
From the U.S. Code Online via GPO Access
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[Laws in effect as of January 23, 2000]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
  January 23, 2000 and December 4, 2001]
[CITE: 42USC3631]

 
                 TITLE 42--THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
 
                        CHAPTER 45--FAIR HOUSING
 
                SUBCHAPTER II--PREVENTION OF INTIMIDATION
 
Sec. 3631. Violations; penalties

    Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, by force or 
threat of force willfully injuries, 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) of this section; 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) of this section, 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.

(Pub. L. 90-284, title IX, Sec. 901, Apr. 11, 1968, 82 Stat. 89; Pub. L. 
93-383, title VIII, Sec. 808(b)(4), Aug. 22, 1974, 88 Stat. 729; Pub. L. 
100-430, Sec. 9, Sept. 13, 1988, 102 Stat. 1635; Pub. L. 103-322, title 
XXXII, Sec. 320103(e), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2110; Pub. L. 104-294, 
title VI, Sec. 604(b)(15), (27), Oct. 11, 1996, 110 Stat. 3507, 3508.)


                               Amendments

    1996--Pub. L. 104-294, Sec. 604(b)(27), substituted ``under title 
18'' for ``under this title'' wherever appearing in closing provisions.
    Pub. L. 104-294, Sec. 604(b)(15), made technical amendment to 
directory language of Pub. L. 103-322, Sec. 320103(e). See 1994 
Amendment note below.
    1994--Pub. L. 103-322, Sec. 320103(e)(1), as amended by Pub. L. 104-
294, Sec. 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, Sec. 320103(e)(2)-(7), as amended by Pub. L. 104-
294, Sec. 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).


                    Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

    Amendment 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 Amendment

    Amendment 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; Penalties

    Penalties 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.

                                     
