Jurisdiction

Question 1

Jurisdiction of the United States

Answer 1

The United States has the power to criminalize and prosecute crimes that:

(1) Occur anywhere inside its boundaries, including territories;
(2) Occur on the high seas and the “high air”, or;
(3) Are committed by U.S. nationals abroad.

Question 2

Jurisdiction of the states

Answer 2

States can only punish crimes having some connection to the state, e.g.:

(1) A crime that occurs in whole or in part inside the state;
(2) Conduct outside the state that involved an attempt to commit a crime inside the state;
(3) A conspiracy to commit a crime if an overt act occurred within the state.