{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-22-3705","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 22-3705","heading":"Attorney General civil enforcement.","body":"(a)\nThe Attorney General may, irrespective of any criminal prosecution, the result of any criminal prosecution, or any cause of action brought pursuant to § 22-3704, bring, in the name of the District of Columbia, a civil action for appropriate relief whenever any person, whether or not acting under color of law:\n(1)\nCommits a bias-related crime; or\n(2)\nThrough any act of violence, force, fraud, or intimidation:\n(A)\nInterferes or attempts to interfere with an individual's exercise of any right secured by the United States Constitution or District law; or\n(B)\nDeprives any individual of the equal protection of the United States Constitution or District law.\n\n(b)\nIn the course of an investigation to determine whether to seek relief under this section, the Attorney General may subpoena witnesses, administer oaths, require sworn written responses to written questions, examine an individual under oath, and compel production of records, books, papers, contracts, and other documents and materials, subject to the procedures in §§ 1-301.88d and 1-301.88e.\n\n(c)\nAppropriate relief under this section may include:\n(1)\nInjunctive relief;\n(2)\nActual or nominal damages for economic or non-economic loss, including damages for emotional distress;\n(3)\nPunitive damages in an amount to be determined by a jury or a court sitting without a jury, which may include treble damages for any economic or non-economic loss the person suffered;\n(4)\nReasonable attorneys' fees and costs;\n(5)\nA civil penalty of up to $10,000 per act giving rise to a cause of action under subsection (a) of this section; or\n(6)\nAny other relief which the court determines proper.","path":["Title 22. Criminal Offenses and Penalties.","Chapter 37. Bias-Related Crime."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/22-3705","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"9b14e4d70d64ad2dd56ca912ce440073b0b30f5b88f9c91576c3dbdf6a898460","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-22-3704","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-22-3751"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}