Federal · Title 34 — Crime Control and Law Enforcement

34 U.S.C. § 50101: Application for assistance

Civil

What this law says, in plain English

States may request federal law enforcement assistance during emergencies by submitting a written application to the Attorney General, who must approve or deny it within 10 days based on specified criteria.

Read the full statutory text
In the event that a law enforcement emergency exists throughout a State or a part of a State, a State (on behalf of itself or another appropriate unit of government) may submit an application under this section for Federal law enforcement assistance. An application for assistance under this section shall be submitted in writing by the chief executive officer of a State to the Attorney General, in a form prescribed by rules issued by the Attorney General. The Attorney General shall, after consultation with the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs and appropriate members of the Federal law enforcement community, approve or disapprove such application not later than 10 days after receiving such application. the nature and extent of such emergency throughout a State or in any part of a State, the situation or extraordinary circumstances which produced such emergency, the availability of State and local criminal justice resources to resolve the problem, the cost associated with the increased Federal presence, the need to avoid unnecessary Federal involvement and intervention in matters primarily of State and local concern, and any assistance which the State or other appropriate unit of government has received, or could receive, under any provision of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 [ 34 U.S.C. 10101 et seq.].

Verify at the official source: Federal legislative text

Facing this? Know exactly what happens next.

MOFRD turns this code section into your situation: the deadlines that apply to you, the forms your county uses, and the resolution paths people in your position actually take. Free for 3 days — no card required.

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.