2021 US Code
Title 18 - Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Part I - Crimes
Chapter 109A - Sexual Abuse
Sec. 2244 - Abusive sexual contact

Download PDF
Citation 18 U.S.C. § 2244 (2021)
Section Name §2244. Abusive sexual contact
Section Text

(a) Sexual Conduct in Circumstances Where Sexual Acts Are Punished by This Chapter.—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 engages in or causes sexual contact with or by another person, if so to do would violate—

(1) subsection (a) or (b) of section 2241 of this title had the sexual contact been a sexual act, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than ten years, or both;

(2) section 2242 of this title had the sexual contact been a sexual act, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than three years, or both;

(3) subsection (a) of section 2243 of this title had the sexual contact been a sexual act, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than two years, or both;

(4) subsection (b) of section 2243 of this title had the sexual contact been a sexual act, shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than two years, or both; or

(5) subsection (c) of section 2241 of this title had the sexual contact been a sexual act, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for any term of years or for life.


(b) In Other Circumstances.—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 engages in sexual contact with another person without that other person's permission shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than two years, or both.

(c) Offenses Involving Young Children.—If the sexual contact that violates this section (other than subsection (a)(5)) is with an individual who has not attained the age of 12 years, the maximum term of imprisonment that may be imposed for the offense shall be twice that otherwise provided in this section.

Source Credit

(Added Pub. L. 99–646, §87(b), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3622, and Pub. L. 99–654, §2, Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3661; amended Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, §7058(a), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4403; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 105–314, title III, §302, Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 2979; Pub. L. 109–162, title XI, §1177(a)(5), (b)(2), Jan. 5, 2006, 119 Stat. 3125; Pub. L. 109–248, title II, §§206(a)(2), 207(2), July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 613, 615; Pub. L. 110–161, div. E, title V, §554, Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2082.)


Editorial Notes EDITORIAL NOTES CODIFICATION

Pub. L. 99–646 and Pub. L. 99–654 added identical sections 2244.

AMENDMENTS

2007—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 110–161 substituted "the head of any Federal department or agency" for "the Attorney General".

2006—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 109–248, §207(2), inserted comma after "Attorney General" in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 109–162, §1177(a)(5), 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.

Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 109–248, §206(a)(2)(A)(i), inserted "subsection (a) or (b) of" before "section 2241 of this title".

Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 109–162, §1177(b)(2), substituted "two years" for "six months".

Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 109–248, §206(a)(2)(A)(ii)–(iv), added par. (5).

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 109–248, §207(2), inserted comma after "Attorney General".

Pub. L. 109–162, §1177(a)(5), (b)(2), 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," and substituted "two years" for "six months".

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 109–248, §206(a)(2)(B), inserted "(other than subsection (a)(5))" after "violates this section".

1998—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 105–314 added subsec. (c).

1994—Subsecs. (a)(4), (b). Pub. L. 103–322 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $5,000".

1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–690 substituted "ten years" for "five years" in par. (1) and "two years" for "one year" in par. (3).

Publication Title United States Code, 2018 Edition, Supplement 3, 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 109A - SEXUAL ABUSE
Sec. 2244 - Abusive sexual contact
Contains section 2244
Date 2021
Laws In Effect As Of Date January 3, 2022
Positive Law Yes
Disposition standard
Statutes at Large References 100 Stat. 3622, 3661
102 Stat. 4403
108 Stat. 2147
112 Stat. 2979
119 Stat. 3125
120 Stat. 613
121 Stat. 2082
Public Law References Public Law 99-646, Public Law 99-654, Public Law 100-690, Public Law 103-322, Public Law 105-314, Public Law 109-162, Public Law 109-248, Public Law 110-161
Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. United States may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.