Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§16 Crime of Violence Defined
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 16
Summary
Defines "crime of violence" as either a crime that uses or threatens physical force against a person or property, or a felony that by its nature risks such force.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §16
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
The term “crime of violence” means—
(a)an offense that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or property of another, or
(b)any other offense that is a felony and that, by its nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
ConstitutionalityFor information regarding the constitutionality of this section, as added by section 1001(a) of Pub. L. 98–473, see the Table of Laws Held Unconstitutional in Whole or in Part by the Supreme Court on the Constitution Annotated website, constitution.congress.gov.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 16
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102