18 U.S.C. § 1581 | Peonage; obstructing enforcement

(a)

Whoever holds or returns any person to a condition of peonage, or arrests any person with the intent of placing him in or returning him to a condition of peonage, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both. If death results from the violation of this section, or if the violation includes kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or the attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, the defendant shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years or life, or both.

(b)

Whoever obstructs, or attempts to obstruct, or in any way interferes with or prevents the enforcement of this section, shall be liable to the penalties prescribed in subsection (a).

June 25, 1948, ch. 645 62 Stat. 772 Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(K)Sept. 13, 1994108 Stat. 2147 Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title II, § 218(a)Sept. 30, 1996110 Stat. 3009–573 Pub. L. 106–386, div. A, § 112(a)(1)Oct. 28, 2000114 Stat. 1486(, ; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Historical and Revision Notes

Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321 35 Stat. 1142Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 444, 445 (, §§ 269, 270, ).

Section consolidates sections 444 and 445 of said title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., with changes in phraseology to amplify and clarify their provisions.

section 2 of this titleReference to persons causing or procuring was omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of “principal” in .

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 106–3862000—Subsec. (a). substituted “20 years” for “10 years” and inserted at end “If death results from the violation of this section, or if the violation includes kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or the attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, the defendant shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years or life, or both.”

Pub. L. 104–2081996—Subsec. (a). substituted “10 years” for “five years”.

Pub. L. 103–3221994—Subsec. (a). substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Pub. L. 104–208, div. C, title II, § 218(d)Sept. 30, 1996110 Stat. 3009–574

section 994 of Title 28Sept. 30, 1996“This section [amending this section and sections 1583, 1584, and 1588 of this title and enacting provisions set out as notes under , Judiciary and Judicial Procedure] and the amendments made by this section shall apply with respect to offenses occurring on or after the date of the enactment of this Act [].”

, , , provided that: