Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 3231: District courts

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

This statute establishes that federal district courts have exclusive jurisdiction over federal criminal offenses, while preserving state court jurisdiction over state law violations.

Read the full statutory text

The district courts of the United States shall have original jurisdiction, exclusive of the courts of the States, of all offenses against the laws of the United States. Nothing in this title shall be held to take away or impair the jurisdiction of the courts of the several States under the laws thereof.

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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.