---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 2246"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "2246"
heading: "Definitions for chapter"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/2246"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 109A — Sexual Abuse"
---

# §2246. Definitions for chapter


As used in this chapter—

- (1) the term “prison” means a correctional, detention, or penal facility;
- (2) the term “sexual act” means—
  - (A) contact between the penis and the vulva or the penis and the anus, and for purposes of this subparagraph contact involving the penis occurs upon penetration, however slight;
  - (B) contact between the mouth and the penis, the mouth and the vulva, or the mouth and the anus;
  - (C) the penetration, however slight, of the anal or genital opening of another by a hand or finger or by any object, with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, or arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5); or
  - (D) the intentional touching, not through the clothing, of the genitalia of another [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) who has not attained the age of 16 years with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, or arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5);
- (3) the term “sexual contact” means the intentional touching, either directly or through the clothing, of the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks of any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) with an intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, or arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5);
- (4) the term “serious bodily injury” means [bodily injury](/usc/18/1515.md?p=a-5) that involves a substantial risk of death, unconsciousness, extreme physical pain, protracted and obvious disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty;
- (5) the term “official detention” means—
  - (A) detention by a Federal [officer or employee](/usc/18/202.md?p=a), or under the direction of a Federal [officer or employee](/usc/18/202.md?p=a), following arrest for an offense; following surrender in lieu of arrest for an offense; following a charge or conviction of an offense, or an allegation or finding of juvenile delinquency; following commitment as a material witness; following civil commitment in lieu of criminal proceedings or pending resumption of criminal proceedings that are being held in abeyance, or pending extradition, deportation, or exclusion; or
  - (B) custody by a Federal [officer or employee](/usc/18/202.md?p=a), or under the direction of a Federal [officer or employee](/usc/18/202.md?p=a), for purposes incident to any detention described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, including transportation, medical diagnosis or treatment, court appearance, work, and recreation;

  but does not include supervision or other control (other than custody during specified hours or days) after release on bail, probation, or parole, or after release following a finding of juvenile delinquency;

- (6) the term “[State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9)” means a [State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9) of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, possession, or territory of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9); and
- (7) the term “Federal law enforcement officer” has the meaning given the term in section 115.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 99–646, § 87(b), Nov. 10, 1986, 100 Stat. 3622, § 2245, and Pub. L. 99–654, § 2, Nov. 14, 1986, 100 Stat. 3662, § 2245; renumbered § 2246 and amended Pub. L. 103–322, title IV, § 40502, title VI, § 60010(a)(1), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 1945, 1972; Pub. L. 105–314, title III, § 301(c), Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 2979; Pub. L. 117–103, div. W, title XII, § 1202(e), Mar. 15, 2022, 136 Stat. 925.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Codification

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

### Amendments

2022—Par. (7). Pub. L. 117–103 added par. (7).

1998—Par. (6). Pub. L. 105–314 added par. (6).

1994—Pub. L. 103–322, § 60010(a)(1), renumbered section 2245 of this title as this section.

Par. (2)(D). Pub. L. 103–322, § 40502, added subpar. (D).

### 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.