§1363 — Title 18 Crimes and Criminal Procedure | U.S. Code

Summary

Deliberately destroying or damaging property in places under the United States’ special maritime and territorial jurisdiction — or trying or planning to do so — is a crime. The punishment can be a fine or up to 5 years in prison; if the damaged place is a home or someone’s life is put at risk, the punishment can be a fine or up to 20 years in prison, or both.

Title 18, §1363

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whoever, within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, willfully and maliciously destroys or injures any structure, conveyance, or other real or personal property, or attempts or conspires to do such an act, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both, and if the building be a dwelling, or the life of any person be placed in jeopardy, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 464, 465 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §§ 285, 286, 35 Stat. 1144). Said sections were consolidated and rewritten both as to form and substance. The provisions relating to arson are incorporated in section 81 of this title. (See reviser’s note under said section 81 of this title for explanation of changes.)

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2001—Pub. L. 107–56 struck out “or attempts to destroy or injure” after “destroys or injures” and inserted “or attempts or conspires to do such an act,” after “personal property,”. 1996—Pub. L. 104–132 substituted “any structure, conveyance, or other real or personal property” for “any building, structure or vessel, any machinery or building materials and supplies, military or naval stores, munitions of war or any structural aids or appliances for navigation or shipping”. 1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000” after “shipping, shall be” and for “fined not more than $5,000” after “jeopardy, shall be”.

§1363 Buildings or property within special maritime and territorial jurisdiction