{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-22-3152","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 22-3152","heading":"Definitions.","body":"For the purposes of this chapter, the term:\n\n(1)\n“Act of terrorism” means an act or acts that constitute a specified offense as defined in paragraph (8) of this section and that are intended to:\n(A)\nIntimidate or coerce a significant portion of the civilian population of:\n(i)\nThe District of Columbia; or\n(ii)\nThe United States; or\n(B)\nInfluence the policy or conduct of a unit of government by intimidation or coercion.\n\n(2)\n“Biological agent” means any microorganism, virus, infectious substance, or biological product that may be engineered as a result of biotechnology, or any naturally occurring or bioengineered component of any such microorganism, virus, infectious substance, or biological product, capable of causing:\n(A)\nDeath, disease, or other biological malfunction in a human, an animal, a plant, or another living organism;\n(B)\nDeterioration of food, water, equipment, supplies, or material of any kind; or\n(C)\nDeleterious alteration of the environment.\n\n(3)\n“Hoax weapon of mass destruction” means any device or object that by its design, construction, content, or characteristics, appears to be or to contain, or is represented to be or to contain a weapon of mass destruction, even if it is, in fact, an inoperative facsimile or imitation of a weapon of mass destruction, or contains no weapon of mass destruction.\n\n(4)\n“Material support or resources” means:\n(A)\nExpert services or assistance;\n(B)\nCurrency, financial securities or other monetary instruments, financial services, lodging, training, false documentation or identification, equipment, facilities, weapons, lethal substances, explosives, personnel, transportation, and other physical assets; or\n(C)\nA weapon of mass destruction.\n\n(5)\n“Nuclear material” means material containing any:\n(A)\nPlutonium;\n(B)\nUranium not in the form of ore or ore residue that contains the mixture of isotopes as occurring in nature;\n(C)\nEnriched uranium, defined as uranium that contains the isotope 233 or 235 or both in such amount that the abundance ratio of the sum of those isotopes to the isotope 238 is greater than the ratio of the isotope 235 to the isotope 238 occurring in nature; or\n(D)\nUranium 233.\n\n(6)\n“Provision of material support or resources for an act of terrorism” means the act of providing material support or resources to a person or an organization with the purpose or knowledge that the material support or resources will be used, in whole or in part, to plan, prepare, or carry out an act of terrorism, or to flee after committing an act of terrorism.\n\n(7)\n“Solicitation of material support or resources to commit an act of terrorism” means the act of raising, soliciting, or collecting material support or resources with the purpose or knowledge that such material support or resources will be used, in whole or in part, to plan, prepare, or carry out an act of terrorism, or to flee after committing an act of terrorism.\n\n(8)\n“Specified offense” means:\n(A)\nSection 22-2101 (Murder in the first degree);\n(B)\nSection 22-2102 (Murder in the first degree — placing obstructions upon or displacement of railroads);\n(C)\nSection 22-2106 (Murder of law enforcement officer or public safety employee);\n(D)\nSection 22-2103 (Murder in the second degree);\n(E)\nSection 22-2105 (Manslaughter);\n(F)\nSection 22-2001 (Kidnapping and conspiracy to kidnap);\n(G)\nSection 22-401 (Assault with intent to kill only);\n(H)\nSection 22-406 (Mayhem or maliciously disfiguring);\n(I)\nSection 22-301 (Arson);\n(J)\nSection 22-303 (Malicious burning, destruction, or injury of another’s property, if the property is valued at $500,000 or more); or\n(K)\nAn attempt or conspiracy to commit any of the offenses listed in subparagraphs (A) through (J) of this paragraph.\n\n(9)\n“Toxic or poisonous chemical” means any chemical which, through its chemical action on life processes, can cause death, permanent incapacitation, or permanent harm to humans.\n\n(10)\n“Toxin” means the toxic material of plants, animals, microorganisms, viruses, fungi, or infectious substances, or a recombinant molecule, whatever its origin or method of production, including:\n(A)\nAny poisonous substance or biological product that may be engineered as a result of biotechnology produced by a living organism; or\n(B)\nAny poisonous isomer or biological product, homolog, or derivative of such a substance;\n\n(11)\n“Unit of government” means:\n(A)\nThe office of the President of the United States;\n(B)\nThe United States Congress;\n(C)\nAny federal executive department or agency;\n(D)\nThe office of the Mayor of the District of Columbia;\n(E)\nAny executive department or agency of the District of Columbia, including any independent agency, board, or commission;\n(F)\nThe Council of the District of Columbia;\n(G)\nThe Superior Court of the District of Columbia;\n(H)\nThe District of Columbia Court of Appeals;\n(I)\nThe United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia;\n(J)\nThe United States District Court for the District of Columbia; or\n(K)\nThe Supreme Court of the United States.\n\n(12)\n“Weapon of mass destruction” means:\n(A)\nAny destructive device that is designed, intended, or otherwise used to cause death or serious bodily injury, including:\n(i)\nAn explosive, incendiary, or poison gas:\n(I)\nBomb;\n(II)\nGrenade;\n(III)\nRocket;\n(IV)\nMissile;\n(V)\nMine; or\n(VI)\nDevice similar to any of the devices described in the preceding clauses;\n(ii)\nA mortar, cannon, or artillery piece; or\n(iii)\nAny combination of parts either designed or intended for use in converting any device into a device described in sub-subparagraphs (i) through (iii) of this paragraph and from which such device may be readily assembled;\n(B)\nAn object similar to or used to achieve the same destructive effect of any of the devices described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph;\n(C)\nAny weapon that is designed, intended, or otherwise used to cause death or serious bodily injury through the release, dissemination, or impact of a toxic or poisonous chemical;\n(D)\nAny weapon that is designed, intended, or otherwise used to cause death or serious bodily injury through the release, dissemination, or impact of a biological agent or toxin; or\n(E)\nAny weapon that is designed, intended, or otherwise used to cause death or serious bodily injury through the release, dissemination, or impact of radiation or radioactivity, or that contains nuclear material.","path":["Title 22. Criminal Offenses and Penalties.","Chapter 31B. Terrorism."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/22-3152","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"787116ad776ed5cb590fd4aeaa71b33e7fe77b41c7146e6c49d4a200390b1655","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-22-3151","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-22-3153"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}