Maiming within maritime and territorial jurisdiction
Official text prohibited actmental stateif conditionpenaltylegal term
Whoever, within the , and with intent to torture (as defined in section 2340), maim, or disfigure, cuts, bites, or slits the nose, ear, or lip, or cuts out or disables the tongue, or puts out or destroys an eye, or cuts off or disables a limb or any member of another person; or
Whoever, within the , and with like intent, throws or pours upon another person, any scalding water, corrosive acid, or caustic substance—
Shall be or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both.
History: (June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 689 (PDF, 39 MB); May 24, 1949, ch. 139, §3, 63 Stat. 90 (PDF, 5.2 MB); Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §1009A, Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2141 (PDF, 62 MB); Pub. L. 101–647, title XXXV, §3507, Nov. 29, 1990, 104 Stat. 4922 (PDF, 27 MB); Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(O), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148 (PDF, 52 MB); Pub. L. 104–132, title VII, §705(a)(1), Apr. 24, 1996, 110 Stat. 1295.)
Simplified explanation
It is a federal crime, within special federal jurisdiction (such as federal lands or U.S. ships), to cut, bite, disable, or destroy another person's nose, ear, lip, tongue, eye, limb, or other body part with intent to torture, maim, or disfigure them. Throwing or pouring scalding water, acid, or caustic substances on someone with the same intent is also covered.