# Justice Manual § 8-3.150: Declinations

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-3.150

## Section

- **Citation:** Justice Manual § 8-3.150
- **Heading:** Declinations
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** DOJ Justice Manual / Title 8: Civil Rights / 8-3.000 - Enforcement Of Civil Rights Criminal Statutes / Justice Manual § 8-3.150

## Text

The United States Attorneys’ Offices may decline cases by orally advising the FBI or other lead
federal investigative agency of the declination. The declination should then be reflected in the investigative report submitted by the FBI or other lead federal investigative agency.

In all cases resulting in death, the Civil Rights Division will obtain the concurrence of the United States Attorney’s Office before closing any such case.

Ultimate declination authority in any case arising under the federal civil rights laws resides with the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. While cases should be declined after coordination between the Civil Rights Division and the United States Attorneys’ Offices, a declination by a United States Attorney’s Office does not bind the Civil Rights Division.

[updated March 2018]

## Nearby sections

- [Justice Manual § 8-3.010 Introduction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-3.010.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-3.100 Coordination of Activities](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-3.100.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-3.120 Staffing Cases](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-3.120.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-3.130 Cases of National Interest](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-3.130.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-3.135 High Profile Civil Rights Incident](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-3.135.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-3.140 Advance Notice/Prior Approvals of Indictments](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-3.140.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-3.141 Certification Provisions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-3.141.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-3.150 Declinations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-3.150.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-3.160 Appeals](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-3.160.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-3.170 Cooperation with State Prosecutions](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-3.170.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-3.180 Subpoenas Issued to FBI Agents or Other Federal Agents](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-3.180.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-3.190 Notification to Parties of Closing File](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-3.190.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-3.195 Production or Disclosure in Federal And State Proceedings of Material or Information in Civil Rights Division Files](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-3.195.md)
- [Justice Manual § 8-3.200 Prior Approvals](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-3.200.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S8-3.150. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.