<section xmlns="http://xml.house.gov/schemas/uslm/1.0" xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:dcterms="http://purl.org/dc/terms/" style="-uslm-lc:I80" id="id745a569b-3b28-11eb-ad8c-9fba61cd9daf" identifier="/us/usc/t18/s247"><num value="247">§ 247.</num><heading> Damage to religious property; obstruction of persons in the free exercise of religious beliefs</heading><subsection style="-uslm-lc:I11" class="indent0" id="id745a569c-3b28-11eb-ad8c-9fba61cd9daf" identifier="/us/usc/t18/s247/a"><num value="a">(a)</num><chapeau> Whoever, in any of the circumstances referred to in subsection (b) of this section—</chapeau><paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I12" class="indent1" id="id745a569d-3b28-11eb-ad8c-9fba61cd9daf" identifier="/us/usc/t18/s247/a/1"><num value="1">(1)</num><content> intentionally defaces, damages, or destroys any religious real property, because of the religious character of that property, or attempts to do so; or</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I12" class="indent1" id="id745a569e-3b28-11eb-ad8c-9fba61cd9daf" identifier="/us/usc/t18/s247/a/2"><num value="2">(2)</num><content> intentionally obstructs, by force or threat of force, including by threat of force against religious real property, any person in the enjoyment of that person’s free exercise of religious beliefs, or attempts to do so;</content>
</paragraph>

<continuation style="-uslm-lc:I10" class="indent0 firstIndent0">shall be punished as provided in subsection (d).</continuation>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I11" class="indent0" id="id745a569f-3b28-11eb-ad8c-9fba61cd9daf" identifier="/us/usc/t18/s247/b"><num value="b">(b)</num><content> The circumstances referred to in subsection (a) are that the offense is in or affects interstate or foreign commerce.</content>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I11" class="indent0" id="id745a56a0-3b28-11eb-ad8c-9fba61cd9daf" identifier="/us/usc/t18/s247/c"><num value="c">(c)</num><content> Whoever intentionally defaces, damages, or destroys any religious real property because of the race, color, or ethnic characteristics of any individual associated with that religious property, or attempts to do so, shall be punished as provided in subsection (d).</content>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I11" class="indent0" id="id745a56a1-3b28-11eb-ad8c-9fba61cd9daf" identifier="/us/usc/t18/s247/d"><num value="d">(d)</num><chapeau> The punishment for a violation of subsection (a) or (c) of this section shall be—</chapeau><paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I12" class="indent1" id="id745a56a2-3b28-11eb-ad8c-9fba61cd9daf" identifier="/us/usc/t18/s247/d/1"><num value="1">(1)</num><content> if death results from 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, a fine in accordance with this title and imprisonment for any term of years or for life, or both, or may be sentenced to death;</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I12" class="indent1" id="id745a56a3-3b28-11eb-ad8c-9fba61cd9daf" identifier="/us/usc/t18/s247/d/2"><num value="2">(2)</num><content> if bodily injury results to any person, including any public safety officer performing duties as a direct or proximate result of conduct prohibited by this section, and the violation is by means of fire or an explosive, a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more that 40 years, or both;</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I12" class="indent1" id="id745a56a4-3b28-11eb-ad8c-9fba61cd9daf" identifier="/us/usc/t18/s247/d/3"><num value="3">(3)</num><content> if bodily injury to any person, including any public safety officer performing duties as a direct or proximate result of conduct prohibited by this section, 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, a fine in accordance with this title and imprisonment for not more than 20 years, or both;</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I12" class="indent1" id="id745a56a5-3b28-11eb-ad8c-9fba61cd9daf" identifier="/us/usc/t18/s247/d/4"><num value="4">(4)</num><content> if damage to or destruction of property results from the acts committed in violation of this section, which damage to or destruction of such property is in an amount that exceeds $5,000, a fine in accordance with this title, imprisonment for not more than 3 years, or both; and</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I12" class="indent1" id="id745a56a6-3b28-11eb-ad8c-9fba61cd9daf" identifier="/us/usc/t18/s247/d/5"><num value="5">(5)</num><content> in any other case, a fine in accordance with this title and imprisonment for not more than one year, or both.</content>
</paragraph>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I11" class="indent0" id="id745a56a7-3b28-11eb-ad8c-9fba61cd9daf" identifier="/us/usc/t18/s247/e"><num value="e">(e)</num><content> No prosecution of any offense described in this section shall be undertaken by the United States except upon the certification in writing of the Attorney General or his designee that in his judgment a prosecution by the United States is in the public interest and necessary to secure substantial justice.</content>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I11" class="indent0" id="id745a56a8-3b28-11eb-ad8c-9fba61cd9daf" identifier="/us/usc/t18/s247/f"><num value="f">(f)</num><content> As used in this section, the term “religious real property” means any church, synagogue, mosque, religious cemetery, or other religious real property, including fixtures or religious objects contained within a place of religious worship, or real property owned or leased by a nonprofit, religiously affiliated organization.</content>
</subsection>
<subsection style="-uslm-lc:I11" class="indent0" id="id745a56a9-3b28-11eb-ad8c-9fba61cd9daf" identifier="/us/usc/t18/s247/g"><num value="g">(g)</num><content> No person shall be prosecuted, tried, or punished for any noncapital offense under this section unless the indictment is found or the information is instituted not later than 7 years after the date on which the offense was committed.</content>
</subsection>
<sourceCredit id="id745a56aa-3b28-11eb-ad8c-9fba61cd9daf">(Added <ref href="/us/pl/100/346/s1">Pub. L. 100–346, § 1</ref>, <date date="1988-06-24">June 24, 1988</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/102/644">102 Stat. 644</ref>; amended <ref href="/us/pl/103/322/tVI/s60006/d">Pub. L. 103–322, title VI, § 60006(d)</ref>, title XXXII, § 320103(d), <date date="1994-09-13">Sept. 13, 1994</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/108/1971">108 Stat. 1971</ref>, 2110; <ref href="/us/pl/104/155/s3">Pub. L. 104–155, § 3</ref>, <date date="1996-07-03">July 3, 1996</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/110/1392">110 Stat. 1392</ref>; <ref href="/us/pl/104/294/tVI">Pub. L. 104–294, title VI</ref>, §§ 601(c)(3), 605(r), <date date="1996-10-11">Oct. 11, 1996</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/110/3499">110 Stat. 3499</ref>, 3511; <ref href="/us/pl/107/273/dB/tIV/s4002/c/1">Pub. L. 107–273, div. B, title IV, § 4002(c)(1)</ref>, (e)(4), <date date="2002-11-02">Nov. 2, 2002</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/116/1808">116 Stat. 1808</ref>, 1810; <ref href="/us/pl/115/249/s2">Pub. L. 115–249, § 2</ref>, <date date="2018-09-28">Sept. 28, 2018</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/132/3162">132 Stat. 3162</ref>.)</sourceCredit>
<notes type="uscNote" id="id745a56ab-3b28-11eb-ad8c-9fba61cd9daf">
<note style="-uslm-lc:I74" role="crossHeading" topic="editorialNotes" id="id745a56ac-3b28-11eb-ad8c-9fba61cd9daf"><heading class="centered"><b>Editorial Notes</b></heading></note>
<note style="-uslm-lc:I74" topic="amendments" id="id745a56ad-3b28-11eb-ad8c-9fba61cd9daf"><heading class="centered smallCaps">Amendments</heading><p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">2018—Subsec. (a)(2). <ref href="/us/pl/115/249/s2/1">Pub. L. 115–249, § 2(1)</ref>, inserted “including by threat of force against religious real property,” after “threat of force,”.</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">Subsec. (d). <ref href="/us/pl/115/249/s2/2/A">Pub. L. 115–249, § 2(2)(A)</ref>, inserted “or (c)” after “subsection (a)” in introductory provisions.</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">Subsec. (d)(4), (5). <ref href="/us/pl/115/249/s2/2/B">Pub. L. 115–249, § 2(2)(B)</ref>–(D), added par. (4) and redesignated former par. (4) as (5).</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">Subsec. (f). <ref href="/us/pl/115/249/s2/3">Pub. L. 115–249, § 2(3)</ref>, inserted “, or real property owned or leased by a nonprofit, religiously affiliated organization” before period at end.</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">2002—Subsec. (d). <ref href="/us/pl/107/273/s4002/c/1">Pub. L. 107–273, § 4002(c)(1)</ref>, repealed amendment by <ref href="/us/pl/104/294/s605/r">Pub. L. 104–294, § 605(r)</ref>. See 1996 Amendment note below.</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">Subsec. (e). <ref href="/us/pl/107/273/s4002/e/4">Pub. L. 107–273, § 4002(e)(4)</ref>, made technical correction to directory language of <ref href="/us/pl/104/294/s601/c/3">Pub. L. 104–294, § 601(c)(3)</ref>. See 1996 Amendment note below.</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">1996—Subsec. (a). <ref href="/us/pl/104/155/s3/1">Pub. L. 104–155, § 3(1)</ref>, substituted “subsection (d)” for “subsection (c) of this section” in concluding provisions.</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">Subsec. (b). <ref href="/us/pl/104/155/s3/3">Pub. L. 104–155, § 3(3)</ref>, added subsec. (b) and struck out former subsec. (b) which read as follows: “The circumstances referred to in subsection (a) are that—</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1">“(1) in committing the offense, the defendant travels in interstate or foreign commerce, or uses a facility or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce in interstate or foreign commerce; and</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1">“(2) in the case of an offense under subsection (a)(1), the loss resulting from the defacement, damage, or destruction is more than $10,000.”</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">Subsec. (c). <ref href="/us/pl/104/155/s3/2">Pub. L. 104–155, § 3(2)</ref>, added subsec. (c). Former subsec. (c) redesignated (d).</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">Subsec. (d). <ref href="/us/pl/104/294/s605/r">Pub. L. 104–294, § 605(r)</ref>, which directed the substitution of “certification” for “notification” in subsec. (d), was repealed by <ref href="/us/pl/107/273/s4002/c/1">Pub. L. 107–273, § 4002(c)(1)</ref>.</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">Subsec. (d). <ref href="/us/pl/104/155/s3/2">Pub. L. 104–155, § 3(2)</ref>, redesignated subsec. (c) as (d). Former subsec. (d) redesignated (e).</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">Subsec. (d)(2). <ref href="/us/pl/104/155/s3/4/C">Pub. L. 104–155, § 3(4)(C)</ref>, added par. (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (3).</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">Subsec. (d)(3). <ref href="/us/pl/104/155/s3/4/A">Pub. L. 104–155, § 3(4)(A)</ref>, (B), redesignated par. (2) as (3), inserted “to any person, including any public safety officer performing duties as a direct or proximate result of conduct prohibited by this section,” after “bodily injury” and substituted “20 years” for “ten years”. Former par. (3) redesignated (4).</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">Subsec. (d)(4). <ref href="/us/pl/104/155/s3/4/B">Pub. L. 104–155, § 3(4)(B)</ref>, redesignated par. (3) as (4).</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">Subsec. (e). <ref href="/us/pl/104/294/s601/c/3">Pub. L. 104–294, § 601(c)(3)</ref>, as amended by <ref href="/us/pl/107/273/s4002/e/4">Pub. L. 107–273, § 4002(e)(4)</ref>, substituted “certification” for “notification”.</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0"><ref href="/us/pl/104/155/s3/2">Pub. L. 104–155, § 3(2)</ref>, redesignated subsec. (d) as (e). Former subsec. (e) redesignated (f).</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">Subsec. (f). <ref href="/us/pl/104/155/s3/2">Pub. L. 104–155, § 3(2)</ref>, (5), redesignated subsec. (e) as (f), inserted “, including fixtures or religious objects contained within a place of religious worship” before the period, and substituted “religious real property” for “religious property” in two places.</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">Subsec. (g). <ref href="/us/pl/104/155/s3/6">Pub. L. 104–155, § 3(6)</ref>, added subsec. (g).</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">1994—Subsec. (c)(1). <ref href="/us/pl/103/322/s320103/d/1">Pub. L. 103–322, § 320103(d)(1)</ref>, inserted “from 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”.</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0"><ref href="/us/pl/103/322/s60006/d">Pub. L. 103–322, § 60006(d)</ref>, inserted “, or may be sentenced to death” after “or both”.</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">Subsec. (c)(2). <ref href="/us/pl/103/322/s320103/d/2">Pub. L. 103–322, § 320103(d)(2)</ref>, struck out “serious” before “bodily” and 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 “injury results”.</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0">Subsec. (e). <ref href="/us/pl/103/322/s320103/d/3">Pub. L. 103–322, § 320103(d)(3)</ref>, amended subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (e) read as follows: “As used in this section—</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1">“(1) the term ‘religious real property’ means any church, synagogue, mosque, religious cemetery, or other religious real property; and</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1">“(2) the term ‘serious bodily injury’ means bodily injury that involves a substantial risk of death, unconsciousness, extreme physical pain, protracted and obvious disfigurement, or protracted loss or impairment of the function of a bodily member, organ, or mental faculty.”</p>
</note>
<note style="-uslm-lc:I74" role="crossHeading" topic="statutoryNotes" id="id745cc7ae-3b28-11eb-ad8c-9fba61cd9daf"><heading class="centered"><b>Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries</b></heading></note>
<note style="-uslm-lc:I74" topic="effectiveDateOfAmendment" id="id745cc7af-3b28-11eb-ad8c-9fba61cd9daf"><heading class="centered smallCaps">Effective Date of 2002 Amendment</heading><p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0"><ref href="/us/pl/107/273/dB/tIV/s4002/c/1">Pub. L. 107–273, div. B, title IV, § 4002(c)(1)</ref>, <date date="2002-11-02">Nov. 2, 2002</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/116/1808">116 Stat. 1808</ref>, provided that the amendment made by section 4002(c)(1) is effective <date date="1996-10-11">Oct. 11, 1996</date>.</p>
<p style="-uslm-lc:I21" class="indent0"><ref href="/us/pl/107/273/dB/tIV/s4002/e/4">Pub. L. 107–273, div. B, title IV, § 4002(e)(4)</ref>, <date date="2002-11-02">Nov. 2, 2002</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/116/1810">116 Stat. 1810</ref>, provided that the amendment made by section 4002(e)(4) is effective <date date="1996-10-11">Oct. 11, 1996</date>.</p>
</note>
<note style="-uslm-lc:I74" topic="miscellaneous" id="id745cc7b0-3b28-11eb-ad8c-9fba61cd9daf"><heading class="centered smallCaps">Congressional Findings</heading><p><ref href="/us/pl/104/155/s2">Pub. L. 104–155, § 2</ref>, <date date="1996-07-03">July 3, 1996</date>, <ref href="/us/stat/110/1392">110 Stat. 1392</ref>, provided that: <quotedContent origin="/us/pl/104/155/s2">
<inline>“The Congress finds the following:</inline>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1"><num value="1">“(1)</num><content> The incidence of arson or other destruction or vandalism of places of religious worship, and the incidence of violent interference with an individual’s lawful exercise or attempted exercise of the right of religious freedom at a place of religious worship pose a serious national problem.</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1"><num value="2">“(2)</num><content> The incidence of arson of places of religious worship has recently increased, especially in the context of places of religious worship that serve predominantly African-American congregations.</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1"><num value="3">“(3)</num><content> Changes in Federal law are necessary to deal properly with this problem.</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1"><num value="4">“(4)</num><content> Although local jurisdictions have attempted to respond to the challenges posed by such acts of destruction or damage to religious property, the problem is sufficiently serious, widespread, and interstate in scope to warrant Federal intervention to assist State and local jurisdictions.</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1"><num value="5">“(5)</num><content> Congress has authority, pursuant to the Commerce Clause of the Constitution, to make acts of destruction or damage to religious property a violation of Federal law.</content>
</paragraph>
<paragraph style="-uslm-lc:I22" class="indent1"><num value="6">“(6)</num><content> Congress has authority, pursuant to section 2 of the 13th amendment to the Constitution, to make actions of private citizens motivated by race, color, or ethnicity that interfere with the ability of citizens to hold or use religious property without fear of attack, violations of Federal criminal law.”</content>
</paragraph>
</quotedContent>
</p>
</note>
</notes>
</section>