US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

18 U.S.C. § 2242

Sexual abuse

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)
causes another person to engage in a sexual act by threatening or placing that other person in fear (other than by threatening or placing that other person in fear that any person will be subjected to death, serious bodily injury, or kidnapping);
(2)
engages in a sexual act with another person if that other person is—
(A)
incapable of appraising the nature of the conduct; or
(B)
physically incapable of declining participation in, or communicating unwillingness to engage in, that sexual act; or
(3)
engages in a sexual act with another person without that other person’s consent, to include doing so through coercion;
or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for any term of years or for life.

Pub. L. 99–646, § 87(b)100 Stat. 3621Pub. L. 99–654, § 2100 Stat. 3661Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330021(1)108 Stat. 2150Pub. L. 109–162, title XI, § 1177(a)(3)119 Stat. 3125Pub. L. 109–248, title II120 Stat. 613Pub. L. 110–161, div. E, title V, § 554121 Stat. 2082Pub. L. 117–103, div. W, title XII, § 1202(b)136 Stat. 924(Added , , , and , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , §§ 205, 207(2), , , 615; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

Codification

Pub. L. 99–646Pub. L. 99–654 and added identical sections 2242.

Amendments

Pub. L. 117–1032022—Par. (3). added par. (3).

Pub. L. 110–1612007— substituted “the head of any Federal department or agency” for “the Attorney General” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 109–2482006— inserted comma after “Attorney General” in introductory provisions and substituted “and imprisoned for any term of years or for life” for “, imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both” in concluding provisions.

Pub. L. 109–162 inserted “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 Attorney General” after “in a Federal prison,” in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 103–3221994—Par. (1). substituted “kidnapping” for “kidnaping”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2022 Amendment

Pub. L. 117–103section 4(a) of div. W of Pub. L. 117–103section 6851 of Title 15Amendment by not effective until Oct. 1 of the first fiscal year beginning after , see , set out as an Effective Date note under , Commerce and Trade.