§2251A — Title 18 Crimes and Criminal Procedure | U.S. Code

Summary

Makes it a crime for a parent, guardian, or anyone in charge of a child to sell, give away, or offer to sell or give away the child if they know the child will be shown in a picture or video doing sexual acts, or if they aim to have the child do or help with sexual acts to make such a picture or video. It is also a crime for someone to buy, get custody of, or offer to buy or get custody of a child for those same reasons. The rule applies when the child or person is moved across state or national lines, when the offer uses interstate or foreign mail or electronic means (like a computer), or when it happens in a U.S. territory or possession.

Title 18, §2251A

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Any parent, legal guardian, or other person having custody or control of a minor who sells or otherwise transfers custody or control of such minor, or offers to sell or otherwise transfer custody of such minor either—

(1)with knowledge that, as a consequence of the sale or transfer, the minor will be portrayed in a visual depiction engaging in, or assisting another person to engage in, sexually explicit conduct; or

(2)with intent to promote either—

(A)the engaging in of sexually explicit conduct by such minor for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of such conduct; or

(B)the rendering of assistance by the minor to any other person to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of such conduct;

(b)Whoever purchases or otherwise obtains custody or control of a minor, or offers to purchase or otherwise obtain custody or control of a minor either—

(1)with knowledge that, as a consequence of the purchase or obtaining of custody, the minor will be portrayed in a visual depiction engaging in, or assisting another person to engage in, sexually explicit conduct; or

(2)with intent to promote either—

(A)the engaging in of sexually explicit conduct by such minor for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of such conduct; or

(B)the rendering of assistance by the minor to any other person to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing any visual depiction of such conduct;

(c)The circumstances referred to in subsections (a) and (b) are that—

(1)in the course of the conduct described in such subsections the minor or the actor traveled in or was transported in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce;

(2)any offer described in such subsections was communicated or transported using any means or facility of interstate or foreign commerce or in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce by any means including by computer or mail; or

(3)the conduct described in such subsections took place in any territory or possession of the United States.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2008—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 110–358, § 103(b), substituted “in or affecting interstate” for “in interstate” in pars. (1) and (2). Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 110–358, § 103(a)(2), inserted “using any means or facility of interstate or foreign commerce or” after “or transported”. 2003—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 108–21 substituted “30 years” for “20 years” in concluding provisions.

§2251A Selling or buying of children

Summary

Title 18, §2251A

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

Citations & Metadata