18USC2261a

Question

Wondering what is meant by intent?

Stanley Dale Radtke · Answer

Here is the United States Code section in question: 
 
18 U.S. Code § 2261.Interstate domestic violence 
 
(a)Offenses.— 
 
(1)Travel or conduct of offender.— 
A person who travels in interstate or foreign commerce or enters or leaves Indian country or is present within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States with the intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate a spouse, intimate partner, or dating partner, and who, in the course of or as a result of such travel or presence, commits or attempts to commit a crime of violence against that spouse, intimate partner, or dating partner, shall be punished as provided in subsection (b). 
 
(2)Causing travel of victim.— 
A person who causes a spouse, intimate partner, or dating partner to travel in interstate or foreign commerce or to enter or leave Indian country by force, coercion, duress, or fraud, and who, in the course of, as a result of, or to facilitate such conduct or travel, commits or attempts to commit a crime of violence against that spouse, intimate partner, or dating partner, shall be punished as provided in subsection (b). 
 
Here is the legal definition of intent: 
 
intent 
 
n. mental desire and will to act in a particular way, including wishing not to participate. Intent is a crucial element in determining if certain acts were criminal. Occasionally a judge or jury may find that "there was no criminal intent." Example: lack of intent may reduce a charge of manslaughter to a finding of reckless homicide or other lesser crime.

Dale S. Gribow · Answer

if you are/were resolved or determined to do (something). 
 
it will be defined by the judge for the jury and they will decide if there was intent as opposed to negligence.

Tim Akpinar · Answer

The statute you cite is 18 USC 2261A - Stalking, and it states: 
 
Whoever- 
(1) travels in interstate or foreign commerce or is present within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, or enters or leaves Indian country, with the intent to kill, injure, harass, intimidate, or place under surveillance with intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate another person, and in the course of, or as a result of, such travel or presence engages in conduct that- 
(A) places that person in reasonable fear of the death of, or serious bodily injury to- 
(i) that person; 
(ii) an immediate family member (as defined in section 115) of that person; 
(iii) a spouse or intimate partner of that person; or 
(iv) the pet, service animal, emotional support animal, or horse of that person; or 
 
(B) causes, attempts to cause, or would be reasonably expected to cause substantial emotional distress to a person described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of subparagraph (A); or 
 
(2) with the intent to kill, injure, harass, intimidate, or place under surveillance with intent to kill, injure, harass, or intimidate another person, uses the mail, any interactive computer service or electronic communication service or electronic communication system of interstate commerce, or any other facility of interstate or foreign commerce to engage in a course of conduct that- 
(A) places that person in reasonable fear of the death of or serious bodily injury to a person, a pet, a service animal, an emotional support animal, or a horse described in clause (i), (ii), (iii), or (iv) of paragraph (1)(A); or 
(B) causes, attempts to cause, or would be reasonably expected to cause substantial emotional distress to a person described in clause (i), (ii), or (iii) of paragraph (1)(A), 
 
shall be punished as provided in section 2261(b) of this title. 
 
Intent means that something is done on purpose, with the aim of bringing about a result. It looks like you chose the Admiralty/Maritime category because the statute mentions, " ...travels in interstate or foreign commerce or is present within the special MARITIME AND TERRITORIAL jurisdiction of the United States, or enters or leaves Indian country,... " 
 
That is to identify the scope of territory in which the statute operates. However, this is not a maritime law matter. If you are doing this in the course of research, you could read the statute for yourself. If this is a real-life, actual matter where your actions resulted in involving this statute, you should consult with a criminal defense attorney, not a maritime attorney. In criminal law, intent is a term that has many facets and elements and it would be best if a criminal defense attorney advised you as to their significance. Good luck 
 
Tim Akpinar

Q: 18USC2261a