---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 2242"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "2242"
heading: "Sexual abuse"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/2242"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 109A — Sexual Abuse"
---

# §2242. Sexual abuse


[Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1), in the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) or in a Federal [prison](/usc/18/2246.md?p=1), or in any [prison](/usc/18/2246.md?p=1), institution, or facility in which [persons](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) are held in custody by direction of or pursuant to a contract or agreement with the head of any Federal department or agency, knowingly—

- (1) causes another [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) to engage in a [sexual act](/usc/18/2246.md?p=2) by threatening or placing that other [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) in fear (other than by threatening or placing that other [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) in fear that any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) will be subjected to death, [serious bodily injury](/usc/18/2246.md?p=4), or kidnapping);
- (2) engages in a [sexual act](/usc/18/2246.md?p=2) with another [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) if that other [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) is—
  - (A) incapable of appraising the nature of the conduct; or
  - (B) physically incapable of declining participation in, or communicating unwillingness to engage in, that [sexual act](/usc/18/2246.md?p=2); or
- (3) engages in a [sexual act](/usc/18/2246.md?p=2) with another [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) without that other [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5)’s consent, to include doing so through coercion;

or attempts to do so, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for any term of years or for life.


## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 99–646, § 87(b), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3621, and Pub. L. 99–654, § 2, Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3661; amended Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330021(1), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2150; Pub. L. 109–162, title XI, § 1177(a)(3), Jan. 5, 2006, 119 Stat. 3125; Pub. L. 109–248, title II, §§ 205, 207(2), July 27, 2006, 120 Stat. 613, 615; Pub. L. 110–161, div. E, title V, § 554, Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2082; Pub. L. 117–103, div. W, title XII, § 1202(b), Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 924.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

Pub. L. 99–646 and Pub. L. 99–654 added identical sections 2242.

### Amendments

2022—Par. (3). Pub. L. 117–103 added par. (3).

2007—Pub. L. 110–161 substituted “the head of any Federal department or agency” for “the Attorney General” in introductory provisions.

2006—Pub. L. 109–248 inserted comma after “Attorney General” in introductory provisions and substituted “and imprisoned for any term of years or for life” for “, imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both” in concluding provisions.

Pub. L. 109–162 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.

1994—Par. (1). Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “kidnapping” for “kidnaping”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 2022 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 117–103 not effective until Oct. 1 of the first fiscal year beginning after Mar. 15, 2022, see section 4(a) of div. W of Pub. L. 117–103, set out as an Effective Date note under section 6851 of Title 15, Commerce and Trade.