§2442 Recruitment or Use of Child Soldiers

Summary

It is a crime to knowingly recruit, enlist, conscript, or use a person who is under 15 years old to serve in any armed force or group, or to make that person take part in fighting or military activities. Attempts and plans to do this are also crimes. Penalties include a fine and up to 20 years in prison, or both. If the offense causes someone's death, the offender can be fined and imprisoned for any term of years or for life. The United States can prosecute the crime if the offender is a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident, a stateless person who usually lives in the U.S., is present in the U.S., or if the crime happens in whole or part in the U.S. "Participate actively in hostilities" covers taking part in combat or direct combat support. "Armed force or group" means any army, militia, or other military organization, but not a group formed only for peaceful political activity.