Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-110

§25 Use of Minors in Crimes of Violence

Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 1 — GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 25

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

An adult who intentionally uses a person under 18 to commit a violent crime that can be tried in federal court, or who uses a minor to help avoid being caught, gets stiffer punishments. On a first conviction the adult faces up to twice the maximum prison time and twice the maximum fine for the underlying crime. For each later conviction the adult faces up to three times those maximums. Definitions: "crime of violence" — as defined in section 16; "minor" — under 18 years old; "uses" — includes hiring, persuading, inducing, enticing, or forcing.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §25

Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Definitions.—

In this section, the following definitions shall apply:

(1)Crime of violence.—

The term “crime of violence” has the meaning set forth in section 16.

(2)Minor.— (3) Uses.—

The term “minor” means a person who has not reached 18 years of age.

(b)Penalties.—

Any person who is 18 years of age or older, who intentionally uses a minor to commit a crime of violence for which such person may be prosecuted in a court of the United States, or to assist in avoiding detection or apprehension for such an offense, shall—

(1)for the first conviction, be subject to twice the maximum term of imprisonment and twice the maximum fine that would otherwise be authorized for the offense; and

(2)for each subsequent conviction, be subject to 3 times the maximum term of imprisonment and 3 times the maximum fine that would otherwise be authorized for the offense.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

18 U.S.C. § 25

Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110