryland State Archives