42 U.S.C. § 1987 equips the U.S. government with the legal tools to prosecute violators of specific federal laws. This section empowers US Attorneys, Marshals, and other designated officials to take legal action against individuals who break certain statutes. These include sections within Title 42 itself, such as the one prohibiting peonage (forced labor) and violations of voting rights. The law also covers relevant sections of the Revised Statutes, dealing with issues like obstructing justice or interfering with federal court orders. In essence, 42 U.S.C. § 1987 ensures there are designated officials who can pursue legal action against those who break these specific laws.
42 U.S.C. § 1987
The United States attorneys, marshals, and deputy marshals, the United States magistrate judges appointed by the district and territorial courts, with power to arrest, imprison, or bail offenders, and every other officer who is especially empowered by the President, are authorized and required, at the expense of the United States, to institute prosecutions against all persons violating any of the provisions of section 1990 of this title or of sections 5506 to 5516 and 5518 to 5532 of the Revised Statutes, and to cause such persons to be arrested, and imprisoned or bailed, for trial before the court of the United States or the territorial court having cognizance of the offense.
(R.S. § 1982; Mar. 3, 1911, ch. 231, § 291, 36 Stat. 1167; June 25, 1948, ch. 646, § 1, 62 Stat. 909; Pub. L. 90–578, title IV, § 402(b)(2), Oct. 17, 1968, 82 Stat. 1118; Pub. L. 101–650, title III, § 321, Dec. 1, 1990, 104 Stat. 5117.)
