Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73
§2521 Injunction against illegal interception
Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 119— - WIRE AND ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS INTERCEPTION AND INTERCEPTION OF ORAL COMMUNICATIONS › § 2521
Summary
The Attorney General may file a civil suit in federal court to stop anyone about to commit or who is committing a felony under this chapter. The court must act quickly, can issue temporary orders to prevent serious harm, and follows civil rules unless the person is criminally charged, in which case evidence sharing follows criminal procedure.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §2521
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whenever it shall appear that any person is engaged or is about to engage in any act which constitutes or will constitute a felony violation of this chapter, the Attorney General may initiate a civil action in a district court of the United States to enjoin such violation. The court shall proceed as soon as practicable to the hearing and determination of such an action, and may, at any time before final determination, enter such a restraining order or prohibition, or take such other action, as is warranted to prevent a continuing and substantial injury to the United States or to any person or class of persons for whose protection the action is brought. A proceeding under this section is governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, except that, if an indictment has been returned against the respondent, discovery is governed by the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, referred to in text, are set out in the Appendix to Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure. The Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, referred to in text, are set out in the Appendix to this title.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective 90 days after Oct. 21, 1986, and, in case of conduct pursuant to court order or extension, applicable only with respect to court orders and extensions made after such date, with special rule for State authorizations of interceptions, see section 111 of Pub. L. 99–508, set out as an
Effective Date
of 1986 Amendment note under section 2510 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 2521
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73