Piracy Laws and the Effective Prosecution of Pirates

Abstract

This Note analyzes the current international legal framework for the punishment and prosecution of maritime piracy. Piracy is an international problem that disrupts global maritime trade and endangers the safety and security of crewmen and ship owners. Although it is a well-recognized principle that each state has universal jurisdiction to prosecute pirates, the conflicting international definitions of piracy and the preponderance of attacks near states that lack resources to effectively prosecute pirates create a gap in enforcement within the international legal framework. This Note proposes that cooperating states should establish regional international piracy tribunals that can apply an appropriate, uniform definition of piracy while providing the judicial resources to enforce international piracy laws.