18 USC § 753 - Rescue to prevent execution

---
identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s753"
source: "usc"
legal_status: "official_legal_evidence"
title: "18 USC § 753 - Rescue to prevent execution"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
section_number: "753"
section_name: "Rescue to prevent execution"
chapter_number: 35
chapter_name: "ESCAPE AND RESCUE"
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: "(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 735; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(O), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148.)"
---


# § 753. Rescue to prevent execution

Whoever, by force, sets at liberty or rescues any person found guilty in any court of the United States of any capital crime, while going to execution or during execution, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty-five years, or both.

---

**Source Credit**: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 735; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, § 330016(1)(O), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148.)

### Historical and Revision Notes

Based on title 18, U.S.C., 1940 ed., § 248 (, ).

Mandatory punishment provision was rephrased in the alternative.

Minor changes were made in phraseology.

## Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1994— substituted “fined under this title” for “fined not more than $25,000”.