18 U.S.C. § 2241 — Aggravated sexual abuse
submitted 40 years ago by Pub. L. 99-646 to r/title-18-CRIMES-AND-CRIMINAL-PROCEDURE · 538 words · no verdicts yet
This section makes several forms of aggravated sexual abuse in specified federal jurisdictions and custody facilities criminal. The penalties range from any term of years to life, with a minimum 30-year sentence for specified offenses involving children under 12.
(a) By force or threat. In the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, or in a Federal prison* or covered custody facility, a person who knowingly causes another person to engage in a sexual act* by force, or by threatening or causing fear of death, serious bodily injury*, or kidnapping, or attempts to do so, may be fined, imprisoned for any term of years or life, or both. (b) By other means. In those places, a person who knowingly renders another unconscious and engages in a sexual act with that person, or gives that person by force, threat, or without knowledge or permission a drug, intoxicant, or similar substance that substantially impairs the person’s ability to judge or control conduct and then engages in a sexual act with that person, or attempts either, may be fined, imprisoned for any term of years or life, or both. (c) With children. A person who crosses a State* line intending to engage in a sexual act with someone under 12, or knowingly engages in such an act with someone under 12 in those places, or knowingly engages in an (a) or (b) act with someone at least 12 but under 16 who is at least four years younger, or attempts to do so, must be fined and imprisoned for at least 30 years or for life. If previously convicted of another Federal offense under this subsection, or a qualifying State or military offense, the person must receive life imprisonment unless the death penalty is imposed. (d) In a (c) prosecution, the Government need not prove that the defendant knew the other person was under 12.
Whoever, in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States or in a Federal prison*, or in any prison, institution, or facility in which persons are held in custody by direction of or pursuant to a contract or agreement with the head of any Federal department* or agency*, knowingly causes another person to engage in a sexual act*—
by using force against that other person; or
by threatening or placing that other person in fear that any person will be subjected to death, serious bodily injury*, or kidnapping;
or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for any term of years or life, or both.
Whoever, in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States or in a Federal prison, or in any prison, institution, or facility in which persons are held in custody by direction of or pursuant to a contract or agreement with the head of any Federal department or agency, knowingly—
renders another person unconscious and thereby engages in a sexual act with that other person; or
administers to another person by force or threat of force, or without the knowledge or permission of that person, a drug, intoxicant, or other similar substance and thereby—
substantially impairs the ability of that other person to appraise or control conduct; and
engages in a sexual act with that other person;
or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for any term of years or life, or both.
Whoever crosses a State* line with intent to engage in a sexual act with a person who has not attained the age of 12 years, or in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States or in a Federal prison, or in any prison, institution, or facility in which persons are held in custody by direction of or pursuant to a contract or agreement with the head of any Federal department or agency, knowingly engages in a sexual act with another person who has not attained the age of 12 years, or knowingly engages in a sexual act under the circumstances described in subsections (a) and (b) with another person who has attained the age of 12 years but has not attained the age of 16 years (and is at least 4 years younger than the person so engaging), or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for not less than 30 years or for life. If the defendant has previously been convicted of another Federal offense under this subsection, or of a State offense or an offense under the Uniform Code of Military Justice that would have been an offense under any such provision had the offense occurred in a Federal prison, unless the death penalty is imposed, the defendant shall be sentenced to life in prison.
In a prosecution under subsection (c) of this section, the Government need not prove that the defendant knew that the other person engaging in the sexual act had not attained the age of 12 years.
Source credit: (Added Pub. L. 99–646, § 87(b), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3620, and Pub. L. 99–654, § 2, Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3660; amended Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330021(1), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2150; Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(a) [title I, § 121[7(b)]], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009, 3009–26, 3009–31; Pub. L. 105–314, title III, § 301(a), Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 2978; Pub. L. 109–162, title XI, § 1177(a)(1), (2), Jan. 5, 2006, 119 Stat. 3125; Pub. L. 109–248, title II, §§ 206(a)(1), 207(2), July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 613, 615; Pub. L. 110–161, div. E, title V, § 554, Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2082; Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title V, § 569(1), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 1906.)
- 1986Enacted · Pub. L. 99-646 · 100 Stat. 3620
- 1994Amended · Pub. L. 103-322 · 108 Stat. 2150
- 1996Amended · Pub. L. 104-208 · 110 Stat. 3009, 3009
- 1998Amended · Pub. L. 105-314 · 112 Stat. 2978
- 2006Amended · Pub. L. 109-162 · 119 Stat. 3125
- 2006Amended · Pub. L. 109-248 · 120 Stat. 613, 615
- 2007Amended · Pub. L. 110-161 · 121 Stat. 2082
- 2024Amended · Pub. L. 118-159 · 138 Stat. 1906
A history note hasn’t been published yet. The record shows enactment by Pub. L. 99-646 on 1986-11-10.
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