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Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73not60

§2426 Repeat Offenders

Title 18 › Part I— CRIMES › Chapter 117— TRANSPORTATION FOR ILLEGAL SEXUAL ACTIVITY AND RELATED CRIMES › § 2426

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

If a person is convicted of a sex crime and already has a prior sex-offense conviction, the maximum prison time allowed can be tripled (3 times the usual maximum), unless section 3559(e) applies. Prior sex-offense conviction means a past conviction for a crime under the same federal sex-crime chapters (this chapter, 109A, 110, or section 1591) or for a similar crime under State law or the Uniform Code of Military Justice. State means a U.S. State, the District of Columbia, or any U.S. commonwealth, territory, or possession.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §2426

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)The maximum term of imprisonment for a violation of this chapter after a prior sex offense conviction shall be 3 times the term of imprisonment otherwise provided by this chapter, unless section 3559(e) applies.
(b)In this section—
(1)the term “prior sex offense conviction” means a conviction for an offense—
(A)under this chapter, chapter 109A, chapter 110, or section 1591; or
(B)under State law or the Uniform Code of Military Justice for an offense consisting of conduct that would have been an offense under a chapter referred to in subparagraph (A) if the conduct had occurred within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States; and
(2)the term “State” means a State of the United States, the District of Columbia, and any commonwealth, territory, or possession of the United States.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2024—Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 118–159 inserted “or the Uniform Code of Military Justice” after “State law”. 2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–392, § 11(2)(A), substituted “3 times” for “twice”. Subsec. (b)(1)(B). Pub. L. 115–392, § 11(2)(B), substituted “subparagraph (A)” for “paragraph (1)”. 2008—Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 110–457 substituted “chapter 110, or section 1591” for “or chapter 110”. 2003—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 108–21 inserted “, unless section 3559(e) applies” before period at end.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 2426

Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60