Definition and penalty.
Effective Jun 11, 2013Feb. 13, 1885, 23 Stat. 303, ch. 58, § 3; Mar. 3, 1901, 31 Stat. 1322, ch. 854, § 814; May 21, 1994, D.C. Law 10-119, § 7, 41 DCR 1639; Aug. 20, 1994, D.C. Law 10-151, § 201, 41 DCR 2608; June 11, 2013, D.C. Law 19-317, § 211, 60 DCR 2064
- (a) A person commits the crime of cruelty to children in the first degree if that person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly tortures, beats, or otherwise willfully maltreats a child under 18 years of age or engages in conduct which creates a grave risk of bodily injury to a child, and thereby causes bodily injury.
(b) A person commits the crime of cruelty to children in the second degree if that person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly:
- (1) Maltreats a child or engages in conduct which causes a grave risk of bodily injury to a child; or
- (2) Exposes a child, or aids and abets in exposing a child in any highway, street, field house, outhouse or other place, with intent to abandon the child.
(c)
- (1) Any person convicted of cruelty to children in the first degree shall be fined not more than $10,000 or be imprisoned not more than 15 years, or both.
- (2) Any person convicted of cruelty to children in the second degree shall be fined not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01 or be imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both.
History
Feb. 13, 1885, 23 Stat. 303, ch. 58, § 3
Mar. 3, 1901, 31 Stat. 1322, ch. 854, § 814
May 21, 1994, D.C. Law 10-119, § 7, 41 DCR 1639
Aug. 20, 1994, D.C. Law 10-151, § 201, 41 DCR 2608
June 11, 2013, D.C. Law 19-317, § 211, 60 DCR 2064
Editor's Notes
Applicability of D.C. Law 19-317: Section 401 of D.C. Law 19-317 provided that the act shall apply only to offenses committed on or after June 11, 2013.
Emergency Legislation
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 211 of the Criminal Fine Proportionality Emergency Act of 2013 (D.C. Act 20-45, April 1, 2013, 60 DCR 5400, 20 DCSTAT 1300).
For temporary amendment of section, see § 201 of the Omnibus Criminal Justice Reform Emergency Amendment Act of 1994 (D.C. Act 10-255, June 22, 1994, 41 DCR 4286).
Effect of Amendments
The 2013 amendment by D.C. Law 19-317 substituted “not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01” for “not more than $10,000” in (c)(1) and (c)(2).
Prior Codifications
1973 Ed., § 22-901.
1981 Ed., § 22-901.
Section References
This section is referenced in § 24-112.
Cross References
Corroboration of child witness testimony, necessity, see § 23-114.