Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 2250: Failure to register

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

A sex offender required to register under federal law who knowingly fails to register, update registration, or provide travel information commits a federal offense. Enhanced penalties apply if a crime of violence is also committed.

Read the full statutory text
is required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act; is a sex offender as defined for the purposes of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act by reason of a conviction under Federal law (including the Uniform Code of Military Justice), the law of the District of Columbia, Indian tribal law, or the law of any territory or possession of the United States; or travels in interstate or foreign commerce, or enters or leaves, or resides in, Indian country; and knowingly fails to register or update a registration as required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act; is required to register under the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act ( 42 U.S.C. 16901 et seq.); 1 1 See References in Text note below. knowingly fails to provide information required by the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act relating to intended travel in foreign commerce; and engages or attempts to engage in the intended travel in foreign commerce; uncontrollable circumstances prevented the individual from complying; the individual did not contribute to the creation of such circumstances in reckless disregard of the requirement to comply; and the individual complied as soon as such circumstances ceased to exist. An individual described in subsection (a) or (b) who commits a crime of violence under Federal law (including the Uniform Code of Military Justice), the law of the District of Columbia, Indian tribal law, or the law of any territory or possession of the United States shall be imprisoned for not less than 5 years and not more than 30 years. The punishment provided in paragraph (1) shall be in addition and consecutive to the punishment provided for the violation described in subsection (a) or (b).

Verify at the official source: Federal legislative text

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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.