42 U.S.C. § 3631 | Violations; penalties

Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, by force or threat of force willfully injures, intimidates or interferes with, or attempts to injure, intimidate or interfere with—

(a)

section 3602 of this title section 3602 of this title any person because of his race, color, religion, sex, handicap (as such term is defined in ), familial status (as such term is defined in ), or national origin and because he is or has been selling, purchasing, renting, financing, occupying, or contracting or negotiating for the sale, purchase, rental, financing or occupation of any dwelling, or applying for or participating in any service, organization, or facility relating to the business of selling or renting dwellings; or

(b)

any person because he is or has been, or in order to intimidate such person or any other person or any class of persons from—

(1)

section 3602 of this title section 3602 of this title participating, without discrimination on account of race, color, religion, sex, handicap (as such term is defined in ), familial status (as such term is defined in ), or national origin, in any of the activities, services, organizations or facilities described in subsection (a); or

(2)

affording another person or class of persons opportunity or protection so to participate; or

(c)

section 3602 of this title section 3602 of this title any citizen because he is or has been, or in order to discourage such citizen or any other citizen from lawfully aiding or encouraging other persons to participate, without discrimination on account of race, color, religion, sex, handicap (as such term is defined in ), familial status (as such term is defined in ), or national origin, in any of the activities, services, organizations or facilities described in subsection (a), or participating lawfully in speech or peaceful assembly opposing any denial of the opportunity to so participate—

shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if bodily injury results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both.

Pub. L. 90–284, title IX, § 901Apr. 11, 196882 Stat. 89 Pub. L. 93–383, title VIII, § 808(b)(4)Aug. 22, 197488 Stat. 729 Pub. L. 100–430, § 9Sept. 13, 1988102 Stat. 1635 Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXII, § 320103(e)Sept. 13, 1994108 Stat. 2110 Pub. L. 104–294, title VI, § 604(b)(15)Oct. 11, 1996110 Stat. 3507(, , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , (27), , , 3508.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Pub. L. 104–294, § 604(b)(27)1996—, substituted “under title 18” for “under this title” wherever appearing in closing provisions.

Pub. L. 104–294, § 604(b)(15)Pub. L. 103–322, § 320103(e), made technical amendment to directory language of . See 1994 Amendment note below.

Pub. L. 103–322, § 320103(e)(1)Pub. L. 104–294, § 604(b)(15)1994—, as amended by , which directed amendment in the caption by striking “bodily injury; death;”, could not be executed because the words “bodily injury; death;” do not appear in the section catchline in the original.

Pub. L. 103–322, § 320103(e)(2)Pub. L. 104–294, § 604(b)(15)–(7), as amended by , in concluding provisions, substituted “under this title” for “not more than $1,000,” before “or imprisoned not more than one year”, inserted “from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire” after “bodily injury results”, substituted “under this title” for “not more than $10,000,” before “or imprisoned not more than ten years”, inserted “from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill,” after “death results”, substituted “fined under this title or imprisoned” for “subject to imprisonment” before “for any term of years”, and inserted “, or both” before period at end.

Pub. L. 100–430 section 3602 of this title section 3602 of this title1988—Cls. (a), (b)(1), (c). inserted “, handicap (as such term is defined in ), familial status (as such term is defined in ),” after “sex”.

Pub. L. 93–3831974— inserted “, sex” after “religion” wherever appearing in cls. (a), (b)(1), and (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Pub. L. 104–294Sept. 13, 1994section 604(d) of Pub. L. 104–294 section 13 of Title 18Amendment by effective , see , set out as a note under , Crimes and Criminal Procedure.

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–430Sept. 13, 1988section 13(a) of Pub. L. 100–430 section 3601 of this titleAmendment by effective on 180th day beginning after , see , set out as a note under .

Federally Protected Activities; Penalties

section 101(b) of Pub. L. 90–284 section 245 of Title 18Penalties for violations respecting federally protected activities not applicable to and not affecting activities under fair housing provisions of subchapter I of this chapter, see , set out as a note under , Crimes and Criminal Procedure.