§1203 Hostage taking

Summary

Taking or holding someone hostage and threatening to kill, hurt, or keep them to force another person or a government to do or not do something is a federal crime. Trying or planning to do this with others also counts. The crime can be punished by prison for any term of years or by life in prison. If someone dies because of it, the punishment can be death or life in prison. If the act happened outside the United States, this law does not apply unless the offender or the person held is a U.S. national, the offender is found in the United States, or the target is the U.S. Government. If the act happened inside the United States, the law does not apply when every alleged offender and every person held are U.S. nationals and the alleged offenders are found in the United States, unless the target is the U.S. Government. "National of the United States" is defined in section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act.