§1121 Killing persons aiding Federal investigations or State correctional officers

Summary

Intentionally killing certain people is a federal crime. If you kill a state or local official, a police officer, or any worker who is working with federal agents on a federal criminal investigation — whether the killing happens while they are doing their job, because they did their job, or because they are a public servant — you can be charged. The same applies to anyone who is helping a federal criminal investigation if you kill them while they are giving help and because of that help. If someone in prison intentionally kills a state correctional officer who is doing official duties or because of those duties, and the officer was moving the prisoner across state lines or the prisoner is held for a federal conviction, the killer must get at least 20 years in prison and could get life in prison or the death penalty. State correctional officer: any worker at a jail, prison, or detention center whose job includes custody of inmates. State: any U.S. state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. commonwealths, territories, or possessions.