Title 18Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73not60

§3071 Information for Which Rewards Authorized

Title 18 › Part II— CRIMINAL PROCEDURE › Chapter 204— REWARDS FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING TERRORIST ACTS AND ESPIONAGE › § 3071

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Attorney General can pay rewards for information about terrorist acts that happen mainly inside the United States. A reward may go to anyone whose information helps, anywhere in the world, lead to the arrest or conviction of people who commit, plan, or try to commit terrorism against a U.S. person or U.S. property, or that helps prevent, stop, or successfully resolve such an attack. The Attorney General can also pay rewards for information about espionage that involves or targets the United States. A reward may go to anyone whose information helps, anywhere in the world, lead to the arrest or conviction of people who commit, plan, or try to commit espionage, or that helps prevent or stop an act of espionage.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §3071

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)With respect to acts of terrorism primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States, the Attorney General may reward any individual who furnishes information—
(1)leading to the arrest or conviction, in any country, of any individual or individuals for the commission of an act of terrorism against a United States person or United States property; or
(2)leading to the arrest or conviction, in any country, of any individual or individuals for conspiring or attempting to commit an act of terrorism against a United States person or property; or
(3)leading to the prevention, frustration, or favorable resolution of an act of terrorism against a United States person or property.
(b)With respect to acts of espionage involving or directed at the United States, the Attorney General may reward any individual who furnishes information—
(1)leading to the arrest or conviction, in any country, of any individual or individuals for commission of an act of espionage against the United States;
(2)leading to the arrest or conviction, in any country, of any individual or individuals for conspiring or attempting to commit an act of espionage against the United States; or
(3)leading to the prevention or frustration of an act of espionage against the United States.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–359 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

Pub. L. 98–533, § 1, Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2706, provided that: “This Act [enacting this chapter and section 2708 of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse, amending section 2669, 2678 and 2704 of Title 22, enacting provisions set out as a note under section 5928 of Title 5, Government Organization and Employees and amending provisions set out as a note under section 2651 of Title 22] may be cited as the ‘1984 Act to Combat International Terrorism’.” Attorney General’s Authority To Pay Rewards To Combat Terrorism Pub. L. 107–56, title V, § 501, Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 363, which provided that funds available to Attorney General could be used for payment of rewards to combat terrorism and defend Nation against terrorist acts, in accordance with procedures and

Regulations

established or issued by Attorney General, and set forth conditions in making such rewards, was repealed by Pub. L. 107–273, div. A, title III, § 301(c)(1), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1781.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 3071

Title 18Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60