---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 2261B"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "2261B"
heading: "Enhanced penalty for stalkers of children"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/2261B"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 110A — Domestic Violence and Stalking"
---

# §2261B. Enhanced penalty for stalkers of children

- (a) **In General.—** Except as provided in [subsection (b)](#b), if the victim of an offense under [section 2261A](/usc/18/2261A.md) is under the age of 18 years, the maximum imprisonment for the offense is 5 years greater than the maximum term of imprisonment otherwise provided for that offense in section 2261.
- (b) **Limitation.—** [Subsection (a)](#a) shall not apply to a [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) who violates [section 2261A](/usc/18/2261A.md) if—
  - (1) the [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) is subject to a sentence under [section 2261(b)(5)](/usc/18/2261.md?p=b-5); and
  - (2)
    - (A) the [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) is under the age of 18 at the time the offense occurred; or
    - (B) the victim of the offense is not less than 15 nor more than 17 years of age and not more than 3 years younger than the [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) who committed the offense at the time the offense occurred.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 116–249, § 2(a), Dec. 22, 2020, 134 Stat. 1126.)