Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act

The Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act (MEJA) allows U.S. military and certain government civilian employees to be prosecuted for crimes committed overseas. This law fills gaps where traditional U.S. laws don’t apply, ensuring that military personnel, contractors, and some civilians are accountable for serious offenses, like murder or sexual assault, even when they are outside the U.S. MEJA aims to uphold justice and maintain the rule of law among U.S. personnel abroad, reinforcing accountability for actions that might otherwise go unpunished in foreign jurisdictions.