Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 1091: Genocide

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

Genocide prohibits intentional acts to destroy a group through killing, injury, forced deportation, birth prevention, or child transfer. Penalties include death, life imprisonment, or up to 20 years imprisonment depending on the act.

Read the full statutory text
kills members of that group; causes serious bodily injury to members of that group; causes the permanent impairment of the mental faculties of members of the group through drugs, torture, or similar techniques; subjects the group to conditions of life that are intended to cause the physical destruction of the group in whole or in part; imposes measures intended to prevent births within the group; or transfers by force children of the group to another group; in the case of an offense under subsection (a)(1), where death results, by death or imprisonment for life and a fine of not more than $1,000,000, or both; and a fine of not more than $1,000,000 or imprisonment for not more than twenty years, or both, in any other case. Whoever directly and publicly incites another to violate subsection (a) shall be fined not more than $500,000 or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. Any person who attempts or conspires to commit an offense under this section shall be punished in the same manner as a person who completes the offense. the offense is committed in whole or in part within the United States; or a national of the United States (as that term is defined in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101 )); an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States (as that term is defined in section 101 of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101 )); a stateless person whose habitual residence is in the United States; or present in the United States. Notwithstanding section 3282, in the case of an offense under this section, an indictment may be found, or information instituted, at any time without limitation.

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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.