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Criminal Resource Manual

266. International Legal Assistance

International legal assistance is the process of obtaining aid from abroad in connection with United States investigations and prosecutions, or from the United States in connection with foreign investigations and prosecutions. Because international legal assistance involves two or more countries (and a corresponding number of legal codes), the process generally is more difficult than domestic evidence gathering and may produce results that differ from the prosecutor's expectations. The Office of International Affairs (OIA) in the Criminal Division was established to help the prosecutor cope with these problems. OIA also oversees the execution of foreign requests for international legal assistance in the United States and advises prosecutors about executing such requests. See USAM 9-15.000 et seq. for information concerning OIA's responsibilities in the area of extradition.

[cited in USAM 9-13.500]