18 U.S. Code § 2261A - Stalking | U.S. Code | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute

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United <a aria-label="Definitions - States" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-80204913-1416750993&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:110A:section:2261A">States</a>, or enters or leaves <a aria-label="Definitions - Indian country" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-1916122797-1416750997&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:110A:section:2261A">Indian country</a>, with the intent to kill, injure, harass, intimidate, or place under surveillance with intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate another person, and in the course of, or as a result of, such travel or presence engages in conduct that—</span> <div class="subparagraph indent2"><a name="1_A"></a><span class="num" value="A">(A)</span><span class="chapeau"> places that person in reasonable fear of the death of, or <a aria-label="Definitions - serious bodily injury" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-402227300-1416750995&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:110A:section:2261A">serious bodily injury</a> to—</span> <div class="clause indent3"><a name="1_A_i"></a><span class="num" value="i">(i)</span> <div class="content"> that person;</div> </div> <div class="clause indent3"><a name="1_A_ii"></a><span class="num" value="ii">(ii)</span> <div class="content"> an immediate family member (as defined in section 115) of that person;</div> </div> <div class="clause indent3"><a name="1_A_iii"></a><span class="num" value="iii">(iii)</span> <div class="content"> a <a aria-label="Definitions - spouse or intimate partner" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-123686759-1416750994&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:110A:section:2261A">spouse or intimate partner</a> of that person; or</div> </div> <div class="clause indent3"><a name="1_A_iv"></a><span class="num" value="iv">(iv)</span> <div class="content"> the <a aria-label="Definitions - pet" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-110879-969607991&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:110A:section:2261A">pet</a>, <a aria-label="Definitions - service animal" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-1809000903-969607989&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:110A:section:2261A">service animal</a>, <a aria-label="Definitions - emotional support animal" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-293854969-969607990&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:110A:section:2261A">emotional support animal</a>, or horse of that person; or</div> </div> </div> <div class="subparagraph indent2"><a name="1_B"></a><span class="num" value="B">(B)</span> <div class="content"> causes, attempts to cause, or would be reasonably expected to cause substantial emotional distress to a person described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of subparagraph (A); or</div> </div> </div> <div class="paragraph indent1"><a name="2"></a><span class="num" value="2">(2)</span><span class="chapeau"> with the intent to kill, injure, harass, intimidate, or place under surveillance with intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate another person, uses the mail, any interactive computer service or electronic communication service or electronic communication system of interstate commerce, or any other facility of interstate or foreign commerce to engage in a <a aria-label="Definitions - course of conduct" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-1535773408-1416750999&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:110A:section:2261A">course of conduct</a> that—</span> <div class="subparagraph indent2"><a name="2_A"></a><span class="num" value="A">(A)</span> <div class="content"> places that person in reasonable fear of the death of or <a aria-label="Definitions - serious bodily injury" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-402227300-1416750995&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:110A:section:2261A">serious bodily injury</a> to a person, a<a aria-label="Definitions - pet," class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-110879-969607991&term_occur=999&term_src="> pet,</a> a<a aria-label="Definitions - service animal," class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-1809000903-969607989&term_occur=999&term_src="> service animal,</a> an <a aria-label="Definitions - emotional support animal" class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-293854969-969607990&term_occur=999&term_src=title:18:part:I:chapter:110A:section:2261A">emotional support animal</a>, or a horse described in clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of paragraph (1)(A); or</div> </div> <div class="subparagraph indent2"><a name="2_B"></a><span class="num" value="B">(B)</span> <div class="content"> causes, attempts to cause, or would be reasonably expected to cause substantial emotional distress to a person described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of paragraph (1)(A),</div> </div> <div class="continuation indent1 firstIndent0">shall be punished as provided in section 2261(b) or section 2261B, as the case may be.</div> </div> <div class="sourceCredit">(Added <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._104-201">Pub. L. 104–201, div. A, title X, § 1069(a)</a>, <span class="date" date="1996-09-23">Sept. 23, 1996</span>, <a href="/rio/citation/110_Stat._2655">110 Stat. 2655</a>; amended <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._106-386">Pub. L. 106–386, div. B, title I, § 1107(b)(1)</a>, <span class="date" date="2000-10-28">Oct. 28, 2000</span>, <a href="/rio/citation/114_Stat._1498">114 Stat. 1498</a>; <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._109-162">Pub. L. 109–162, title I, § 114(a)</a>, <span class="date" date="2006-01-05">Jan. 5, 2006</span>, <a href="/rio/citation/119_Stat._2987">119 Stat. 2987</a>; <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._113-4">Pub. L. 113–4, title I, § 107(b)</a>, <span class="date" date="2013-03-07">Mar. 7, 2013</span>, <a href="/rio/citation/127_Stat._77">127 Stat. 77</a>; <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._115-334">Pub. L. 115–334, title XII, § 12502(a)(1)</a>, <span class="date" date="2018-12-20">Dec. 20, 2018</span>, <a href="/rio/citation/132_Stat._4982">132 Stat. 4982</a>; <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._116-249">Pub. L. 116–249, § 2(c)</a>, <span class="date" date="2020-12-22">Dec. 22, 2020</span>, <a href="/rio/citation/134_Stat._1126">134 Stat. 1126</a>.)</div> </div> </div></text> </div> <div class="tab-pane" id="tab_default_2">  <notes><div class="notes"> </div><div class="notes"> <div class="note" topic="editorialNotes"><span class="heading centered"><strong>Editorial Notes</strong></span></div> <div class="note" topic="amendments"><span class="heading centered smallCaps">Amendments</span> <p>2020—<a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._116-249">Pub. L. 116–249</a> substituted “section 2261(b) or section 2261B, as the case may be” for “<a href="/uscode/text/18/2261#b">section 2261(b) of this title</a>” in concluding provisions.</p> <p>2018—Par. (1)(A)(iv). <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._115-334">Pub. L. 115–334, § 12502(a)(1)(A)</a>, added cl. (iv).</p> <p>Par. (2)(A). <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._115-334">Pub. L. 115–334, § 12502(a)(1)(B)</a>, inserted “, a<a aria-label="Definitions - pet," class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-110879-969607991&term_occur=999&term_src="> pet,</a> a<a aria-label="Definitions - service animal," class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-1809000903-969607989&term_occur=999&term_src="> service animal,</a> an<a aria-label="Definitions - emotional support animal," class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-293854969-969607990&term_occur=999&term_src="> emotional support animal,</a> or a horse” after “to a person” and substituted “(iii), or (iv)” for “or (iii)”.</p> <p>2013—<a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._113-4">Pub. L. 113–4</a> amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section related to stalking.</p> <p>2006—<a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._109-162">Pub. L. 109–162</a> amended section catchline and text generally, revising and restating former provisions relating to stalking so as to include surveillance with intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate which results in substantial emotional distress to a person within the purview of the offense proscribed.</p> <p>2000—<a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._106-386">Pub. L. 106–386</a> reenacted section catchline without change and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Whoever travels across a<a aria-label="Definitions - State " class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-80204913-1416750993&term_occur=999&term_src="> State </a>line or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United<a aria-label="Definitions - States " class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-80204913-1416750993&term_occur=999&term_src="> States </a>with the intent to injure or harass another person, and in the course of, or as a result of, such travel places that person in reasonable fear of the death of, or<a aria-label="Definitions - serious bodily injury " class="colorbox-load definedterm" href="/definitions/uscode.php?width=840&height=800&iframe=true&def_id=18-USC-402227300-1416750995&term_occur=999&term_src="> serious bodily injury </a>(as defined in <a href="/uscode/text/18/1365#g_3">section 1365(g)(3) of this title</a>) to, that person or a member of that person’s immediate family (as defined in <a href="/uscode/text/18/115">section 115 of this title</a>) shall be punished as provided in <a href="/uscode/text/18/2261">section 2261 of this title</a>.”</p> </div> <div class="note" topic="statutoryNotes"><span class="heading centered"><strong>Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries</strong></span></div> <div class="note" topic="effectiveDateOfAmendment"><span class="heading centered smallCaps">Effective Date of 2013 Amendment</span> <p>Amendment by <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._113-4">Pub. L. 113–4</a> not effective until the beginning of the fiscal year following <span class="date" date="2013-03-07">Mar. 7, 2013</span>, see <a href="/rio/citation/Pub._L._113-4">section 4 of Pub. L. 113–4</a>, set out as a note under <a href="/uscode/text/18/2261">section 2261 of this title</a>.</p> </div> </div></notes> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="page-bottom" aria-hidden="true"> <div class="region region-bottom"> <div id="block-liidfp-2" class="block block-liidfp first last odd"> <div class="gfs"> <div id="div-gpt-ad-bottom" data-google-query-id="CNH77Z7C7d8CFURLAQodp9oMpg"> <script type="text/javascript"> googletag.cmd.push(function () { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-bottom'); }); </script> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <aside id="supersizeme" class="col-sm-4" aria-label="Sponsor Listings and Toolbox panel"> <div class="block" id="toolbox"> <h2 class="title toolbox"><span class="glyphicon glyphicon-briefcase"></span> U.S. Code Toolbox </h2> <div class="clear-block wexlink"> <a href="/wex/wex_articles">Law about... 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18 U.S. Code § 2261A - Stalking | U.S. Code | US Law | LII / Legal Information Institute