Title 18Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73

§3242 Indians committing certain offenses; acts on reservations

Title 18 › Part PART II— - CRIMINAL PROCEDURE › Chapter CHAPTER 211— - JURISDICTION AND VENUE › § 3242

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Native Americans who commit those federal crimes in Indian country are tried in U.S. federal courts.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §3242

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

All Indians committing any offense listed in the first paragraph of and punishable under section 1153 (relating to offenses committed within Indian country) of this title shall be tried in the same courts and in the same manner as are all other persons committing such offense within the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

1948 ActBased on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 548 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 328, 35 Stat. 1151; June 1932, ch. 284, 47 Stat. 337). The provisions defining rape in accordance with the law of the State and prescribing imprisonment at the discretion of the court for rape by an Indian upon an Indian are now included in section 1153 of this title. (See also section 6 of this title.) section 549 of said title 18, relating to crimes in Indian reservations in South Dakota, was omitted as covered by section 1153 of this title. Accordingly the last sentence of said section 548, extending this section to prosecutions of Indians in South Dakota, was also omitted as unnecessary because this section is sufficient and applicable. Other provisions of said section 548 are incorporated in section 1151 and 1153 of this title. Minor changes were made in phraseology. 1949 ActThis section [section 51] conforms section 3242 of title 18, U.S.C., with section 1151 and 1153 of such title, thus eliminating inconsistency and ambiguity with respect to the definition of Indian country.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1976—Pub. L. 94–297 substituted provision setting out reference to offenses listed in first paragraph of and punishable under section 1153 of this title, for provision specifically enumerating the covered offenses. 1966—Pub. L. 89–707 added carnal knowledge and assault with intent to commit rape as offenses cognizable within the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States when committed on and within the Indian country. 1949—Act May 24, 1949, substituted “within the Indian country” for “within any Indian reservation, including rights-of-way running through the reservation,”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 3242

Title 18Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73