Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-110

§119 Protection of Individuals Performing Certain Official Duties

Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 7 — ASSAULT › § 119

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

It is a crime to knowingly make certain personal information public about a covered person or their immediate family if you mean to threaten, scare, or push someone to commit a violent crime against them, or if you know the information will be used to threaten, scare, or help commit a violent crime. "Not more than 5 years" in prison applies for this crime, and a fine or both may also be imposed. "Restricted personal information" means Social Security number, home address, home or mobile phone, personal email, or home fax tied to that person. "Covered person" includes people named in section 1114; jurors, witnesses, and court officers; informants or witnesses in federal criminal cases; and state or local officers whose information was released because they helped a federal criminal investigation. "Crime of violence" and "immediate family" are defined in section 16 and section 115(c)(2).

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §119

Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In General.—

Whoever knowingly makes restricted personal information about a covered person, or a member of the immediate family of that covered person, publicly available—

(1)with the intent to threaten, intimidate, or incite the commission of a crime of violence against that covered person, or a member of the immediate family of that covered person; or

(2)with the intent and knowledge that the restricted personal information will be used to threaten, intimidate, or facilitate the commission of a crime of violence against that covered person, or a member of the immediate family of that covered person,

shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 years, or both.

(b)Definitions.—

In this section

(1)

(2)the term “covered person” means—

(A)an individual designated in section 1114;

(B)a grand or petit juror, witness, or other officer in or of, any court of the United States, or an officer who may be, or was, serving at any examination or other proceeding before any United States magistrate judge or other committing magistrate;

(C)an informant or witness in a Federal criminal investigation or prosecution; or

(D)a State or local officer or employee whose restricted personal information is made publicly available because of the participation in, or assistance provided to, a Federal criminal investigation by that officer or employee;

(3)the term “crime of violence” has the meaning given the term in section 16; and

(4)the term “immediate family” has the meaning given the term in section 115(c)(2).

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 119

Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110