# Justice Manual § 9-2.020: Declining Prosecution

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-2.020

## Section

- **Citation:** Justice Manual § 9-2.020
- **Heading:** Declining Prosecution
- **Jurisdiction:** Federal
- **Kind:** Agency guidance
- **Status:** In force
- **Text as of:** August 14, 2026
- **Source:** Compiled text
- **Location:** DOJ Justice Manual / Title 9: Criminal / 9-2.000 - Authority Of The U.S. Attorney In Criminal Division Matters/Prior Approvals / Justice Manual § 9-2.020

## Text

The United States Attorney is authorized to decline prosecution in any case referred directly to him/her by an agency unless a statute provides otherwise.
See
JM 9-2.111
. Whenever a case is closed without prosecution, the United States Attorney's files should reflect the action taken and the reason for it.

[updated June 2018] [cited in
JM 9-2.001
]

## Nearby sections

- [Justice Manual § 9-2.001 Introduction](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-2.001.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-2.010 Investigations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-2.010.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-2.020 Declining Prosecution](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-2.020.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-2.021 Armed Forces Enlistment as an Alternative to Federal Prosecution](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-2.021.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-2.022 Pretrial Diversion as an Alternative to Federal Prosecution](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-2.022.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-2.030 Authorizing Prosecution](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-2.030.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-2.031 Dual and Successive Prosecution Policy ("Petite Policy")](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-2.031.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-2.032 Notification to the Criminal Division of Certain Prosecutions of Attorneys](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-2.032.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-2.040 Dismissal of Complaints](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-2.040.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-2.041 Cancellation of Unexecuted Arrest Warrants](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-2.041.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-2.050 Dismissal of Indictments and Informations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-2.050.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-2.060 Appeals, Mandamus, Stays, Rehearing, Certiorari](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-2.060.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-2.100 Limitations on United States Attorneys](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-2.100.md)
- [Justice Manual § 9-2.101 American Bar Association Standards for Criminal Justice](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-2.101.md)

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-2.020. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.