Title 18Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73

§111 Assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees

Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 7— - ASSAULT › § 111

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Makes it a crime to use force or threats against certain federal officers or employees named in section 1114 while they are doing their official jobs, or to attack or intimidate someone who used to be such an officer because of what they did while in office. This covers forcing, resisting, blocking, scaring, or otherwise getting in their way. If a deadly or dangerous weapon is used (even if it fails) or the victim is hurt, the person can be fined, imprisoned for up to 20 years, or both. The rule applies even when the act happens outside the United States.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §111

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Whoever—
(1)forcibly assaults, resists, opposes, impedes, intimidates, or interferes with any person designated in section 1114 of this title while engaged in or on account of the performance of official duties; or
(2)forcibly assaults or intimidates any person who formerly served as a person designated in section 1114 on account of the performance of official duties during such person’s term of service,
(b)Whoever, in the commission of any acts described in subsection (a), uses a deadly or dangerous weapon (including a weapon intended to cause death or danger but that fails to do so by reason of a defective component) or inflicts bodily injury, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than 20 years, or both.
(c)There is extraterritorial jurisdiction over the conduct prohibited by this section.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 118, 254 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 62, 35 Stat. 1100; May 18, 1934, ch. 299, § 2, 48 Stat. 781). This section consolidates section 118 and 254 with changes in phraseology and substance necessary to effect the consolidation. Also the words “Bureau of Animal Industry of the Department of Agriculture” appearing in section 118 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., were inserted in enumeration of Federal officers and employees in section 1114 of this title. The punishment provision of section 254 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., was adopted as the latest expression of Congressional intent. This consolidation eliminates a serious incongruity in punishment and application.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2021—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 117–59 added subsec. (c). 2008—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 110–177 substituted “where such acts involve physical contact with the victim of that assault or the intent to commit another felony” for “in all other cases” in concluding provisions. 2002—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–273, § 11008(b)(1), substituted “8” for “three” in concluding provisions. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 107–273, § 11008(b)(2), substituted “20” for “ten”. 1996—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 104–132 inserted “(including a weapon intended to cause death or danger but that fails to do so by reason of a defective component)” after “deadly or dangerous weapon”. 1994—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–322, § 320101(a)(1), inserted “, where the acts in violation of this section constitute only simple assault, be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both, and in all other cases,” after “shall” in concluding provisions. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–322, § 320101(a)(2), inserted “or inflicts bodily injury” after “weapon”. 1988—Pub. L. 100–690 amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Whoever forcibly assaults, resists, opposes, impedes, intimidates, or interferes with any person designated in section 1114 of this title while engaged in or on account of the performance of his official duties, shall be fined not more than $5,000 or imprisoned not more than three years, or both. “Whoever, in the commission of any such acts uses a deadly or dangerous weapon, shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both.”

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Short Title

of 2002 Amendment Pub. L. 107–273, div. C, title I, § 11008(a), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1818, provided that: “This section [amending this section, section 115 and 876 of this title, and provisions set out as a note under section 994 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure] may be cited as the ‘Federal Judiciary Protection Act of 2002’.” Sense of Congress Regarding Amendment by Pub. L. 117–59For sense of Congress regarding amendment to this section by Pub. L. 117–59, see section 2(6) of Pub. L. 117–59, set out as a note under section 1114 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 111

Title 18Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73