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Code · U.S. Code · Title 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE · CHAPTER 109A— SEXUAL ABUSE · § 2241

§ 2241. Aggravated sexual abuse

1,267 words·~6 min read·/usc/title-18/section-2241

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

(a)By Force or Threat.— 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—
(1)by using force against that other person; or
(2)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.
(b)By Other Means.— 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—
(1)renders another person unconscious and thereby engages in a sexual act with that other person; or
(2)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—
(A)substantially impairs the ability of that other person to appraise or control conduct; and
(B)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.
(c)With Children.— 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.
(d)State of Mind Proof Requirement.— 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.
(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.)
Connections164 cite this · traces to 1
Cited by 164 sections · top 44
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35 references not yet in our index
  • Pub. L. 99–646, § 87(b)
  • 100 Stat. 3620
  • Pub. L. 99–654, § 2
  • 100 Stat. 3660
  • Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330021(1)
  • 108 Stat. 2150
  • Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(a) [title I, § 121[7(b)]
  • 110 Stat. 3009
  • Pub. L. 105–314, title III, § 301(a)
  • 112 Stat. 2978
  • Pub. L. 109–162, title XI, § 1177(a)(1)
  • 119 Stat. 3125
  • Pub. L. 109–248, title II
  • 120 Stat. 613
  • Pub. L. 110–161, div. E, title V, § 554
  • 121 Stat. 2082
  • 138 Stat. 1906
  • Pub. L. 99–646
  • Pub. L. 99–654
  • Pub. L. 110–161
  • Pub. L. 109–248, § 207(2)
  • Pub. L. 109–162, § 1177(a)(1)
  • Pub. L. 109–248
  • Pub. L. 109–162, § 1177(a)(2)
  • Pub. L. 105–314
  • Pub. L. 104–208
  • Pub. L. 103–322
  • Pub. L. 99–646, § 87(e)
  • 100 Stat. 3624
  • Pub. L. 99–654, § 4
  • 100 Stat. 3664
  • Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(a) [title I, § 121[7(a)]
  • section 121 of Pub. L. 104–208
  • Pub. L. 99–646, § 87(a)
  • Pub. L. 99–654, § 1
Citation graph
cites case law
§ 2241
Aggravated sexual abuse
Fed. Reg.×142
U.S.C.×11
Stat.×7
C.F.R.×2
Pub. L.×1
Stat. Comp.×1
Pub. L.Pub. L. 99–646, § 87(b)
Stat.100 Stat. 3620
Pub. L.Pub. L. 99–654, § 2
Stat.100 Stat. 3660
Pub. L.Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330021(1)
Cites 36 · showing 6Cited by 164 across 6 sources
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