§2246 Definitions for Chapter

Summary

Defines key words used in the chapter. "Prison" means any correctional, detention, or penal facility. "Sexual act" covers contact between a penis and a vulva or anus (even slight penetration); contact between a mouth and a penis, vulva, or anus; penetration of another’s anus or genitals by a hand, finger, or object when done with the intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, or to arouse or satisfy sexual desire; and intentional, uncovered touching of someone’s genitals who has not reached age 16 with the same intent. "Sexual contact" means intentionally touching, directly or through clothing, the genitalia, anus, groin, breast, inner thigh, or buttocks of any person with the intent to abuse, humiliate, harass, degrade, or to arouse or satisfy sexual desire. "Serious bodily injury" means an injury that creates a substantial risk of death, causes unconsciousness, extreme physical pain, long-lasting obvious disfigurement, or long-lasting loss or reduced function of a body part, organ, or mental ability. "Official detention" means custody by or under the direction of a Federal officer after arrest, surrender, charge or conviction, a juvenile delinquency finding, commitment as a material witness, civil commitment in place of criminal proceedings or while those proceedings are paused, or while awaiting extradition, deportation, or exclusion; it also includes custody for transport, medical care, court appearances, work, and recreation. "State" includes any U.S. state, the District of Columbia, and any U.S. commonwealth, possession, or territory. "Federal law enforcement officer" has the meaning given in section 115.