Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-110

§1389 Prohibition on Attacks on United States Servicemen on Account of Service

Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 67 — MILITARY AND NAVY › § 1389

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Makes it a crime to on purpose assault, batter, or damage the property of a United States servicemember or their immediate family because of the member’s military service, or to try or plan to do those things. For a simple assault or property damage of $500 or less, the penalty is a fine between $500 and $10,000 and up to 2 years in prison. For property damage over $500, the fine is $1,000 to $100,000 and up to 5 years in prison. For a battery or an assault that causes injury, the fine is at least $2,500 and prison is 6 months to 10 years. This rule does not apply to someone under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Definitions: Armed Forces — as defined in section 1388; immediate family member — as defined in section 115; United States serviceman — a current member, and a former member for 5 years after discharge.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §1389

Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In General.—
Whoever knowingly assaults or batters a United States serviceman or an immediate family member of a United States serviceman, or who knowingly destroys or injures the property of such serviceman or immediate family member, on account of the military service of that serviceman or status of that individual as a United States serviceman, or who attempts or conspires to do so, shall—
(1)in the case of a simple assault, or destruction or injury to property in which the damage or attempted damage to such property is not more than $500, be fined under this title in an amount not less than $500 nor more than $10,000 and imprisoned not more than 2 years;
(2)in the case of destruction or injury to property in which the damage or attempted damage to such property is more than $500, be fined under this title in an amount not less than $1000 nor more than $100,000 and imprisoned not more than 5 years; and
(3)in the case of a battery, or an assault resulting in bodily injury, be fined under this title in an amount not less than $2500 and imprisoned not less than 6 months nor more than 10 years.
(b)Exception.—
This section shall not apply to conduct by a person who is subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
(c)Definitions.—
In this section
(1)
(2)the term “immediate family member” has the meaning given that term in section 115; and
(3)the term “United States serviceman”—
(A)means a member of the Armed Forces; and
(B)includes a former member of the Armed Forces during the 5-year period beginning on the date of the discharge from the Armed Forces of that member of the Armed Forces.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Uniform Code of Military Justice, referred to in subsec. (b), is classified generally to chapter 47 (§ 801 et seq.) of Title 10, Armed Forces.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 1389

Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110