Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§246 Deprivation of Relief Benefits
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 13 — CIVIL RIGHTS › § 246
Summary
It is a crime to directly or indirectly take away, try to take away, or threaten to take away someone’s job, pay, or other help paid for by federal relief laws because of political affiliation, race, color, sex, religion, or national origin. Whoever does this can be fined, jailed for up to one year, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §246
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever directly or indirectly deprives, attempts to deprive, or threatens to deprive any person of any employment, position, work, compensation, or other benefit provided for or made possible in whole or in part by any Act of Congress appropriating funds for work relief or relief purposes, on account of political affiliation, race, color, sex, religion, or national origin, shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $10,000”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 246
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102