Federal · Title 22 — Foreign Relations and Intercourse

22 U.S.C. § 2715a: Provision of information on certain violent crimes abroad to victims and victims’ families

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

Federal statute requiring the Secretary of State to identify and share information with victims and families regarding violent crimes against U.S. citizens abroad, coordinating across government agencies while protecting national security.

Read the full statutory text
it is in the national interests of the United States to provide information regarding the killing, abduction, torture, or other serious mistreatment of United States citizens abroad to the victims of such crimes, or the families of victims of such crimes if they are United States citizens; and the provision of such information is sufficiently important that the discharge of the responsibility for identifying and disseminating such information should be vested in a cabinet-level officer of the United States Government. identify promptly information (including classified information) in the possession of the departments and agencies of the United States Government regarding the killing, abduction, torture, or other serious mistreatment of United States citizens abroad; and the victims of such crimes; or when appropriate, the family members of the victims of such crimes if such family members are United States citizens. The Secretary shall work with the heads of appropriate departments and agencies of the United States Government in order to ensure that information relevant to a crime covered by subsection (b) is promptly reviewed and, to the maximum extent practicable, without jeopardizing sensitive sources and methods or other vital national security interests, or without jeopardizing an on-going criminal investigation or proceeding, made available under that subsection unless such disclosure is specifically prohibited by law.

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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.