Us Code § 1924 - Unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or material

Full text of Us Code United States Code § 1924 — Unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or material, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.

§ 1924. Unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or material

(a) Whoever, being an officer, employee, contractor, or consultant of the United States, and, by virtue of his office, employment, position, or contract, becomes possessed of documents or materials containing classified information of the United States, knowingly removes such documents or materials without authority and with the intent to retain such documents or materials at an unauthorized location shall be fined under this title or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both.

(b) For purposes of this section, the provision of documents and materials to the Congress shall not constitute an offense under subsection (a).

(c) In this section, the term "classified information of the United States" means information originated, owned, or possessed by the United States Government concerning the national defense or foreign relations of the United States that has been determined pursuant to law or Executive order to require protection against unauthorized disclosure in the interests of national security.

(Added Pub. L. 103–359, title VIII, §808(a), Oct. 14, 1994, 108 Stat. 3453; amended Pub. L. 107–273, div. B, title IV, §4002(d)(1)(C)(i), Nov. 2, 2002, 116 Stat. 1809; Pub. L. 115–118, title II, §202, Jan. 19, 2018, 132 Stat. 19.)


Editorial Notes

Amendments

2018—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–118 substituted "five years" for "one year".

2002—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 107–273 substituted "under this title" for "not more than $1,000,".

CHAPTER 95—RACKETEERING

Sec.
1951.
Interference with commerce by threats or violence.
1952.
Interstate and foreign travel or transportation in aid of racketeering enterprises.
1953.
Interstate transportation of wagering paraphernalia.
1954.
Offer, acceptance, or solicitation to influence operations of employee benefit plan.
1955.
Prohibition of illegal gambling businesses.
1956.
Laundering of monetary instruments.
1957.
Engaging in monetary transactions in property derived from specified unlawful activity.
1958.
Use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire.
1959.
Violent crimes in aid of racketeering activity.
1960.
Prohibition of unlicensed money transmitting businesses.

        

Editorial Notes

Amendments

2001—Pub. L. 107–56, title III, §373(c), Oct. 26, 2001, 115 Stat. 340, substituted "unlicensed" for "illegal" in item 1960.

1992—Pub. L. 102–550, title XV, §1512(b), Oct. 28, 1992, 106 Stat. 4058, added item 1960.

1988—Pub. L. 100–690, title VII, §7053(c), Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat. 4402, redesignated items 1952A and 1952B as 1958 and 1959, respectively, and transferred them to the end of the table of sections.

1986—Pub. L. 99–570, title I, §1352(b), Oct. 27, 1986, 100 Stat. 3207–21, added items 1956 and 1957.

1984—Pub. L. 98–473, title II, §1002(b), Oct. 12, 1984, 98 Stat. 2137, added items 1952A and 1952B.

1970—Pub. L. 91–452, title VIII, §803(b), Oct. 15, 1970, 84 Stat. 938, added item 1955.

1962—Pub. L. 87–420, §17(f), Mar. 20, 1962, 76 Stat. 43, added item 1954.

1961—Pub. L. 87–228, §1(b), Sept. 13, 1961, 75 Stat. 499, added item 1952.

Pub. L. 87–218, §1, Sept. 13, 1961, 75 Stat. 492, added item 1953.

About This Section

18 U.S.C. § 1924 is part of Title 18 of the United States Code. The United States Code is the official codification of federal statutes maintained by the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the U.S. House of Representatives. Congress amends the Code through new public laws, which are eventually incorporated into the relevant title.

This section may be cited in legal writing as 18 U.S.C. § 1924. For the most current official text, including any recent amendments, use the official source links below. Do not rely on this page as the sole authority for legal citation or litigation.

How to Read This Statute

Statutes are organized by title, chapter, section, and subsection. Pay attention to words like "shall," "may," "and," and "or," because they determine whether a requirement is mandatory or permissive and whether multiple conditions must all be met. Historical notes and amendments often appear at the end of a section.

Using This Page

This page is intended for research and educational use. Lawyers, students, journalists, and compliance professionals can use it as a starting point, but should always verify the current text through an official government source before relying on it for legal advice, filings, or compliance decisions.

Sources

Source: official Us Code text · Last verified 2026-08-27

Frequently Asked Questions About Us Code § 1924

What does United States Code § 1924 cover?

Section 1924 ("Unauthorized removal and retention of classified documents or material") is part of the United States Code, the codified statutory law of Us Code. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.

How do I cite Us Code § 1924?

A common citation format is "United States Code § 1924" (Us Code). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.

Is this the official text of Us Code law?

No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Us Code official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Us Code attorney.

How does Us Code § 1924 apply to my situation?

Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Us Code can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.

Sources & Verification

Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Us Code.