18 U.S.C. § 1583
Section 1583 · Enticement into slavery
Amended 6 times on record
Applied in 15 court decisions — leading case United States v. Mussry (1984)
Most recently applied in Bistline v. Parker (March 2019)
How often courts cite this section
Court decisions citing this, by year.Markers show enactment, consequential amendments, and circuit splits over this section — watch for a citation surge after a change or a disagreement. The dip in the last several years is a data-coverage gap, not a real trend — our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so recent citations are undercounted.
(a) Whoever—
(1) kidnaps or carries away any other person, with the intent that such other person be sold into involuntary servitude, or held as a slave;
(2) entices, persuades, or induces any other person to go on board any vessel or to any other place with the intent that he or she may be made or held as a slave, or sent out of the country to be so made or held; or
(3) obstructs, or attempts to obstruct, or in any way interferes with or prevents the enforcement of this section,
shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 30 years, or both.
(b) Whoever violates this section shall be fined under this title, imprisoned for any term of years or for life, or both if—
(1) the violation results in the death of the victim; or
(2) the violation includes kidnaping, an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse, an attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill.
Editorial notes U.S. Code · Office of the Law Revision Counsel
Historical and Revision Notes
Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., §443 (Mar. 4, 1909, ch. 321, §268, 35 Stat. 1141).
Reference to persons causing or procuring was omitted as unnecessary in view of definition of "principal" in section 2 of this title.
Minor changes were made in paragraphing of section.
Amendments
2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–392 substituted "not more than 30 years" for "not more than 20 years" in concluding provisions.
2008—Pub. L. 110–457 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section provided penalties for kidnapping or enticement of a person with intent to sell or hold such person as a slave.
2000—Pub. L. 106–386, in last par., substituted "20 years" for "10 years" and inserted at end "If death results from the violation of this section, or if the violation includes kidnapping or an attempt to kidnap, aggravated sexual abuse or the attempt to commit aggravated sexual abuse, or an attempt to kill, the defendant shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for any term of years or life, or both."
1996—Pub. L. 104–208 substituted "10 years" for "five years" in last par.
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 substituted "fined under this title" for "fined not more than $5,000" in last par.
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 104–208 applicable with respect to offenses occurring on or after Sept. 30, 1996, see section 218(d) of Pub. L. 104–208, set out as a note under section 1581 of this title.