DETERRENCE Act

This act lets judges add extra prison time when certain crimes are done for a foreign government or its agents. The person must know they are acting at a foreign government’s direction. Covered crimes include kidnapping, murder-for-hire, hurting or threatening a federal official’s family, stalking, crimes against federal officers and employees, and crimes targeting the President and Presidential staff.

• Who is affected
  • People who commit these crimes for a foreign government or its agents; victims can include the public, federal officials and their families, federal officers and employees, and the President and staff.
• What changes (extra prison time a judge can add)
  • Kidnapping: up to 10 years; attempts up to 5; conspiracies up to 10.
  • Murder-for-hire: up to 5 years, or up to 10 years if someone is injured.
  • Threats or harm to a federal official’s family: up to 5 years for certain assaults; up to 10 years if there’s bodily injury, certain serious sexual conduct, or a dangerous weapon; up to 10 years for murder, attempted murder, or conspiracy to murder.
  • Stalking: up to 5 years if there’s serious bodily injury, a weapon, or the victim is under 18; up to 10 years if the victim dies; up to 30 months in other cases.
  • Crimes against federal officers and employees: up to 10 years.
  • Crimes targeting the President or Presidential staff: up to 10 years; also applies to certain conspiracies and to cases involving a weapon or injury.