§ 1581. — Peonage; obstructing enforcement.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 18USC1581]
TITLE 18--CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
PART I--CRIMES
CHAPTER 77--PEONAGE AND SLAVERY
Sec. 1581. Peonage; obstructing enforcement
(a) Whoever holds or returns any person to a condition of peonage,
or arrests any person with the intent of placing him in or returning him
to a condition of peonage, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned
not more than 20 years, or both. If death results from the violation of
this section, or if the violation includes kidnapping or an attempt to
kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or the attempt to commit aggravated
sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, the defendant shall be fined under
this title or imprisoned for any term of years or life, or both.
(b) Whoever obstructs, or attempts to obstruct, or in any way
interferes with or prevents the enforcement of this section, shall be
liable to the penalties prescribed in subsection (a).
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 772; Pub. L. 103-322, title XXXIII,
Sec. 330016(1)(K), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2147; Pub. L. 104-208, div.
C, title II, Sec. 218(a), Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009-573; Pub. L.
106-386, div. A, Sec. 112(a)(1), Oct. 28, 2000, 114 Stat. 1486.)
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., Secs. 444, 445 (Mar. 4, 1909,
ch. 321, Secs. 269, 270, 35 Stat. 1142).
Section consolidates sections 444 and 445 of said title 18, U.S.C.,
1940 ed., with changes in phraseology to amplify and clarify their
provisions.
Reference to persons causing or procuring was omitted as unnecessary
in view of definition of ``principal'' in section 2 of this title.
Amendments
2000--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 106-386 substituted ``20 years'' for ``10
years'' and inserted at end ``If death results from the violation of
this section, or if the violation includes kidnapping or an attempt to
kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or the attempt to commit aggravated
sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, the defendant shall be fined under
this title or imprisoned for any term of years or life, or both.''
1996--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 104-208 substituted ``10 years'' for
``five years''.
1994--Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103-322 substituted ``fined under this
title'' for ``fined not more than $5,000''.
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Section 218(d) of div. C of Pub. L. 104-208 provided that: ``This
section [amending this section and sections 1583, 1584, and 1588 of this
title and enacting provisions set out as notes under section 994 of
Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure] and the amendments made by
this section shall apply with respect to offenses occurring on or after
the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 30, 1996].''
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 1592, 1594, 1961 of this
title; title 8 section 1101.
