{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-22-951","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 22-951","heading":"Criminal street gangs.","body":"(a)\n(1)\nIt is unlawful for a person to solicit, invite, recruit, encourage, or otherwise cause, or attempt to cause, another individual to become a member of, remain in, or actively participate in what the person knows to be a criminal street gang.\n(2)\nA person convicted of a violation of this subsection 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\n(b)\n(1)\nIt is unlawful for any person who is a member of or actively participates in a criminal street gang to knowingly and willfully participate in any felony or violent misdemeanor committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with any other member or participant of that criminal street gang.\n(2)\nA person convicted of a violation of this subsection 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\n(c)\n(1)\nIt is unlawful for a person to use or threaten to use force, coercion, or intimidation against any person or property, in order to:\n(A)\nCause or attempt to cause an individual to:\n(i)\nJoin a criminal street gang;\n(ii)\nParticipate in activities of a criminal street gang;\n(iii)\nRemain as a member of a criminal street gang; or\n(iv)\nSubmit to a demand made by a criminal street gang to commit a felony in violation of the laws of the District of Columbia, the United States, or any other state; or\n(B)\nRetaliate against an individual for a refusal to:\n(i)\nJoin a criminal street gang;\n(ii)\nParticipate in activities of a criminal street gang;\n(iii)\nRemain as a member of a criminal street gang; or\n(iv)\nSubmit to a demand made by a criminal street gang to commit a felony in violation of the laws of the District of Columbia, the United States, or any other state.\n(2)\nA person convicted of a violation of this subsection 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(d)\nThe penalties under this section are in addition to any other penalties permitted by law.\n\n(e)\nFor the purposes of this section, the term:\n(1)\n“Criminal street gang” means an association or group of 6 or more persons that:\n(A)\nHas as a condition of membership or continued membership, the committing of or actively participating in committing a crime of violence, as defined by § 23-1331(4)); or\n(B)\nHas as one of its purposes or frequent activities, the violation of the criminal laws of the District, or the United States, except for acts of civil disobedience.\n(2)\n“Violent misdemeanor” shall mean:\n(A)\nDestruction of property (§ 22-303);\n(B)\nSimple assault (§ 22-404(a));\n(C)\nStalking (§ 22-404(b) [see now § 22-3132]);\n(D)\nThreats to do bodily harm (§ 22-407);\n(E)\nCriminal abuse or criminal neglect of a vulnerable adult (§ 22-936(a));\n(F)\nCruelty to animals (§ 22-1001(a)); and\n(G)\nPossession of prohibited weapon (§ 22-4514).","path":["Title 22. Criminal Offenses and Penalties.","Chapter 9B. Criminal Street Gangs."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/22-951","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"1fa5c5067518c04547bf96e5be28505943167bc0dc1bd49cb8673a8d97ac7dd6","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-22-938","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-22-1001"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}