2017 US Code
Title 18 - Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Part I - Crimes
Chapter 110A - Domestic Violence and Stalking
Sec. 2261A - Stalking

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Citation 18 U.S.C. § 2261A (2017)
Section Name §2261A. Stalking
Section Text

Whoever—

(1) travels in interstate or foreign commerce or is present within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, or enters or leaves Indian country, with the intent to kill, injure, harass, intimidate, or place under surveillance with intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate another person, and in the course of, or as a result of, such travel or presence engages in conduct that—

(A) places that person in reasonable fear of the death of, or serious bodily injury to—

(i) that person;

(ii) an immediate family member (as defined in section 115) of that person; or

(iii) a spouse or intimate partner of that person; or


(B) causes, attempts to cause, or would be reasonably expected to cause substantial emotional distress to a person described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of subparagraph (A); or


(2) with the intent to kill, injure, harass, intimidate, or place under surveillance with intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate another person, uses the mail, any interactive computer service or electronic communication service or electronic communication system of interstate commerce, or any other facility of interstate or foreign commerce to engage in a course of conduct that—

(A) places that person in reasonable fear of the death of or serious bodily injury to a person described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of paragraph (1)(A); or

(B) causes, attempts to cause, or would be reasonably expected to cause substantial emotional distress to a person described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of paragraph (1)(A),


shall be punished as provided in section 2261(b) of this title.

Source Credit

(Added Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title X, §1069(a), Sept. 23, 1996, 110 Stat. 2655; amended Pub. L. 106–386, div. B, title I, §1107(b)(1), Oct. 28, 2000, 114 Stat. 1498; Pub. L. 109–162, title I, §114(a), Jan. 5, 2006, 119 Stat. 2987; Pub. L. 113–4, title I, §107(b), Mar. 7, 2013, 127 Stat. 77.)

Editorial Notes AMENDMENTS

2013—Pub. L. 113–4 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to stalking.

2006—Pub. L. 109–162 amended section catchline and text generally, revising and restating former provisions relating to stalking so as to include surveillance with intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate which results in substantial emotional distress to a person within the purview of the offense proscribed.

2000—Pub. L. 106–386 reenacted section catchline without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "Whoever travels across a State line or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States with the intent to injure or harass another person, and in the course of, or as a result of, such travel places that person in reasonable fear of the death of, or serious bodily injury (as defined in section 1365(g)(3) of this title) to, that person or a member of that person's immediate family (as defined in section 115 of this title) shall be punished as provided in section 2261 of this title."

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 2013 AMENDMENT

Amendment by Pub. L. 113–4 not effective until the beginning of the fiscal year following Mar. 7, 2013, see section 4 of Pub. L. 113–4, set out as a note under section 2261 of this title.

Publication Title United States Code, 2012 Edition, Supplement 5, Title 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
Category Bills and Statutes
Collection United States Code
SuDoc Class Number Y 1.2/5:
Contained Within Title 18 - CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I - CRIMES
CHAPTER 110A - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND STALKING
Sec. 2261A - Stalking
Contains section 2261A
Date 2017
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 12, 2018
Positive Law Yes
Disposition standard
Statutes at Large References 110 Stat. 2655
114 Stat. 1498
119 Stat. 2987
127 Stat. 77
Public Law References Public Law 104-201, Public Law 106-386, Public Law 109-162, Public Law 113-4
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