§33. Jurisdiction and venue of actions and offenses

The district courts of the United States shall have jurisdiction over all offenses against this chapter and of all suits of a civil nature arising thereunder, whether the infraction complained of shall have been committed within the territorial waters of the United States or on board a vessel of the United States outside of said waters. From the decrees and judgments of the district courts in actions and suits arising under this chapter appeals shall be allowed as provided by law in other cases. Criminal actions and proceedings for a violation of the provisions of this chapter shall be commenced and prosecuted in the district court for the district within which the offense was committed, and when not committed within any judicial district, then in the district court for the district within which the offender may be found; and suits of a civil nature may be commenced in the district court for any district within which the defendant may be found and shall be served with process.

(Feb. 29, 1888, ch. 17, §13, 25 Stat. 42 ; Jan. 31, 1928, ch. 14, §1, 45 Stat. 54 .)

Codification

Words "and writs of error" after "appeals" deleted in view of section 1 of act Jan. 31, 1928, which abolished writs of error and provided for similar relief by appeal.

Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure

Special venue provisions of section as not affected by rule 18, see Notes of Advisory Committee on Rules set out under rule 18, Title 18, Appendix, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.

Cross References

Venue in civil actions generally, see section 1391 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.