Are U.S. citizens subjects to U.S. law while out of the country?

Question

I'm writing a fiction novel, and I need to know whether or not you can be arrested by the U.S. for murdering a U.S. citizen while out of the country (on an unclaimed island, say.)

Answer 1

US law is only applicable in the 50 states & territories. When outside that jurisdiction a person is subject to the laws of the nation or protectorate they occupy.

Answer 2

As a well-known rule you're subject to the guidelines of the land you're traveling, there are some exceptions, people in the protection rigidity or government. proper trip are predicted to stick to U.S. regulation, as nicely as scholars attending college in distant places international places on U.S. government scholarships, this specifically pertains to drug rules nonetheless. If an American under those situations is in a rustic with lax drug rules they're held to U.S. standards. a lot of companies will drug attempt workers coming back from ecu trip trips and hearth them in the event that they fail, regardless of if the drug use became into in a rustic the place it relatively is criminal.