18 USC § 25 - Use of minors in crimes of violence

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s25"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 25 - Use of minors in crimes of violence"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "25"
section_name: "Use of minors in crimes of violence"
chapter_number: 1
chapter_name: "GENERAL PROVISIONS"
part_number: "I"
part_name: "CRIMES"
positive_law: true
currency: "119-84"
last_updated: "2026-04-21"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
source_credit: "(Added Pub. L. 108–21, title VI, § 601[(a)], Apr. 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 686.)"
---


# § 25. Use of minors in crimes of violence

**(a)** **Definitions.—** In this section, the following definitions shall apply:

**(1)** **Crime of violence.—** The term “crime of violence” has the meaning set forth in section 16.

**(2)** **Minor.—** The term “minor” means a person who has not reached 18 years of age.

**(3)** **Uses.—** The term “uses” means employs, hires, persuades, induces, entices, or coerces.

**(b)** **Penalties.—** Any person who is 18 years of age or older, who intentionally uses a minor to commit a crime of violence for which such person may be prosecuted in a court of the United States, or to assist in avoiding detection or apprehension for such an offense, shall—

**(1)** for the first conviction, be subject to twice the maximum term of imprisonment and twice the maximum fine that would otherwise be authorized for the offense; and

**(2)** for each subsequent conviction, be subject to 3 times the maximum term of imprisonment and 3 times the maximum fine that would otherwise be authorized for the offense.

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**Source Credit**: (Added Pub. L. 108–21, title VI, § 601[(a)], Apr. 30, 2003, 117 Stat. 686.)