Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial ProcedureRelease 119-110

§540B Investigation of Serial Killings

Title 28 › PART II — DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE › CHAPTER 33 — FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION › § 540B

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Attorney General and the Director of the FBI can investigate serial killings that violate state or local law if the head of the law enforcement agency with authority over the case asks them to. Killing — conduct that would be murder under federal law if federal jurisdiction applied. Serial killings — three or more killings, with at least one in the United States, that share features suggesting the same person(s). State — any U.S. State, the District of Columbia, or any U.S. commonwealth, territory, or possession.

Full Legal Text

Title 28, §540B

Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In General.—

The Attorney General and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation may investigate serial killings in violation of the laws of a State or political subdivision, if such investigation is requested by the head of a law enforcement agency with investigative or prosecutorial jurisdiction over the offense.

(b)Definitions.—

In this section: (1) Killing.—

(2)Serial killings.—

The term “serial killings” means a series of three or more killings, not less than one of which was committed within the United States, having common characteristics such as to suggest the reasonable possibility that the crimes were committed by the same actor or actors.

(3)State.—

The term “State” means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

28 U.S.C. § 540B

Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110