Code of the District of Columbia

§ 22–3701. Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter, the term:

(1) "Attorney General" means the Attorney General for the District of Columbia.

(1A) “Bias-related crime” means a designated act that demonstrates an accused’s prejudice based on the actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibility, homelessness, disability, matriculation, or political affiliation of a victim of the subject designated act. A designated act need not solely be based on or because of an accused's prejudice[].

(2) “Designated act” means a criminal act, including arson, assault, burglary, injury to property, kidnapping, manslaughter, murder, rape, robbery, theft, or unlawful entry, and attempting, aiding, abetting, advising, inciting, conniving, or conspiring to commit arson, assault, burglary, injury to property, kidnapping, manslaughter, murder, rape, robbery, theft, or unlawful entry.

(3) “Gender identity or expression” shall have the same meaning as provided in § 2-1401.02(12A).

(4) “Homelessness” means:

(A) The status or circumstance of an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence; or

(B) The status or circumstance of an individual who has a primary nighttime residence that is:

(i) A supervised publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living accommodations, including welfare motels, hotels, congregate shelters, and transitional housing for the mentally ill;

(ii) An institution that provides a temporary residence for individuals intended to be institutionalized; or

(iii) A public or private place not designed for, or ordinarily used as, a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.

(5) "Person" means any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, cooperative, association, or any other organization, legal entity, or group of individuals however organized; provided, that for the purposes of a civil action brought against an individual pursuant to § 22-3705, the term "person" shall not include an individual who is 17 years of age or younger.