Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 3156: Definitions

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

This statute defines key terms used in federal criminal procedure, including 'judicial officer,' 'offense,' 'felony,' and 'State,' for purposes of applying federal law.

Read the full statutory text
the term “judicial officer” means, unless otherwise indicated, any person or court authorized pursuant to section 3041 of this title , or the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, to detain or release a person before trial or sentencing or pending appeal in a court of the United States, and any judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia; the term “offense” means any criminal offense, other than an offense triable by court-martial, military commission, provost court, or other military tribunal, which is in violation of an Act of Congress and is triable in any court established by Act of Congress; the term “felony” means an offense punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of more than one year; an offense that has as an element of the offense the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or property of another; any other offense that is a felony and that, by its nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense; or any felony under chapter 77, 109A, 110, or 117; and the term “State” includes a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States. the term “judicial officer” means, unless otherwise indicated, any person or court authorized pursuant to section 3041 of this title , or the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, to detain or release a person before trial or sentencing or pending appeal in a court of the United States, and the term “offense” means any Federal criminal offense which is in violation of any Act of Congress and is triable by any court established by Act of Congress (other than a Class B or C misdemeanor or an infraction, or an offense triable by court-martial, military commission, provost court, or other military tribunal).

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.