Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73
§3606 Arrest and return of a probationer
Title 18 › Part PART II— - CRIMINAL PROCEDURE › Chapter CHAPTER 229— - POSTSENTENCE ADMINISTRATION › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER A— - PROBATION › § 3606
Summary
Someone on probation or supervised release can be arrested if there is good reason to think they broke a condition. They must be quickly brought before the court that oversees their case. A probation officer may arrest them anywhere without a warrant, or the supervising court can issue a warrant that officers may enforce in any district.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §3606
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
If there is probable cause to believe that a probationer or a person on supervised release has violated a condition of his probation or release, he may be arrested, and, upon arrest, shall be taken without unnecessary delay before the court having jurisdiction over him. A probation officer may make such an arrest wherever the probationer or releasee is found, and may make the arrest without a warrant. The court having supervision of the probationer or releasee, or, if there is no such court, the court last having supervision of the probationer or releasee, may issue a warrant for the arrest of a probationer or releasee for violation of a condition of release, and a probation officer or United States marshal may execute the warrant in the district in which the warrant was issued or in any district in which the probationer or releasee is found.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective Nov. 1, 1987, and applicable only to offenses committed after the taking effect of this section, see section 235(a)(1) of Pub. L. 98–473, set out as a note under section 3551 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 3606
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73