---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 119"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "119"
heading: "Protection of individuals performing certain official duties"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/119"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 7 — Assault"
---

# §119. Protection of individuals performing certain official duties

- (a) **In General.—** [Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) knowingly makes restricted [personal information](/usc/18/2725.md?p=3) about a covered [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5), or a member of the immediate family of that covered [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5), publicly available—
  - (1) with the intent to threaten, intimidate, or incite the commission of a crime of violence against that covered [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5), or a member of the immediate family of that covered [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5); or
  - (2) with the intent and knowledge that the restricted [personal information](/usc/18/2725.md?p=3) will be used to threaten, intimidate, or facilitate the commission of a crime of violence against that covered [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5), or a member of the immediate family of that covered [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5),

  shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.

- (b) **Definitions.—** In this section—
  - (1) the term “restricted [personal information](/usc/18/2725.md?p=3)” means, with respect to an individual, the Social Security number, the home address, home phone number, mobile phone number, personal email, or home fax number of, and identifiable to, that individual;
  - (2) the term “covered [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5)” means—
    - (A) an individual designated in [section 1114](/usc/18/1114.md);
    - (B) a grand or petit juror, witness, or other [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) in or of, any court of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), or an [officer](/usc/18/202.md?p=c) who may be, or was, serving at any examination or other proceeding before any [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) magistrate judge or other committing magistrate;
    - (C) an informant or witness in a Federal criminal investigation or prosecution; or
    - (D) a [State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9) or local [officer or employee](/usc/18/202.md?p=a) whose restricted [personal information](/usc/18/2725.md?p=3) is made publicly available because of the participation in, or assistance provided to, a Federal criminal investigation by that [officer or employee](/usc/18/202.md?p=a);
  - (3) the term “crime of violence” has the meaning given the term in [section 16](/usc/18/16.md); and
  - (4) the term “immediate family” has the meaning given the term in [section 115(c)(2)](/usc/18/115.md?p=c-2).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 110–177, title II, § 202(a), Jan. 7, 2008, 121 Stat. 2536.)