PRIA Logo™
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102

§2340 Definitions

Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 113C — TORTURE › § 2340

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

Defines three terms. "Torture" means an official who intends to cause very severe physical or mental pain to someone in their custody, not including pain that is part of lawful punishment. "Severe mental pain or suffering" means long-lasting mental harm from things like severe pain or threats, mind‑altering drugs or disruptive procedures, or threats of imminent death or similar harm. "United States" includes the states, D.C., and U.S. commonwealths, territories, and possessions.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §2340

Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

As used in this chapter—
(1)“torture” means an act committed by a person acting under the color of law specifically intended to inflict severe physical or mental pain or suffering (other than pain or suffering incidental to lawful sanctions) upon another person within his custody or physical control;
(2)“severe mental pain or suffering” means the prolonged mental harm caused by or resulting from—
(A)the intentional infliction or threatened infliction of severe physical pain or suffering;
(B)the administration or application, or threatened administration or application, of mind-altering substances or other procedures calculated to disrupt profoundly the senses or the personality;
(C)the threat of imminent death; or
(D)the threat that another person will imminently be subjected to death, severe physical pain or suffering, or the administration or application of mind-altering substances or other procedures calculated to disrupt profoundly the senses or personality; and
(3)“United States” means the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and the commonwealths, territories, and possessions of the United States.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2004—Par. (3). Pub. L. 108–375 amended par. (3) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (3) read as follows: “ ‘United States’ includes all areas under the jurisdiction of the United States including any of the places described in section 5 and 7 of this title and section 46501(2) of title 49.” 1994—Par. (1). Pub. L. 103–415 substituted “within his custody” for “with custody”. Par. (3). Pub. L. 103–429 substituted “section 46501(2) of title 49” for “section 101(38) of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958 (49 U.S.C. App. 1301(38))”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 103–236, title V, § 506(c), Apr. 30, 1994, 108 Stat. 464, provided that: “The

Amendments

made by this section [enacting this chapter] shall take effect on the later of— “(1) the date of enactment of this Act [Apr. 30, 1994]; or “(2) the date on which the United States has become a party to the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.” [Convention entered into Force with respect to United States Nov. 20, 1994, Treaty Doc. 100–20.]

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 2340

Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102