18 U.S.C. § 3281
Section 3281 · Capital offenses
Amended 2 times on record
Applied in 145 court decisions — leading case Agency Holding Corporation v. Malley-Duff & Associates Inc Crown Life Insurance Company (1987)
Most recently applied in United States v. Michael Harvel (August 2024)
Cases citing this section usually also cite 28 U.S.C. § 1291 · 18 U.S.C. § 3282 · 18 U.S.C. § 3742
How often courts cite this section
Court decisions citing this, by year.Markers show enactment, consequential amendments, and circuit splits over this section — watch for a citation surge after a change or a disagreement. The dip in the last several years is a data-coverage gap, not a real trend — our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so recent citations are undercounted.
An indictment for any offense punishable by death may be found at any time without limitation.
Editorial notes U.S. Code · Office of the Law Revision Counsel
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§581a, 581b (Aug. 4, 1939, ch. 419, §§1, 2, 53 Stat. 1198).
Sections 581a and 581b of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., were consolidated into this section without change of substance.
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 struck out before period at end “except for offenses barred by the provisions of law existing on August 4, 1939”.
Cross References
Fugitives from justice, no limitations applicable, see section 3290 of this title.