---
kind: "section"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 2442"
title: "18"
title_heading: "Crimes and Criminal Procedure"
number: "2442"
heading: "Recruitment or use of child soldiers"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/18/2442"
units:
  - "Part I — Crimes"
  - "Chapter 118 — War Crimes"
---

# §2442. Recruitment or use of child soldiers

- (a) **Offense.—** [Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) knowingly—
  - (1) recruits, enlists, or conscripts a [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) to serve while such [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) is under 15 years of age in an armed force or group; or
  - (2) uses a [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) under 15 years of age to participate actively in hostilities;

  knowing such [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) is under 15 years of age, shall be punished as provided in [subsection (b)](#b).

- (b) **Penalty.—** [Whoever](/usc/18/921.md?p=a-1) violates, or attempts or conspires to violate, [subsection (a)](#a) shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both and, if death of any [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) results, shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for any term of years or for life.
- (c) **Jurisdiction.—** There is jurisdiction over an offense described in [subsection (a)](#a), and any attempt or conspiracy to commit such offense, if—
  - (1) the alleged offender is a [national of the United States](/usc/18/178.md?p=5) (as defined in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ([8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(22)](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-22))) or an [alien](/usc/18/841.md?p=r) lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9) (as defined in [section 101(a)(20)](/usc/8/101.md) of such Act ([8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(20)](/usc/8/1101.md?p=a-20));[^1]
  - (2) the alleged offender is a stateless [person](/usc/18/229F.md?p=5) whose habitual residence is in the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9);
  - (3) the alleged offender is present in the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9), irrespective of the nationality of the alleged offender; or
  - (4) the offense occurs in whole or in part within the [United States](/usc/18/229F.md?p=9).
- (d) **Definitions.—** In this section:
  - (1) **Participate actively in hostilities.—** The term “participate actively in hostilities” means taking part in—
    - (A) combat or military activities related to combat, including sabotage and serving as a decoy, a courier, or at a military checkpoint; or
    - (B) direct support functions related to combat, including transporting supplies or providing other services.
  - (2) **Armed force or group.—** The term “armed force or group” means any army, militia, or other military [organization](/usc/18/2256.md?p=4), whether or not it is [state](/usc/18/31.md?p=a-9)-sponsored, excluding any group assembled solely for nonviolent political association.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. An additional closing parenthesis probably should precede the semicolon.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 110–340, § 2(a)(1), Oct. 3, 2008, 122 Stat. 3735.)