---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 16"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "16"
heading: "Crime of violence defined"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/16"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 1 — General Provisions"
---

# §16. Crime of violence defined


The term “crime of violence” means—

- (a) an offense that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of [physical force](/usc/18/1515.md?p=a-2) against the [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) or prop­erty of another, or
- (b) any other offense that is a felony and that, by its nature, involves a substantial risk that [physical force](/usc/18/1515.md?p=a-2) against the [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 98–473, title II, § 1001(a), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2136.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Constitutionality

For information regarding the constitutionality of this section, as added by section 1001(a) of Pub. L. 98–473, see the Table of Laws Held Unconstitutional in Whole or in Part by the Supreme Court on the Constitution Annotated website, constitution.congress.gov.