Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-110

§3239 Optional Venue for Espionage and Related Offenses

Title 18 › PART II — CRIMINAL PROCEDURE › CHAPTER 211 — JURISDICTION AND VENUE › § 3239

Last updated Sep 23, 2026|Official source

Summary

Trials for certain crimes that begin or happen on the high seas, or anywhere outside the borders of any state or district, can be held in the District of Columbia or in any other federal district allowed by law. Those crimes are violations of 18 U.S.C. 793, 794, 798, or 1030(a)(1); section 601 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 421); or section 4(b) or 4(c) of the Subversive Activities Control Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 783(b) or (c)).

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §3239

Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The trial for any offense involving a violation, begun or committed upon the high seas or elsewhere out of the jurisdiction of any particular State or district, of— (1)
(2)section 601 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 421); or
(3)section 4(b) or 4(c) of the Subversive Activities Control Act of 1950 (50 U.S.C. 783(b) or (c));
may be in the District of Columbia or in any other district authorized by law.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The National Security Act of 1947, referred to in par. (2), is act July 26, 1947, ch. 343, 61 Stat. 495, which was formerly classified principally to chapter 15 (§ 401 et seq.) of Title 50, War and National Defense, prior to editorial reclassification in chapter 44 (§ 3001 et seq.) of Title 50. section 601 of this Act is now classified to section 3121 of Title 50. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

Prior Provisions

A prior section 3239, act June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 827, related to threatening communications, prior to repeal by Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 1204(b), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2152.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 3239

Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Sep 23, 2026

Release point: 119-110