Definitions for chapter — Us Code Code § 3127

Us Code Code § 3127 — Definitions for chapter. Reproduced from the official United States Code, with a citation summary, verification link, and related provisions.

§ 3127. Definitions for chapter

As used in this chapter—

(1) the terms "wire communication", "electronic communication", "electronic communication service", and "contents" have the meanings set forth for such terms in section 2510 of this title;

(2) the term "court of competent jurisdiction" means—

(A) any district court of the United States (including a magistrate judge of such a court) or any United States court of appeals that—

(i) has jurisdiction over the offense being investigated;

(ii) is in or for a district in which the provider of a wire or electronic communication service is located;

(iii) is in or for a district in which a landlord, custodian, or other person subject to subsections (a) or (b) of section 3124 of this title is located; or

(iv) is acting on a request for foreign assistance pursuant to section 3512 of this title; or


(B) a court of general criminal jurisdiction of a State authorized by the law of that State to enter orders authorizing the use of a pen register or a trap and trace device;


(3) the term "pen register" means a device or process which records or decodes dialing, routing, addressing, or signaling information transmitted by an instrument or facility from which a wire or electronic communication is transmitted, provided, however, that such information shall not include the contents of any communication, but such term does not include any device or process used by a provider or customer of a wire or electronic communication service for billing, or recording as an incident to billing, for communications services provided by such provider or any device or process used by a provider or customer of a wire communication service for cost accounting or other like purposes in the ordinary course of its business;

(4) the term "trap and trace device" means a device or process which captures the incoming electronic or other impulses which identify the originating number or other dialing, routing, addressing, and signaling information reasonably likely to identify the source of a wire or electronic communication, provided, however, that such information shall not include the contents of any communication;

(5) the term "attorney for the Government" has the meaning given such term for the purposes of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure; and

(6) the term "State" means a State, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and any other possession or territory of the United States.

(Added Pub. L. 99–508, title III, §301(a), Oct. 21, 1986, 100 Stat. 1871, §3126; renumbered §3127, Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, §7092(a)(1), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4410; amended Pub. L. 107–56, title II, §216(c)(1)–(4), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 290; Pub. L. 111–79, §2(3), Oct. 19, 2009, 123 Stat. 2087.)


Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, referred to in par. (5), are set out in the Appendix to this title.

Amendments

2009—Par. (2)(A). Pub. L. 111–79 substituted "that—" and cls. (i) to (iv) for "having jurisdiction over the offense being investigated; or".

2001—Par. (1). Pub. L. 107–56, §216(c)(4), struck out "and" after " 'electronic communication'," and inserted ", and 'contents' " after " 'electronic communication service' ".

Par. (2)(A). Pub. L. 107–56, §216(c)(1), added subpar. (A) and struck out former subpar. (A) which read as follows: "a district court of the United States (including a magistrate judge of such a court) or a United States Court of Appeals; or".

Par. (3). Pub. L. 107–56, §216(c)(2), substituted "dialing, routing, addressing, or signaling information transmitted by an instrument or facility from which a wire or electronic communication is transmitted, provided, however, that such information shall not include the contents of any communication" for "electronic or other impulses which identify the numbers dialed or otherwise transmitted on the telephone line to which such device is attached" and inserted "or process" after "device" wherever appearing.

Par. (4). Pub. L. 107–56, §216(c)(3), inserted "or process" after "means a device" and substituted "or other dialing, routing, addressing, and signaling information reasonably likely to identify the source of a wire or electronic communication, provided, however, that such information shall not include the contents of any communication;" for "of an instrument or device from which a wire or electronic communication was transmitted;".

1988—Pub. L. 100–690 renumbered section 3126 of this title as this section.


Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Section effective 90 days after Oct. 21, 1986, and, in case of conduct pursuant to court order or extension, applicable only with respect to court orders and extensions made after such date, with special rule for State authorizations of interceptions, see section 302 of Pub. L. 99–508, set out as a note under section 3121 of this title.

CHAPTER 207—RELEASE AND DETENTION PENDING JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS

Sec.
3141.
Release and detention authority generally.
3142.
Release or detention of a defendant pending trial.
3143.
Release or detention of a defendant pending sentence or appeal.
3144.
Release or detention of a material witness.
3145.
Review and appeal of a release or detention order.
3146.
Penalty for failure to appear.
3147.
Penalty for an offense committed while on release.
3148.
Sanctions for violation of a release condition.
3149.
Surrender of an offender by a surety.
3150.
Applicability to a case removed from a State court.
[3150a.
Repealed.]
3151.
Refund of forfeited bail.
3152.
Establishment of pretrial services.
3153.
Organization and administration of pretrial services.
3154.
Functions and powers relating to pretrial services.
3155.
Annual reports.
3156.
Definitions.

        

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1988—Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, §7084(b), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4408, added item 3151.

1984—Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §203(e), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 1985, inserted "AND DETENTION PENDING JUDICIAL PROCEEDING" in chapter heading, added new items 3141 to 3150, and struck out former items 3141 to 3151 as follows: item 3141 "Power of courts and magistrates", item 3142 "Surrender by bail", item 3143 "Additional bail", item 3144 "Cases removed from State courts", item 3145 "Parties and witnesses—Rule", item 3146 "Release in noncapital cases prior to trial", item 3147 "Appeal from conditions of release", item 3148 "Release in capital cases or after conviction", item 3149 "Release of material witnesses", item 3150 "Penalties for failure to appear", item 3150a "Refund of forfeited bail", item 3151 "Contempt".

1982—Pub. L. 97–267, §6, Sept. 27, 1982, 96 Stat. 1138, struck out "agencies" after "services" in item 3152, substituted "and administration of pretrial services" for "of pretrial services agencies" in item 3153, "relating to pretrial services" for "of pretrial services agencies" in item 3154, and "Annual reports" for "Report to Congress" in item 3155.

Pub. L. 97–258, §2(d)(3)(A), Sept. 13, 1982, 96 Stat. 1058, added item 3150a.

1975—Pub. L. 93–619, title II, §202, Jan. 3, 1975, 88 Stat. 2089, added items 3153 to 3156, and in item 3152, substituted "Establishment of Pretrial Services Agencies" for "Definitions".

1966—Pub. L. 89–465, §§3(b), 5(e)(1), June 22, 1966, 80 Stat. 216, 217, substituted "RELEASE" for "BAIL" in chapter heading and "Release in noncapital cases prior to trial" for "Jumping Bail" in item 3146, and added items 3147 to 3152.

1954—Act Aug. 20, 1954, ch. 772, §2, 68 Stat. 748, added item 3146.

About This Section

18 U.S.C. § 3127 is part of Title 18 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

This section may be cited in legal writing as 18 U.S.C. § 3127. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.

How to Read This Statute

Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.

Using This Page

This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.

Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

At a glance

Verify the text

Statute text is transcribed from the official United States Code. Confirm it against the primary source before relying on it:

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed Us Code attorney.

Common questions

What is the source of United States Code § 3127?

The text above is transcribed from the United States Code, the codified statutes of Us Code. The official publisher link appears under "Verify the text" on this page.

What subject does United States Code § 3127 address?

It addresses "Definitions for chapter". Read the section together with the surrounding provisions listed under "Nearby provisions" for the full picture.

Is United States Code § 3127 still in force?

Statutes are amended, repealed, and renumbered every session. Confirm the current version at the official Us Code source before relying on this text.

Can this page be used as legal advice?

No. This is a reference transcription for research. Applying Us Code law to your facts requires a licensed Us Code attorney who can review the specifics.