27:
276:
with a dangerous weapon, or extortion accompanied by threats of violence, or attempt to commit any of the foregoing, under the laws of the place from which he flees, or (2) to avoid giving testimony in any criminal proceedings in which a felony is charged. Any person who violates the provisions of this act shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than $ 5,000 or by imprisonment for not longer than 5 years, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Violations of this act may be prosecuted only in the
Federal judicial district in which the original crime to have been committed.
244:
subject to state discretion. On the other hand, a fugitive arrested for a federal crime could be quickly and easily returned to the relevant federal district via federal removal, as arresting officers had national jurisdiction. The lack of a right of law enforcement to cross state lines to pursue a criminal also presented crime-fighting difficulties that could be solved by allowing federal authorities to apprehend fugitives. The crimes the
Fugitive Felon Act was meant to address were primarily those perpetuated by armed groups like the
222:
federal jurisdiction meant that state law enforcement could not cross interstate boundaries in pursuit of a criminal. Although the latter was addressed by the Act by virtue of empowering federal law enforcement to arrest fugitives charged with state crimes, the FFA's other intended goal of circumventing interstate rendition procedures has not been carried out and extradition of captured fugitives to the prosecuting state remains a state affair.
275:
Be it enacted, etc., That it shall be unlawful for any person to move or travel in interstate commerce from any state, territory or possession of the United States, or the
District of Columbia, with intent either (1) to avoid prosecution for murder, kidnaping, burglary, robbery, mayhem, rape, assault
384:
in 1962 reported that less than 0.005 percent of fugitives arrested under the statute were also prosecuted under it. This is because the main purpose of the law is to facilitate the apprehension of state fugitives and to avoid the need for interstate extradition. The rare cases where prosecution for
404:
State or local authorities seeking federal assistance in apprehending a fugitive who has fled the state can file charges alleging unlawful flight on the fugitive's part. If the charges are approved a warrant is issued, allowing for federal assistance. Although the Act was intended to allow national
221:
in
January 1934, and was signed into law in May of that year. The law was intended to hasten the process of apprehending and prosecuting members of armed gangs who could easily move across state lines; pre-existing procedures for interstate rendition were cumbersome and expensive and the lack of
287:
approved an amendment of the bill that expanded its coverage to include fugitives fleeing prosecution for any crime punishable by death or imprisonment for greater than one year in the original jurisdiction. The amendment faced little opposition within the House compared to other crime-related
243:
in the United States saw both an increase in crime and improvements in transportation that made apprehension of criminals more difficult. Interstate fugitives could only be returned to the prosecuting state through rendition, a lengthy and costly process rife with bureaucratic difficulties and
376:
Under its current wording, the
Fugitive Felon Act punishes unlawful flight with a fine and/or a prison sentence of no more than five years. However, sentences under the Act are extremely rare and charges under it are usually dismissed.
405:
authorities to use federal removal to quickly send arrested fugitives to the prosecuting state, rendition remains mostly in the hands of the states, with the FFA being a mechanism for federal authorities to conduct arrests.
225:
Although the FFA lists a punishment for unlawful flight, actual prosecutions under it are rare because the Act is intended as an instrument allowing federal authorities to arrest fugitives fleeing state charges.
333:
that the law only applied to fugitives fleeing a pending prosecution. However, concerns about the Act's power being curtailed were alleviated by two later rulings: both the
264:, on January 11, 1934, as part of a series of thirteen bills to strengthen crime-fighting. The bill, then known as S. 2253, was passed by the Senate on March 29, 1934.
295:
called an "appreciable increase" in apprehended fugitives: in the two years following the amendment the number of located fugitives increased from 1,418 to 2,514.
684:
535:
37:
An Act making it unlawful for any person to flee from one State to another for the purpose of avoiding prosecution or the giving of testimony in certain cases
976:
741:
1019:
943:
353:
361:
368:(claiming that the FFA was too ambiguous for an accused to understand) being alleged before federal courts. All such arguments have been dismissed.
920:
680:
1034:
398:
394:
385:
unlawful flight is sought usually involve multiple federal charges or unusual circumstances, and require written approval from the
774:
446:
206:
that criminalizes interstate flight in order to avoid prosecution or giving testimony in state felony proceedings, a crime termed
707:
390:
1029:
993:
916:
708:"Not undertaking the almost-impossible task: The 1961 Wire Act's development, initial applications, and ultimate purpose"
307:
826:
314:
129:
116:
672:
156:
944:"International Parental Kidnapping: An Overview of Federal Resources to Assist Your Investigation and Prosecution"
82:
317:
was passed in 1980. The PKPA explicitly stated that the
Fugitive Felon Act applied to parental kidnapping cases.
97:
89:
386:
281:
1024:
414:
326:
364:(claiming that the law interfered with law enforcement and extradition powers reserved to the states), and
357:
59:
908:
484:
Criminal
Justice - Who Should Be Responsible for State Fugitives -- the FBI or U.S. Marshals? (Report).
352:
The FFA's constitutionality has been challenged several times since its passage, with violations of the
565:
485:
203:
493:
420:
378:
342:
268:
261:
214:
182:
26:
652:
630:
8:
303:
447:"The United States Marshals Service Role in the Attorney General's War on Violent Crime"
610:
466:
365:
325:
In 1957, the power of the Act was severely restrained when the eastern division of the
123:
593:; Shepherd, Edmund E. (October 1934). "The Problem of Fugitive Felons and Witnesses".
854:
381:
257:
218:
152:
566:"The "Travel Act": A New Statutory Approach to Organized Crime in the United States"
866:
719:
602:
489:
458:
417:, the majority of whom have been charged with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.
160:
830:
256:
The bill that would become the
Fugitive Felon Act was introduced to the Senate by
133:
737:
292:
284:
267:
S. 2253 was passed by the House on May 17, 1934. The bill was signed into law by
240:
349:(1958) ruled that the Act also applied to people fleeing potential prosecution.
870:
423:, similar law allowing for federal assistance in pursuing interstate criminals.
334:
245:
658:
636:
1013:
723:
590:
289:
909:"9-69.460 - Federal Information; Indictment; Removal —Approval Required"
288:
legislation passed around the same time. The amendment resulted in what
957:
788:
755:
614:
549:
470:
101:
536:"The Scope of Federal Criminal Jurisdiction under the Commerce Clause"
606:
462:
712:
Gaming Law Review and
Economics: Regulation, Compliance, and Policy
356:(claiming that the maximum penalty set out by the Act constituted
42:
271:
a day later. In its 1934 formulation, the Act read as follows:
994:"Federal Assistance In The Enforcement Of State Criminal Law"
808:
948:
Department of
Justice Journal of Federal Law and Practice
857:(October 1962). "Three Weapons against Organized Crime".
889:
835:
512:
500:
877:
796:
977:"The Fugitive Felon Act: Its Function and Purpose"
445:Twomey, John J.; Laniewski, Susan A. (Fall 1982).
1011:
681:John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum
444:
371:
775:"Use of the Federal Parental Kidnapping Law"
942:Leonardo, Jennifer Toritto (January 2018).
589:
451:The Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology
1020:United States federal criminal legislation
313:set an exception for such cases until the
427:
302:applies to all state felonies, including
975:
941:
895:
814:
705:
518:
506:
213:The FFA was introduced to the Senate by
117:18 U.S.C.: Crimes and Criminal Procedure
853:
768:
766:
529:
527:
1012:
736:
563:
706:Schwartz, David G. (September 2010).
585:
583:
533:
991:
883:
841:
802:
772:
763:
524:
1035:Presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt
992:Bare, Samuel L. III (Spring 1960).
981:Washington University Law Quarterly
923:from the original on March 18, 2023
917:United States Department of Justice
308:United States Department of Justice
13:
968:
687:from the original on March 7, 2023
649:
627:
580:
315:Parental Kidnapping Prevention Act
14:
1046:
151:in the Senate as S. 2253 by
540:University of Illinois Law Forum
320:
298:Although the Fugitive Felon Act
25:
935:
901:
847:
820:
730:
699:
673:"LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY: JUDICIAL"
665:
564:Miller, Herbert J. Jr. (1963).
643:
621:
557:
488:. September 1986. p. 12.
477:
438:
251:
1:
998:Washington and Lee Law Review
595:Law and Contemporary Problems
432:
415:FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives
327:Northern District of Illinois
234:
773:Hoff, Patricia (June 1982).
746:FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin
358:cruel and unusual punishment
7:
1030:73rd United States Congress
987:(3): 355–367. January 1964.
742:"Message from the Director"
408:
372:Application and enforcement
60:73rd United States Congress
10:
1051:
871:10.1177/001112876200800401
399:Assistant Attorney General
395:Associate Attorney General
331:United States v. Rappaport
229:
486:General Accounting Office
204:United States federal law
144:
139:
122:
112:
107:
88:
78:
73:
65:
54:
41:
33:
24:
16:United States federal law
657:Vol. 80, Page
635:Vol. 80, Page
534:Resch, Tracy W. (1972).
961:(subscription required)
859:Crime & Delinquency
792:(subscription required)
759:(subscription required)
724:10.1089/glre.2010.14708
553:(subscription required)
391:Deputy Attorney General
347:United States v. Lupino
169:on March 29, 1934
956: – via
787: – via
754: – via
548: – via
428:References and sources
421:Federal Kidnapping Act
339:United States v. Bando
278:
343:District of Minnesota
273:
269:Franklin D. Roosevelt
262:Committee on Commerce
215:Committee on Commerce
183:Franklin D. Roosevelt
175:on May 17, 1934
163:) on January 11, 1934
1025:1934 in American law
779:Clearinghouse Review
653:Congressional Record
631:Congressional Record
280:On October 4, 1961,
844:, pp. 164–165.
817:, pp. 365–366.
570:Duquesne Law Review
304:parental kidnapping
140:Legislative history
21:
855:Kennedy, Robert F.
366:Due Process Clause
196:Fugitive Felon Act
20:Fugitive Felon Act
19:
382:Robert F. Kennedy
258:Royal S. Copeland
219:Royal S. Copeland
192:
191:
167:Passed the Senate
153:Royal S. Copeland
91:Statutes at Large
1042:
1005:
988:
963:
962:
955:
939:
933:
932:
930:
928:
919:. January 2020.
905:
899:
893:
887:
881:
875:
874:
851:
845:
839:
833:
824:
818:
812:
806:
800:
794:
793:
786:
770:
761:
760:
753:
738:Hoover, J. Edgar
734:
728:
727:
703:
697:
696:
694:
692:
669:
663:
662:
647:
641:
640:
639:(March 29, 1934)
625:
619:
618:
587:
578:
577:
561:
555:
554:
547:
531:
522:
516:
510:
504:
498:
497:
481:
475:
474:
442:
387:Attorney General
379:Attorney General
354:Eighth Amendment
173:Passed the House
126:sections created
92:
47:
29:
22:
18:
1050:
1049:
1045:
1044:
1043:
1041:
1040:
1039:
1010:
1009:
1008:
971:
969:General sources
966:
960:
940:
936:
926:
924:
907:
906:
902:
894:
890:
882:
878:
852:
848:
840:
836:
825:
821:
813:
809:
801:
797:
791:
771:
764:
758:
740:(August 1964).
735:
731:
704:
700:
690:
688:
671:
670:
666:
648:
644:
626:
622:
607:10.2307/1189657
588:
581:
562:
558:
552:
532:
525:
517:
513:
505:
501:
483:
482:
478:
463:10.2307/1143183
443:
439:
435:
430:
411:
401:to be pursued.
374:
362:Tenth Amendment
341:(1957) and the
323:
293:J. Edgar Hoover
285:John F. Kennedy
260:, chair of the
254:
241:interwar period
237:
232:
208:unlawful flight
188:
185:on May 18, 1934
179:Signed into law
90:
55:Enacted by
45:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1048:
1038:
1037:
1032:
1027:
1022:
1007:
1006:
989:
972:
970:
967:
965:
964:
934:
913:Justice Manual
900:
898:, p. 363.
888:
886:, p. 161.
876:
846:
834:
827:18 U.S.C.
819:
807:
805:, p. 162.
795:
762:
729:
698:
664:
661:(May 17, 1934)
642:
620:
579:
556:
523:
521:, p. 358.
511:
509:, p. 355.
499:
476:
436:
434:
431:
429:
426:
425:
424:
418:
410:
407:
373:
370:
335:Second Circuit
322:
319:
253:
250:
246:Dillinger Gang
236:
233:
231:
228:
198:, abbreviated
190:
189:
187:
186:
176:
170:
164:
145:
142:
141:
137:
136:
130:18 U.S.C.
127:
120:
119:
114:
113:Titles amended
110:
109:
105:
104:
94:
86:
85:
80:
76:
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71:
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63:
62:
56:
52:
51:
48:
39:
38:
35:
31:
30:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1047:
1036:
1033:
1031:
1028:
1026:
1023:
1021:
1018:
1017:
1015:
1004:(1): 161–166.
1003:
999:
995:
990:
986:
982:
978:
974:
973:
959:
953:
949:
945:
938:
922:
918:
914:
910:
904:
897:
896:Wash. U. 1964
892:
885:
880:
872:
868:
864:
860:
856:
850:
843:
838:
832:
828:
823:
816:
815:Wash. U. 1964
811:
804:
799:
790:
785:(2): 139–140.
784:
780:
776:
769:
767:
757:
751:
747:
743:
739:
733:
725:
721:
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686:
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656:
654:
646:
638:
634:
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624:
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612:
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600:
596:
592:
591:Toy, Harry S.
586:
584:
575:
571:
567:
560:
551:
545:
541:
537:
530:
528:
520:
519:Wash. U. 1964
515:
508:
507:Wash. U. 1964
503:
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491:
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452:
448:
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388:
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369:
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363:
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355:
350:
348:
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340:
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332:
328:
321:In the courts
318:
316:
312:
309:
305:
301:
296:
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283:
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263:
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227:
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205:
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197:
184:
181:by President
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99:
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68:
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61:
57:
53:
49:
44:
40:
36:
32:
28:
23:
1001:
997:
984:
980:
951:
947:
937:
925:. Retrieved
912:
903:
891:
879:
862:
858:
849:
837:
822:
810:
798:
782:
778:
749:
745:
732:
715:
711:
701:
689:. Retrieved
676:
667:
651:
645:
629:
623:
598:
594:
573:
569:
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543:
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514:
502:
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351:
346:
338:
330:
324:
310:
299:
297:
290:FBI Director
279:
274:
266:
255:
238:
224:
212:
207:
199:
195:
193:
178:
172:
166:
148:
108:Codification
69:May 18, 1934
46:(colloquial)
831:§ 1073
677:JFK Library
457:(3): 1014.
252:In Congress
134:§ 1073
1014:Categories
958:HeinOnline
865:(4): 324.
789:HeinOnline
756:HeinOnline
718:(7): 537.
650:1934
628:1934
601:(4): 415.
550:HeinOnline
433:References
235:Background
149:Introduced
79:Public law
34:Long title
954:(1): 163.
884:Bare 1960
842:Bare 1960
803:Bare 1960
752:(8): 1–2.
576:(1): 182.
546:(4): 808.
329:ruled in
282:President
217:chairman
74:Citations
66:Effective
921:Archived
685:Archived
409:See also
311:de facto
96:48
43:Acronyms
927:June 4,
691:May 23,
683:. n.d.
615:1189657
471:1143183
300:de jure
230:History
202:, is a
829:
613:
494:103189
492:
469:
306:, the
132:
124:U.S.C.
100:
83:73-234
659:S9006
637:S5737
611:JSTOR
467:JSTOR
397:, or
98:Stat.
985:1964
929:2023
693:2023
544:1972
239:The
194:The
58:the
867:doi
720:doi
603:doi
490:NCJ
459:doi
360:),
345:in
337:in
200:FFA
102:782
50:FFA
1016::
1002:17
1000:.
996:.
983:.
979:.
952:66
950:.
946:.
915:.
911:.
861:.
783:15
781:.
777:.
765:^
750:33
748:.
744:.
716:14
714:.
710:.
679:.
675:.
655:,
633:,
609:.
597:.
582:^
572:.
568:.
542:.
538:.
526:^
465:.
455:73
453:.
449:.
393:,
389:,
248:.
210:.
161:NY
931:.
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869::
863:8
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722::
695:.
617:.
605::
599:1
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496:.
473:.
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159:–
157:D
155:(
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