Title 34NavyRelease 119-73not60

§12523 Violent Crime and Drug Emergency Areas

Title 34 › Subtitle Subtitle I— Comprehensive Acts › Chapter 121— VIOLENT CRIME CONTROL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT › Subchapter IV— DRUG CONTROL › § 12523

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The President can declare all or part of a State a violent crime or drug emergency area when violent crime, drug smuggling, trafficking, or drug abuse get so bad that federal help is needed to save lives and protect property and public health. “State” here includes the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands. The top elected official of a State or local government (for the District of Columbia, the mayor) must send a written request to the Attorney General. The request must say the problem is severe enough to need federal help, show what state and local steps and resources have been used, and include a detailed short- and long-term plan with specific goals, timelines, and the kinds and amounts of federal help wanted and how that help will meet the goals. The Attorney General reviews the request, and the President must decide within 30 days. If the President approves, any federal agency can be directed to help by using its people, equipment, money, or services, and the federal government can give technical aid and law‑enforcement information. Federal help can last no more than 1 year, though the local leader can ask for one extension of up to 180 days. The Attorney General was required to issue implementing rules within 120 days after September 13, 1994. Nothing here reduces other powers the President or Attorney General already have.

Full Legal Text

Title 34, §12523

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(a)In this section
“major violent crime or drug-related emergency” means an occasion or instance in which violent crime, drug smuggling, drug trafficking, or drug abuse violence reaches such levels, as determined by the President, that Federal assistance is needed to supplement State and local efforts and capabilities to save lives, and to protect property and public health and safety. “State” means a State, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.
(b)If a major violent crime or drug-related emergency exists throughout a State or a part of a State, the President may declare the State or part of a State to be a violent crime or drug emergency area and may take appropriate actions authorized by this section.
(c)(1)A request for a declaration designating an area to be a violent crime or drug emergency area shall be made, in writing, by the chief executive officer of a State or local government, respectively (or in the case of the District of Columbia, the mayor), and shall be forwarded to the Attorney General in such form as the Attorney General may by regulation require. One or more cities, counties, States, or the District of Columbia may submit a joint request for designation as a major violent crime or drug emergency area under this subsection.
(2)A request made under paragraph (1) shall be based on a written finding that the major violent crime or drug-related emergency is of such severity and magnitude that Federal assistance is necessary to ensure an effective response to save lives and to protect property and public health and safety.
(d)The President shall not limit declarations made under this section to highly populated centers of violent crime or drug trafficking, drug smuggling, or drug use, but shall also consider applications from governments of less populated areas where the magnitude and severity of such activities is beyond the capability of the State or local government to respond.
(e)As part of a request for a declaration under this section, and as a prerequisite to Federal violent crime or drug emergency assistance under this section, the chief executive officer of a State or local government shall—
(1)take appropriate action under State or local law and furnish information on the nature and amount of State and local resources that have been or will be committed to alleviating the major violent crime- or drug-related emergency;
(2)submit a detailed plan outlining that government’s short- and long-term plans to respond to the violent crime or drug emergency, specifying the types and levels of Federal assistance requested and including explicit goals (including quantitative goals) and timetables; and
(3)specify how Federal assistance provided under this section is intended to achieve those goals.
(f)The Attorney General shall review a request submitted pursuant to this section, and the President shall decide whether to declare a violent crime or drug emergency area, within 30 days after receiving the request.
(g)The President may—
(1)direct any Federal agency, with or without reimbursement, to utilize its authorities and the resources granted to it under Federal law (including personnel, equipment, supplies, facilities, financial assistance, and managerial, technical, and advisory services) in support of State and local assistance efforts; and
(2)provide technical and advisory assistance, including communications support and law enforcement-related intelligence information.
(h)(1)Federal assistance under this section shall not be provided to a violent crime or drug emergency area for more than 1 year.
(2)The chief executive officer of a jurisdiction may apply to the President for an extension of assistance beyond 1 year. The President may extend the provision of Federal assistance for not more than an additional 180 days.
(i)Not later than 120 days after September 13, 1994, the Attorney General shall issue regulations to implement this section.
(j)Nothing in this section shall diminish or detract from existing authority possessed by the President or Attorney General.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was formerly classified to section 14053 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. § 12523

Title 34Navy

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60