18 USC § 3172 - Definitions

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s3172"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 3172 - Definitions"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "3172"
section_name: "Definitions"
chapter_number: 208
chapter_name: "SPEEDY TRIAL"
part_number: "II"
part_name: "CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 93–619, title I, § 101, Jan. 3, 1975, 88 Stat. 2085; amended Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 223(i), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2029; Pub. L. 101–650, title III, § 321, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5117.)"
---


# § 3172. Definitions

As used in this chapter—

**(1)** the terms “judge” or “judicial officer” mean, unless otherwise indicated, any United States magistrate judge, Federal district judge, and

**(2)** the term “offense” means any Federal criminal offense which is in violation of any Act of Congress and is triable by any court established by Act of Congress (other than a Class B or C misdemeanor or an infraction, or an offense triable by court-martial, military commission, provost court, or other military tribunal).

---

**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 93–619, title I, § 101, Jan. 3, 1975, 88 Stat. 2085; amended Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 223(i), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2029; Pub. L. 101–650, title III, § 321, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5117.)

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1984—Par. (2).  substituted “Class B or C misdemeanor or an infraction” for “petty offense as defined in ”.

## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Change of Name

“United States magistrate judge” substituted for “United States magistrate” in par. (1) pursuant to , set out as a note under , Judiciary and Judicial Procedure.

### Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by  effective , and applicable only to offenses committed after the taking effect of such amendment, see , set out as an Effective Date note under .