PRIA Logo™
Title 42, The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-110

§3631 Violations; Penalties

Title 42 › CHAPTER 45 — FAIR HOUSING › SUBCHAPTER II — PREVENTION OF INTIMIDATION › § 3631

Last updated Sep 22, 2026|Official source

Summary

Anyone, including government officials, who on purpose uses force or threats to hurt, scare, or block someone, or tries to do so, is breaking the law if the target is being treated that way because of race, color, religion, sex, disability, family status, or national origin and the harm relates to housing (like buying, selling, renting, financing, living in, negotiating for a home, or using housing-related services). It is also illegal to do those things to stop people from taking part in housing without discrimination, from helping others do so, or from lawfully encouraging or protesting equal housing. The crime can be punished by a fine under title 18 or by jail for up to one year, or both. If someone is physically hurt or a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire are used or threatened, the penalty is a fine under title 18 or jail for up to ten years, or both. If the act causes death or involves kidnapping (or attempt), aggravated sexual abuse (or attempt), or an attempt to kill, the penalty is a fine under title 18 or jail for any number of years or for life, or both.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §3631

The Public Health and Welfare, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, by force or threat of force willfully injures, intimidates or interferes with, or attempts to injure, intimidate or interfere with—
(a)any person because of his race, color, religion, sex, handicap (as such term is defined in section 3602 of this title), familial status (as such term is defined in section 3602 of this title), or national origin and because he is or has been selling, purchasing, renting, financing, occupying, or contracting or negotiating for the sale, purchase, rental, financing or occupation of any dwelling, or applying for or participating in any service, organization, or facility relating to the business of selling or renting dwellings; or
(b)any person because he is or has been, or in order to intimidate such person or any other person or any class of persons from—
(1)participating, without discrimination on account of race, color, religion, sex, handicap (as such term is defined in section 3602 of this title), familial status (as such term is defined in section 3602 of this title), or national origin, in any of the activities, services, organizations or facilities described in subsection (a); or
(2)affording another person or class of persons opportunity or protection so to participate; or
(c)any citizen because he is or has been, or in order to discourage such citizen or any other citizen from lawfully aiding or encouraging other persons to participate, without discrimination on account of race, color, religion, sex, handicap (as such term is defined in section 3602 of this title), familial status (as such term is defined in section 3602 of this title), or national origin, in any of the activities, services, organizations or facilities described in subsection (a), or participating lawfully in speech or peaceful assembly opposing any denial of the opportunity to so participate—
shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if bodily injury results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and if death results from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1996—Pub. L. 104–294, § 604(b)(27), substituted “under title 18” for “under this title” wherever appearing in closing provisions. Pub. L. 104–294, § 604(b)(15), made technical amendment to directory language of Pub. L. 103–322, § 320103(e). See 1994 Amendment note below. 1994—Pub. L. 103–322, § 320103(e)(1), as amended by Pub. L. 104–294, § 604(b)(15), which directed amendment in the caption by striking “bodily injury; death;”, could not be executed because the words “bodily injury; death;” do not appear in the section catchline in the original. Pub. L. 103–322, § 320103(e)(2)–(7), as amended by Pub. L. 104–294, § 604(b)(15), in concluding provisions, substituted “under this title” for “not more than $1,000,” before “or imprisoned not more than one year”, inserted “from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include the use, attempted use, or threatened use of a dangerous weapon, explosives, or fire” after “bodily injury results”, substituted “under this title” for “not more than $10,000,” before “or imprisoned not more than ten years”, inserted “from the acts committed in violation of this section or if such acts include kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill,” after “death results”, substituted “fined under this title or imprisoned” for “subject to imprisonment” before “for any term of years”, and inserted “, or both” before period at end. 1988—Cls. (a), (b)(1), (c). Pub. L. 100–430 inserted “, handicap (as such term is defined in section 3602 of this title), familial status (as such term is defined in section 3602 of this title),” after “sex”. 1974—Pub. L. 93–383 inserted “, sex” after “religion” wherever appearing in cls. (a), (b)(1), and (c).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–294 effective Sept. 13, 1994, see section 604(d) of Pub. L. 104–294, set out as a note under section 13 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.

Effective Date

of 1988 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 100–430 effective on 180th day beginning after Sept. 13, 1988, see section 13(a) of Pub. L. 100–430, set out as a note under section 3601 of this title. Federally Protected Activities; PenaltiesPenalties for violations respecting federally protected activities not applicable to and not affecting activities under fair housing provisions of subchapter I of this chapter, see section 101(b) of Pub. L. 90–284, set out as a note under section 245 of Title 18, Crimes and Criminal Procedure.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 3631

Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Sep 22, 2026

Release point: 119-110