---
kind: "section"
citation: "34 U.S.C. § 50101"
title: "34"
title_heading: "Crime Control and Law Enforcement"
number: "50101"
heading: "Application for assistance"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/34/50101"
units:
  - "Subtitle V — Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Personnel"
  - "Chapter 501 — Emergency Federal Law Enforcement Assistance"
---

# §50101. Application for assistance

- (a) **State as applicant—** In the event that a [law enforcement emergency](/usc/34/50102.md?p=3) exists throughout a [State](/usc/34/50102.md?p=4) or a part of a [State](/usc/34/50102.md?p=4), a [State](/usc/34/50102.md?p=4) (on behalf of itself or another appropriate unit of government) may submit an application under this section for [Federal law enforcement assistance](/usc/34/50102.md?p=1).
- (b) **Execution of application; period for action of Attorney General on application—** An application for assistance under this section shall be submitted in writing by the chief executive officer of a [State](/usc/34/50102.md?p=4) to the Attorney General, in a form prescribed by rules issued by the Attorney General. The Attorney General shall, after consultation with the Assistant Attorney General for the [Office](/usc/34/50301.md?p=6) of Justice Programs and appropriate members of the [Federal law enforcement community](/usc/34/50102.md?p=2), approve or disapprove such application not later than 10 days after receiving such application.
- (c) **Criteria—** [Federal law enforcement assistance](/usc/34/50102.md?p=1) may be provided if such assistance is necessary to provide an adequate response to a [law enforcement emergency](/usc/34/50102.md?p=3). In determining whether to approve or disapprove an application for assistance under this section, the Attorney General shall consider—
  - (1) the nature and extent of such emergency throughout a [State](/usc/34/50102.md?p=4) or in any part of a [State](/usc/34/50102.md?p=4),
  - (2) the situation or extraordinary circumstances which produced such emergency,
  - (3) the availability of [State](/usc/34/50102.md?p=4) and local criminal justice resources to resolve the problem,
  - (4) the cost associated with the increased Federal presence,
  - (5) the need to avoid unnecessary Federal involvement and intervention in matters primarily of [State](/usc/34/50102.md?p=4) and local concern, and
  - (6) any assistance which the [State](/usc/34/50102.md?p=4) or other appropriate unit of government has received, or could receive, under any provision of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 [[34 U.S.C. 10101](/usc/34/10101.md) et seq.].

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 609M, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2103; Pub. L. 109–162, title XI, § 1113, Jan. 5, 2006, 119 Stat. 3103.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

The Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, referred to in subsec. (c)(6), is Pub. L. 90–351, June 19, 1968, 82 Stat. 197. Title I of the Act is classified principally to chapter 101 (§ 10101 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title of 1968 Act note set out under section 10101 of this title and Tables.

### Codification

Section was formerly classified to section 10501 of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare, prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section.

### Amendments

2006—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–162 substituted “the Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Justice Programs” for “the Director of the Office of Justice Assistance”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Chapter effective Oct. 12, 1984, see section 609AA(a) of Pub. L. 98–473, set out as a note under section 10101 of this title.