Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-110
§2261B Enhanced Penalty for Stalkers of Children
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 110A — DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND STALKING › § 2261B
Summary
If someone commits stalking and the victim is under 18, the maximum prison time for that crime is increased by 5 years over the normal maximum. That 5-year increase does not apply if the offender is being given a different sentence under the law and either the offender was under 18 when the crime happened, or the victim was 15 to 17 years old and at most 3 years younger than the offender.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §2261B
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In General.—
Except as provided in subsection (b), if the victim of an offense under section 2261A is under the age of 18 years, the maximum imprisonment for the offense is 5 years greater than the maximum term of imprisonment otherwise provided for that offense in section 2261.
(b)Limitation.—
Subsection (a) shall not apply to a person who violates section 2261A if—
(1)the person is subject to a sentence under section 2261(b)(5); and
(2)(A)the person is under the age of 18 at the time the offense occurred; or
(B)the victim of the offense is not less than 15 nor more than 17 years of age and not more than 3 years younger than the person who committed the offense at the time the offense occurred.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 2261B
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110