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District of Columbia Criminal Laws

Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last updated November 28, 2016

Welcome to FindLaw's section covering Washington, D.C.'s criminal laws, including summaries of various criminal offenses and statutes regulating such penalties as capital punishment and restraining orders. This section provides practical information for non-attorneys about such criminal laws as driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs; domestic violence and child abuse; first- and second-degree murder; and various financial crimes, including pyramid schemes and identity theft. You'll also find articles about gun control laws, information about D.C.'s criminal courts, and drug prohibition laws. Click on a link below to learn more about the District of Columbia's criminal laws.

Learn About District of Columbia Laws

  • District of Columbia DUI Laws

    Overview of impaired driving (DUI) laws in the District of Columbia, including blood-alcohol concentration levels (BAC), driver's license suspensions for refusing a BAC test, and penalties for DUI convictions.

  • District of Columbia Marijuana Laws

    Details about marijuana regulations in the District of Columbia, where the herb is legal for recreational use (with some limitations), despite the ongoing federal prohibition of marijuana.

  • D.C. Rape and Sexual Assault Laws

    General summary of the District of Columbia's rape and sexual assault laws, which range in classification from serious misdemeanors to first degree felonies with lifetime prison sentences.

  • District of Columbia Child Abuse Laws

    Explanation of what constitutes child abuse under D.C. statute and the penalties for offenders, including a list of those who are considered mandatory reporters of child abuse.

  • District of Columbia Identity Theft Law

    Basics of D.C.'s statutory prohibition of identity theft, which is the use of another individual's personally identifying data (such as one's Social Security Number) for fraudulent activity.

  • D.C. Second-Degree Murder Law

    The definition of second-degree murder in the District of Columbia and information about sentencing guidelines, general overview of the crime, and links to the statute and related materials.

District of Columbia Criminal Law Articles

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