Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73
§2290 Jurisdiction and scope
Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 111A— - DESTRUCTION OF, OR INTERFERENCE WITH, VESSELS OR MARITIME FACILITIES › § 2290
Summary
The United States can prosecute these crimes when the illegal act happens in the U.S. or in U.S. waters. The U.S. can also act when the act happens outside the U.S. but involves a U.S. national, a vessel with a U.S. national aboard, or a U.S. vessel (terms are defined in immigration and maritime law). The law does not cover lawful acts done by or ordered by the U.S. government.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §2290
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)There is jurisdiction, including extraterritorial jurisdiction, over an offense under this chapter if the prohibited activity takes place—
(1)within the United States and within waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; or
(2)outside United States and—
(A)an offender or a victim is a national of the United States (as that term is defined under section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22)); 11 So in original. There probably should be an additional closing parenthesis.
(B)the activity involves a vessel in which a national of the United States was on board; or
(C)the activity involves a vessel of the United States (as that term is defined under section 2 22 See References in Text note below. of the Maritime Drug Law Enforcement Act (46 U.S.C. App. 1903).1
(b)Nothing in this chapter shall apply to otherwise lawful activities carried out by or at the direction of the United States Government.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
section 2 of the Maritime Drug Law
Enforcement
Act, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(C), probably means section 3 of the Maritime Drug Law
Enforcement
Act, Pub. L. 96–350, which was classified to section 1903 of former Title 46, Appendix, Shipping, and was repealed and restated in sections 70502 to 70506 of Title 46, Shipping, by Pub. L. 109–304, §§ 10(2), 19, Oct. 6, 2006, 120 Stat. 1683, 1710. section 70502(b) of Title 46 defines “vessel of the United States”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 2290
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73