Title 28 — Judiciary and Judicial ProcedureRelease 119-73

§1915A Screening

Title 28 › Part PART V— - PROCEDURE › Chapter CHAPTER 123— - FEES AND COSTS › § 1915A

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Courts must quickly screen a prisoner's complaint against the government or its employees before the case is put on the court's docket if possible, or as soon as practicable after. The court must identify valid claims or dismiss the complaint or parts of it if (1) it is frivolous, malicious, or lacks a legal claim, or (2) it seeks money from a defendant who is immune. prisoner — a person jailed or detained in connection with criminal charges or supervision (parole, probation, pretrial release, or a diversion program).

Full Legal Text

Title 28, §1915A

Judiciary and Judicial Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The court shall review, before docketing, if feasible or, in any event, as soon as practicable after docketing, a complaint in a civil action in which a prisoner seeks redress from a governmental entity or officer or employee of a governmental entity.

(b)On review, the court shall identify cognizable claims or dismiss the complaint, or any portion of the complaint, if the complaint—

(1)is frivolous, malicious, or fails to state a claim upon which relief may be granted; or

(2)seeks monetary relief from a defendant who is immune from such relief.

(c)As used in this section, the term “prisoner” means any person incarcerated or detained in any facility who is accused of, convicted of, sentenced for, or adjudicated delinquent for, violations of criminal law or the terms and conditions of parole, probation, pretrial release, or diversionary program.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

28 U.S.C. § 1915A

Title 28 — Judiciary and Judicial Procedure

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73