Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73not60
§4004 Oaths and Acknowledgments
Title 18 › Part III— PRISONS AND PRISONERS › Chapter 301— GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 4004
Summary
Wardens, superintendents, their deputies, chief clerks, and record clerks at federal prisons or correctional facilities can swear in people and witness signatures for the prison’s officers, staff, and inmates. They must not charge or accept any payment for doing this.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §4004
Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The wardens and superintendents, associate wardens and superintendents, chief clerks, and record clerks, of Federal penal or correctional institutions, may administer oaths to and take acknowledgments of officers, employees, and inmates of such institutions, but shall not demand or accept any fee or compensation therefor.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 754 (Feb. 11, 1938, ch. 24, §§ 1, 2, 52 Stat. 28). Section was extended to include superintendents and associate superintendents. Minor changes were made in phraseology. Words “the authority conferred by” were omitted as surplusage.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1984—Pub. L. 98–473 substituted “and record clerks” for “record clerks, and parole officers”. 1955—Act July 7, 1955, permitted chief clerks, record clerks, and parole officers to administer oaths and take acknowledgments.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 1984 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 98–473 effective Nov. 1, 1987, and applicable only to offenses committed after the taking effect of such amendment, see section 235(a)(1) of Pub. L. 98–473, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 3551 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 4004
Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60