Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§2234 Authority Exceeded in Executing Warrant
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 109 — SEARCHES AND SEIZURES › § 2234
Summary
Anyone carrying out a search warrant who intentionally goes beyond what the warrant allows or uses more force than needed can be fined, jailed for up to one year, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §2234
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever, in executing a search warrant, willfully exceeds his authority or exercises it with unnecessary severity, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 631 (June 15, 1917, ch. 30, title XI, § 21, 40 Stat. 230). Minor changes were made in phraseology.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2002—Pub. L. 107–273 inserted “, or both” after “year”. 1996—Pub. L. 104–294 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $1,000”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 2234
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102