Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 250: Penalties for civil rights offenses involving sexual misconduct

Felony

What this law says, in plain English

Federal law prohibits sexual misconduct during civil rights offenses or Fair Housing Act violations, with penalties ranging from 2 years to life imprisonment depending on the type and victim's age.

Read the full statutory text
It shall be unlawful for any person to, in the course of committing an offense under this chapter or under section 901 of the Fair Housing Act ( 42 U.S.C. 3631 ), engage in, or cause another to engage in, sexual misconduct. in the case of an offense involving aggravated sexual abuse, as defined in section 2241, or if the offense involved sexual abuse, as defined in section 2242, or if the offense involved an attempt to commit such aggravated sexual abuse or sexual abuse, fined under this title and imprisoned for any term of years or for life; in the case of an offense involving abusive sexual contact of a child who has not attained the age of 16, of the type prohibited by section 2244(a)(5), fined under this title and imprisoned for any term of years or for life; in the case of an offense involving a sexual act, as defined in section 2246, with another person without the other person’s permission, and it does not amount to sexual abuse or aggravated sexual abuse, be fined under this title and imprisoned for not more than 40 years; fined under this title and imprisoned for not more than 10 years; and if the offense involves a child who has not attained the age of 12 years, imprisoned for not more than 30 years; fined under this title and imprisoned for not more than 3 years; and if the offense involves a child under the age of 12, imprisoned for not more than 20 years; and fined under this title and imprisoned for not more than 2 years; and if the offense involves a child under the age of 12, imprisoned for not more than 10 years.

Verify at the official source: Federal legislative text

Facing this? Know exactly what happens next.

MOFRD turns this code section into your situation: the deadlines that apply to you, the forms your county uses, and the resolution paths people in your position actually take. Free for 3 days — no card required.

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.