Title 18Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73

§2265A Repeat offenders

Title 18 › Part PART I— - CRIMES › Chapter CHAPTER 110A— - DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND STALKING › § 2265A

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

If someone is convicted under this chapter and they already have a past conviction for domestic violence or stalking, the maximum prison sentence for the new offense is doubled. "Prior domestic violence or stalking offense" — a past conviction under 2261, 2261A, or 2262, or a state or tribal conviction for the same conduct if it would have been those offenses when done in U.S. special maritime and territorial jurisdiction or in interstate or foreign commerce. "State" — any U.S. State, the District of Columbia, or any U.S. commonwealth, territory, or possession.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §2265A

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The maximum term of imprisonment for a violation of this chapter after a prior domestic violence or stalking offense shall be twice the term otherwise provided under this chapter.
(b)For purposes of this section—
(1)the term “prior domestic violence or stalking offense” means a conviction for an offense—
(A)under section 2261, 2261A, or 2262 of this chapter; or
(B)under State or tribal law for an offense consisting of conduct that would have been an offense under a section referred to in subparagraph (A) if the conduct had occurred within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, or in interstate or foreign commerce; and
(2)the term “State” means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, or any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2013—Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 113–4 inserted “or tribal” after “State”.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 2265A

Title 18Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73