{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-22-811","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 22-811","heading":"Contributing to the delinquency of a minor.","body":"(a)\nIt is unlawful for an adult, being 4 or more years older than a minor, to invite, solicit, recruit, assist, support, cause, encourage, enable, induce, advise, incite, facilitate, permit, or allow the minor to:\n(1)\nBe truant from school;\n(2)\nPossess or consume alcohol or, without a valid prescription, a controlled substance as that term is defined in § 48-901.02(4);\n(3)\nRun away for the purpose of criminal activity from the place of abode of his or her parent, guardian, or other custodian;\n(4)\nViolate a court order;\n(5)\nViolate any criminal law of the District of Columbia for which the penalty constitutes a misdemeanor, except for acts of civil disobedience;\n(6)\nJoin a criminal street gang as that term is defined in § 22-951(e)(1); or\n(7)\nViolate any criminal law of the District of Columbia for which the penalty constitutes a felony, or any criminal law of the United States, or the criminal law of any other jurisdiction that involves conduct that would constitute a felony if committed in the District of Columbia, except for acts of civil disobedience.\n\n(b)\n(1)\nExcept as provided in paragraphs (2), (4) and (5) of this subsection, a person convicted of violating subsection (a)(1)-(6) of this section shall be fined not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01, or imprisoned for not more than 6 months, or both.\n(2)\nA person convicted of violating subsection (a)(2)-(6) of this section, having previously been convicted of an offense under subsection (a)(2)-(6) of this section or a substantially similar offense in this or any other jurisdiction, shall be fined not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01 or imprisoned for not more than 3 years, or both.\n(3)\nExcept as provided in paragraphs (4) and (5) of this subsection, a person convicted of violating subsection (a)(7) of this section shall be fined not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01 or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.\n(4)\nA person convicted of violating subsection (a) of this section that results in serious bodily injury to the minor or any other person shall be fined not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01 or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both.\n(5)\nA person convicted of violating subsection (a) of this section that results in the death of the minor or any other person shall be fined not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01 or imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or both.\n\n(c)\nThe penalties under this section are in addition to any other penalties permitted by law.\n\n(d)\nIt is not a defense to a prosecution under this section that the minor does not engage in, is not charged with, is not adjudicated delinquent for, or is not convicted as an adult, for any conduct set forth in subsection (a)(1)-(7) of this section.\n\n(e)\nThe Attorney General for the District of Columbia, or his or her assistants, shall prosecute a violation of subsection (a) of this section for which the penalty is set forth in subsection (c)(1) of this section.\n\n(f)\nFor the purposes of this section, the term:\n(1)\n“Adult” means a person 18 years of age or older at the time of the offense.\n(2)\n“Minor” means a person under 18 years of age at the time of the offense.","path":["Title 22. Criminal Offenses and Penalties.","Chapter 8A. Crimes Committed Against Minors."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/22-811","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"533cfc7ef862e59b94ab884123d18aae7829d17cbed7a92c2343075275820959","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-22-801","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-22-851"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}