Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-73not60

§25 Use of Minors in Crimes of Violence

Title 18 › Part I— CRIMES › Chapter 1— GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 25

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

An adult who intentionally gets a minor to take part in a federal crime of violence, or to help avoid being caught for that crime, must face tougher punishment: a first conviction means the maximum prison time and maximum fine for the crime are doubled, and each later conviction means those maximums are tripled. Definitions: "crime of violence" — meaning given in section 16; "minor" — a person under 18 years old; "uses" — makes a minor take part by hiring, convincing, tricking, or forcing them.

Full Legal Text

Title 18, §25

Crimes and Criminal Procedure — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In this section, the following definitions shall apply:

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

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

(3)The term “uses” means employs, hires, persuades, induces, entices, or coerces.

(b)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

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60