# Justice Manual § 9-2.030: Authorizing Prosecution

> Federal · Agency guidance · In force

URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/JM_S9-2.030

## Section

- **Citation:** Justice Manual § 9-2.030
- **Heading:** Authorizing 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 § 9-2.030

## Text

The United States Attorney is authorized to initiate prosecution by filing a complaint, requesting an indictment from the grand jury, and when permitted by law, by filing an information in any case which, in his or her judgment, warrants such action, other than those instances enumerated in
JM 9-2.120
.

In arriving at a decision, the United States Attorney should consider the recommendations for prosecution of the specific offense set forth in the chapters discussing substantive offenses. The recommendations are instructive only and not mandatory.

[updated January 2020] [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_S9-2.030. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.