Title 44, Public Printing and DocumentsRelease 119-102

§317 Special Policemen

Title 44 › CHAPTER 3 — GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE › § 317

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Director of the Government Publishing Office, or someone the Director chooses, can name GPO employees to be special policemen to protect people and property in GPO buildings and nearby areas. Under rules the Director sets, these special policemen can carry weapons, arrest people for breaking United States, the several States, and District of Columbia laws, enforce GPO rules (including removing people who break them), and have the same authority there as the local police.

Full Legal Text

Title 44, §317

Public Printing and Documents, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

The Director of the Government Publishing Office or a delegate of the Director may designate employees of the Government Publishing Office to serve as special policemen to protect persons and property in premises and adjacent areas occupied by or under the control of the Government Publishing Office. Under regulations to be prescribed by the Director of the Government Publishing Office, employees designated as special policemen are authorized to bear and use arms in the performance of their duties; make arrest for violations of laws of the United States, the several States, and the District of Columbia; and enforce the regulations of the Director of the Government Publishing Office, including the removal from Government Publishing Office premises of individuals who violate such regulations. The jurisdiction of special policemen in premises occupied by or under the control of the Government Publishing Office and adjacent areas shall be concurrent with the jurisdiction of the respective law enforcement agencies where the premises are located.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2014—Pub. L. 113–235, § 1301(i)(9), substituted “a delegate of the Director” for “his delegate”. Pub. L. 113–235, § 1301(c)(1), substituted “Director of the Government Publishing Office” for “Public Printer” wherever appearing.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

“Government Publishing Office” substituted for “Government Printing Office” in text on authority of section 1301(b) of Pub. L. 113–235, set out as a note preceding section 301 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

44 U.S.C. § 317

Title 44, Public Printing and Documents

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102