Title 18, Crimes and Criminal ProcedureRelease 119-102
§753 Rescue to Prevent Execution
Title 18 › PART I — CRIMES › CHAPTER 35 — ESCAPE AND RESCUE › § 753
Summary
Forcibly freeing someone condemned during execution can lead to a fine, up to 25 years' prison, or both.
Full Legal Text
Title 18, §753
Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Whoever, by force, sets at liberty or rescues any person found guilty in any court of the United States of any capital crime, while going to execution or during execution, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty-five years, or both.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 248 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, § 142, 35 Stat. 1114). Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative. Minor changes were made in phraseology.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $25,000”.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
18 U.S.C. § 753
Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102