DETERRENCE Act

The DETERRENCE Act (S 5398) adds enhanced federal sentencing penalties for certain crimes committed "at the direction of or in coordination with a foreign government." It applies to offenses like kidnapping, murder-for-hire, stalking, attacks on federal officials, and threats against their family members. For these crimes, judges may increase prison sentences by up to 10 years if foreign government involvement is proven, with additional increases for serious outcomes like bodily injury or death. The bill directly affects individuals convicted under these specific federal statutes who are found to have acted with foreign government coordination.