Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 1071: Concealing person from arrest

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

Federal law prohibits harboring or concealing a person with an outstanding arrest warrant to prevent their arrest. Penalties range up to one year imprisonment for misdemeanor warrants, or up to five years for felony warrants.

Read the full statutory text
Whoever harbors or conceals any person for whose arrest a warrant or process has been issued under the provisions of any law of the United States, so as to prevent his discovery and arrest, after notice or knowledge of the fact that a warrant or process has been issued for the apprehension of such person, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; except that if the warrant or process issued on a charge of felony, or after conviction of such person of any offense, the punishment shall be a fine under this title, or imprisonment for not more than five years, or both.

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.