Title 34 — NavyRelease 119-73

§12601 Cause of action

Title 34 › Subtitle Subtitle I— - Comprehensive Acts › Chapter CHAPTER 121— - VIOLENT CRIME CONTROL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER VIII— - STATE AND LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT › Part Part B— - Police Pattern or Practice › § 12601

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

It is illegal for any government agency, its agents, or people acting for the government to have a pattern of police or juvenile‑justice actions that take away rights protected by the Constitution or federal law. If the Attorney General has reason to believe this is happening, they may sue for the United States in civil court to get orders and a court declaration to stop the practice.

Full Legal Text

Title 34, §12601

Navy — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)It shall be unlawful for any governmental authority, or any agent thereof, or any person acting on behalf of a governmental authority, to engage in a pattern or practice of conduct by law enforcement officers or by officials or employees of any governmental agency with responsibility for the administration of juvenile justice or the incarceration of juveniles that deprives persons of rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution or laws of the United States.

(b)Whenever the Attorney General has reasonable cause to believe that a violation of paragraph (1) 11 So in original. Probably should be “subsection (a) of this section”. has occurred, the Attorney General, for or in the name of the United States, may in a civil action obtain appropriate equitable and declaratory relief to eliminate the pattern or practice.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 14141 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

34 U.S.C. § 12601

Title 34 — Navy

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73