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

Summary

If a person escapes or tries to escape from federal custody — for example from the Attorney General or an authorized representative, from a federal prison or facility, from custody ordered by a federal judge, or from a federal officer after a lawful arrest — they can be punished. If they were in custody because they were charged with a felony or after a conviction, they can be fined, imprisoned for up to five years, or both. If they were held for extradition, immigration removal/expulsion, or for a misdemeanor charge before conviction, they can be fined, imprisoned for up to one year, or both. If the person is under 18 and was held for a federal offense that is not punishable by death or life imprisonment, and the Attorney General has not ordered criminal proceedings, or if they are held as a juvenile delinquent, the punishment is a fine or up to one year in jail, or both. This does not change the Attorney General’s authority over how to handle juvenile cases.

Title 18, §751

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Whoever escapes or attempts to escape from the custody of the Attorney General or his authorized representative, or from any institution or facility in which he is confined by direction of the Attorney General, or from any custody under or by virtue of any process issued under the laws of the United States by any court, judge, or magistrate judge, or from the custody of an officer or employee of the United States pursuant to lawful arrest, shall, if the custody or confinement is by virtue of an arrest on a charge of felony, or conviction of any offense, be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both; or if the custody or confinement is for extradition, or for exclusion or expulsion proceedings under the immigration laws, or by virtue of an arrest or charge of or for a misdemeanor, and prior to conviction, be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

(b)Whoever escapes or attempts to escape from the custody of the Attorney General or his authorized representative, or from any institution or facility in which he is confined by direction of the Attorney General, or from any custody under or by virtue of any process issued under the laws of the United States by any court, judge, or magistrate judge, or from the custody of an officer or employee of the United States pursuant to lawful arrest, shall, if the custody or confinement is by virtue of a lawful arrest for a violation of any law of the United States not punishable by death or life imprisonment and committed before such person’s eighteenth birthday, and as to whom the Attorney General has not specifically directed the institution of criminal proceedings, or by virtue of a commitment as a juvenile delinquent under section 5034 of this title, be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to affect the discretionary authority vested in the Attorney General pursuant to section 5032 of this title.

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §§ 753h, 909 (

May 14, 1930, ch. 274, § 9, 46 Stat. 327;

May 27, 1930, ch. 339, § 9, 46 Stat. 390; Aug. 3, 1935, ch. 432, 49 Stat. 513). section 753h and 909 of title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., were consolidated. section 753h is later and more comprehensive. The substance of its provisions was adopted. References to offenses as felonies or misdemeanors were omitted in view of definitive section 1 of this title. (See also reviser’s notes under section 550 of this title.) Mandatory provision as to separate sentences and order of service was omitted in order to permit court to exercise discretion as to whether sentences should be concurrent or consecutive and to obviate administration problems in

Enforcement

of section. Words “or employee” were inserted to remove ambiguity as to scope of section. Reference to “custody or confinement is for extradition” was inserted to avoid possible ambiguity. Changes were made in phraseology and arrangement.

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $5,000” after “any offense, be” and for “fined not more than $1,000” after “conviction, be” in subsec. (a) and substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000” in subsec. (b). 1988—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 100–690 inserted “, or for exclusion or expulsion proceedings under the immigration laws,” after “extradition”. 1965—Pub. L. 89–176 inserted “or facility” after “institution”. 1963—Pub. L. 88–251 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Change of Name

Words “magistrate judge” substituted for “magistrate” in subsecs. (a) and (b) pursuant to section 321 of Pub. L. 101–650, set out as a note under section 631 of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure. Previously, “magistrate” substituted for “commissioner” pursuant to Pub. L. 90–578. See chapter 43 (§ 631 et seq.) of Title 28.

§751 Prisoners in custody of institution or officer