---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 2426"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "2426"
heading: "Repeat offenders"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/2426"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 117 — Transportation for Illegal Sexual Activity and Related Crimes"
---

# §2426. Repeat offenders

- (a) **Maximum Term of Imprisonment.—** The maximum term of imprisonment for a violation of this chapter after a prior sex offense conviction shall be 3 times the term of imprisonment otherwise provided by this chapter, unless [section 3559(e)](/usc/18/3559.md?p=e) applies.
- (b) **Definitions.—** In this section—
  - (1) the term “prior sex offense conviction” means a conviction for an offense—
    - (A) under this chapter, [chapter 109A](/usc/18/chptI/ch109A.md), [chapter 110](/usc/18/chptI/ch110.md), or [section 1591](/usc/18/1591.md); or
    - (B) under [State](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9) law or the Uniform Code of Military Justice for an offense consisting of conduct that would have been an offense under a chapter referred to in [subparagraph (A)](#b-1-A) if the conduct had occurred within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9); and
  - (2) 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, territory, or possession of the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9).

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 105–314, title I, § 104(a), Oct. 30, 1998, 112 Stat. 2976; amended Pub. L. 108–21, title I, § 106(b), Apr. 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 655; Pub. L. 110–457, title II, § 224(c), Dec. 23, 2008, 122 Stat. 5072; Pub. L. 115–392, § 11(2), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5255; Pub. L. 118–159, div. A, title V, § 569(5), Dec. 23, 2024, 138 Stat. 1906.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

2024—Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 118–159 inserted “or the Uniform Code of Military Justice” after “State law”.

2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–392, § 11(2)(A), substituted “3 times” for “twice”.

Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 115–392, § 11(2)(B), substituted “subparagraph (A)” for “paragraph (1)”.

2008—Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 110–457 substituted “chapter 110, or section 1591” for “or chapter 110”.

2003—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–21 inserted “, unless section 3559(e) applies” before period at end.