48 USC § 1417 - Criminal jurisdiction

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t48/s1417"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_prima_facie"
title: "48 USC § 1417 - Criminal jurisdiction"
title_number: 48
title_name: "TERRITORIES AND INSULAR POSSESSIONS"
section_number: "1417"
section_name: "Criminal jurisdiction"
chapter_number: 8
chapter_name: "GUANO ISLANDS"
positive_law: false
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-17"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(R.S. § 5576.)"
---


# § 1417. Criminal jurisdiction

section 1411 of this title

All acts done, and offenses or crimes committed, on any island, rock, or key mentioned in , by persons who may land thereon, or in the waters adjacent thereto, shall be deemed committed on the high seas, on board a merchant ship or vessel belonging to the United States; and shall be punished according to the laws of the United States relating to such ships or vessels and offenses on the high seas, which laws for the purpose aforesaid are extended over such islands, rocks, and keys.

---

**Source Credit**: (R.S. § 5576.)

## Editorial Notes

### Codification

R.S. § 5576 derived from , .