Criminal law regulation of private military and security companies in the USA

Abstract

The article examines the criminal law regulation of private military and security companies in the United States. The genesis of the emergence of private military and security companies, their functions and principles of activity are considered. The author analyzes the legislative framework that defines the status and position of private military and security companies in the United States. The legal relations of US government agencies with private military and security companies are studied. The author analyzes the US regulations on the joint activities of the US Department of Defense, the Department of Justice and the Department of State on the joint policy governing the powers of private military and security companies, namely, the mechanism of command and control over employees of private military and security companies, including in the collection and analysis of intelligence information. The author identifies topical issues of criminal law regulation of activities and liability of private military and security companies in the United States. The article examines the doctrines of liability that have, in one way or another, provided private military and security companies with the opportunity to protect themselves from prosecution in American courts. Some of the liability rules relate to the immunity of the State from prosecution in any court, both domestic and foreign, which have been repeatedly applied by the United States. Key words: private military companies in the USA, private security companies in the USA, criminal law regulation, regulatory acts of the USA, principles of activity.