Source: http://dccode.elaws.us/code?no=16-2301
Timestamp: 2019-11-22 20:49:33
Document Index: 243191668

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 16', '§ 22', '§ 22', '§ 22', '§ 22', '§ 48', '§ 32', '§ 1', '§ 121', '§ 110', '§ 2', '§ 4', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 3', '§ 401', '§ 65', '§ 10', '§ 301', '§ 3', '§ 3', '§ 55', '§ 202', '§ 2', '§ 20', '§ 3', '§ 20', '§ 16', '§ 16', '§ 301', '§ 2', '§ 4', '§ 4', '§ 301', '§ 301', '§ 301', '§ 201', '§ 301', '§ 201']

§ 16-2301. Definitions.
(1) The term "Division" means the Family Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Pursuant to section 16-2301.01, the term "Division" shall be deemed to refer to the Family Court of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
(1A) "Family Court" means the Family Court of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
(2) The term "judge" means a judge assigned to the Family Division of the Superior Court.
For purposes of this subchapter the term "child" also includes a person under the age of twenty-one who is charged with an offense referred to in subparagraph (A)(i) or (C) committed before he attained the age of sixteen, or a delinquent act committed before he attained the age of eighteen.
(4) The term "minor" means an individual who is under the age of twenty-one years.
(5) The term "adult" means an individual who is twenty-one years of age or older.
(7) The term "delinquent act" means an act designated as an offense under the law of the District of Columbia, or of a State if the act occurred in a State, or under Federal law. Traffic offenses shall not be deemed delinquent acts unless committed by an individual who is under the age of sixteen.
(8) The term "child in need of supervision" means a child who-
(9)(A) The term "neglected child" means a child:
(i) who has been abandoned or abused by his or her parent, guardian, or custodian, or whose parent, guardian, or custodian has failed to make reasonable efforts to prevent the infliction of abuse upon the child. For the purposes of this sub-subparagraph, the term "reasonable efforts" includes filing a petition for civil protection from intrafamily violence pursuant to section 16-1003;
(12) The term "custodian" means a person or agency, other than a parent or legal guardian:
(13) The term "detention" means the temporary, secure custody of a child in facilities, designated by the Division, pending a final disposition of a petition.
(14) The term "shelter care" means the temporary care of a child in physically unrestricting facilities, designated by the Division, pending a final disposition of a petition.
(15) The term "detention or shelter care hearing" means a hearing to determine whether a child who is in custody should be placed or continued in detention or shelter care.
(16) The term "factfinding hearing" means a hearing to determine whether the allegations of a petition are true.
(17) The term "dispositional hearing" means a hearing, after a finding of fact, to determine-
(18) The term "probation" means a legal status created by Division order following an adjudication of delinquency or need of supervision, whereby a minor is permitted to remain in the community subject to appropriate supervision and return to the Division for violation of probation at any time during the period of probation.
(19) The term "protective supervision" means a legal status created by Division order in neglect cases whereby a minor is permitted to remain in his home under supervision, subject to return to the Division during the period of protective supervision.
(20) The term "guardianship of the person of a minor" means the duty and authority to make important decisions in matters having a permanent effect on the life and development of the minor, and concern with his general welfare. It includes (but is not limited to)-
(21) The term "legal custody" means a legal status created by Division order which vests in a custodian the responsibility for the custody of a minor which includes-
(C) the responsibility to provide the minor with food, shelter, education, and ordinary medical care. A Division order of "legal custody" is subordinate to the rights and responsibilities of the guardian of the person of the minor and any residual parental rights and responsibilities.
(22) The term "residual parental rights and responsibilities" means those rights and responsibilities remaining with the parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including (but not limited to) the right of visitation, consent to adoption, and determination of religious affiliation and the responsibility for support.
(23)(A) The term "abused", when used with reference to a child, means:
(B)(i) The term "abused", when used with reference to a child, does not include discipline administered by a parent, guardian or custodian to his or her child; provided, that the discipline is reasonable in manner and moderate in degree and otherwise does not constitute cruelty. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term "discipline" does not include:
(V) interfering with a child's breathing; and
(VI) threatening a child with a dangerous weapon or using such a weapon on a child. For purposes of this provision, the term "dangerous weapon" means a firearm, a knife, or any of the prohibited weapons described in section 22- 4514.
(24) The term "negligent treatment" or "maltreatment" means failure to provide adequate food, clothing, shelter, or medical care, which includes medical neglect, and the deprivation is not due to the lack of financial means of his or her parent, guardian, or other custodian.
(25) The term "sexual exploitation" means a parent, guardian, or other custodian allows a child to engage in prostitution as defined in section 2(1) of the Control of Prostitution and Sale of Controlled Substances in Public Places Criminal Control Act of 1981, effective December 10, 1981 (D.C. Law 4- 57; § 22-2701.01), or means a parent, guardian, or other custodian engages a child or allows a child to engage in obscene or pornographic photography, filming, or other forms of illustrating or promoting sexual conduct as defined in section 2(5) of the District of Columbia Protection of Minors Act of 1982, effective March 9, 1983 (D.C. Law 4-173; § 22-3101(5)).
(26) The term "parenting classes" means any program which enhances the parenting skills of individuals through providing role models, discussion, training in early childhood development and child psychology, or other instruction designed to strengthen the parent, guardian, or custodian's ability to nurture children.
(27) The term "family counseling" means any psychological or psychiatric or other social service offered by a provider to the parent and 1 or more members of the extended family or the child's guardian or other caretaker of a child who has been adjudicated neglected, delinquent, or in need of supervision. A caretaker is an adult person in whose care a minor has been entrusted by written authorization of the child's parent, guardian, or legal custodian.
(28) The term "entry into foster care" means the earlier of:
(29) The term "Agency" means the Child and Family Services Agency established by section 6-2121.01.
(30) The term "physical injury" means bodily harm greater than transient pain or minor temporary marks.
(31) The term "mental injury" means harm to a child's psychological or intellectual functioning, which may be exhibited by severe anxiety, depression, withdrawal, or outwardly aggressive behavior, or a combination of those behaviors, and which may be demonstrated by a change in behavior, emotional response, or cognition.
(32) The term "sexual abuse" means:
(33) The term "sexually explicit conduct" means actual or simulated:
(34) The term "sexual act" shall have the same meaning as provided in section 101(8) of the Anti-Sexual Abuse Act of 1994, effective May 23, 1995 (D.C. Law 10-257; D.C. Official Code § 22-3001(8)).
(35) The term "sexual contact" shall have the same meaning as provided in section 101(9) of the Anti-Sexual Abuse Act of 1994, effective May 23, 1995 (D.C. Law 10-257; D.C. Official Code § 22-3001(9)).
(36) The term "controlled substance" means a drug or chemical substance, or immediate precursor, as set forth in Schedules I through V of the District of Columbia Uniform Controlled Substances Act of 1981, effective August 5, 1981 (D.C. Law 4-29; D.C. Official Code § 48-901.01 et seq.), which has not been prescribed by a physician.
(37) The term "drug-related activity" means the use, sale, distribution, or manufacture of a drug or drug paraphernalia without a legally valid license or medical prescription.
(38) The term "incompetent to proceed" means that a child alleged to be delinquent is not competent to participate in a hearing on the petition pursuant to section 16-2316(a) or any other hearing in a delinquency proceeding, except scheduling, status, and competency hearings, because he or she does not have sufficient present ability to consult with his or her lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding or does not have a rational, as well as a factual, understanding of the proceedings against him or her.
(39) The term "psychiatrist" means a physician who is licensed to practice medicine in the District of Columbia, or is employed by the federal government, and has completed a residency in psychiatry.
(40) The term "qualified psychologist" means a person who is licensed pursuant to section 3-1205.01, and has one year of formal training within a hospital setting, or 2 years of supervised clinical experience in an organized health care setting, one of which must be post-doctoral.
(41)(A) The term "victim" means any person, organization, partnership, business, corporation, agency or governmental entity:
(B) The term "victim" shall not include any person who committed or aided or abetted in the commission of the crime, delinquent act, or attempted crime or delinquent act.
(42) The term "immediate family member" means:
(A) the person's parent, brother, sister, grandparent, or child, and the spouse of any such parent, brother, sister, grandparent, or child;
(43) The term "weapons offense" means any violation of any law, rule, or regulation which involves the sale, purchase, transfer in any manner, receipt, acquisition, possession, having under control, use, repair, manufacture, carrying, or transportation of any firearm, ammunition, or destructive device as these terms are defined in section 7-2501.01.
(44) The term "domestic partner"shall have the same meaning as provided in § 32-701(3).
(45) The term "Superior Court" means the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
(Dec. 23, 1963, 77 Stat. 586, Pub. L. 88-241, § 1; July 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 523, Pub. L. 91-358, title I, § 121(a); Sept. 23, 1977, D.C. Law 2-22, title I, § 110(a), 24 DCR 3341; Mar. 12, 1986, D.C. Law 6-90, § 2, 33 DCR 307; Mar. 15, 1990, D.C. Law 8-87, § 4(a), 37 DCR 50; June 8, 1990, D.C. Law 8-134, § 2(a), 37 DCR 2613; Mar. 6, 1991, D.C. Law 8-200, § 2, 37 DCR 7334; Mar. 16, 1995, D.C. Law 10-227, § 3(a), 42 DCR 4; May 23, 1995, D.C. Law 10-257, § 401(e), 42 DCR 53; Apr. 18, 1996, D.C. Law 11-110, § 65, 43 DCR 530; Mar. 24, 1998, D.C. Law 12-81, § 10(u), 45 DCR 745; June 27, 2000, D.C. Law 13-136, § 301(a)(1), 47 DCR 2850; Apr. 4, 2001, D.C. Law 13- 277, § 3(a)(1), 48 DCR 2043; Oct. 19, 2002, D.C. Law 14-206, § 3(a), 49 DCR 7815; Mar. 13, 2004, D.C. Law 15-105, § 55, 51 DCR 881; Mar. 17, 2005, D.C. Law 15-261, § 202(a), 52 DCR 1188; Mar. 14, 2007, D.C. Law 16-274, § 2(a), 54 DCR 864; Sept. 12, 2008, D.C. Law 17-231, § 20(g), 55 DCR 6758; Mar. 8, 2011, D.C. Law 18-284, § 3(b), 57 DCR 10477; Sept. 26, 2012, D.C. Law 19-169, § 20(c)(2), 59 DCR 5567.)
1981 Ed., § 16-2301.
1973 Ed., § 16-2301.
D.C. Law 14-206 rewrote pars. (9) and (23); and added pars. (30) through (37). Pars. (9) and (23) had read as follows:
"(9) The term 'neglected child' means a child:
"(A) who has been abandoned or abused by his or her parent, guardian, or other custodian; or
"(B) who is without proper parental care or control, subsistence, education as required by law, or other care or control necessary for his or her physical, mental, or emotional health, and the deprivation is not due to the lack of financial means of his or her parent, guardian, or other custodian; or
"(C) whose parent, guardian, or other custodian is unable to discharge his or her responsibilities to and for the child because of incarceration, hospitalization, or other physical or mental incapacity; or
"(D) whose parent, guardian, or custodian refuses or is unable to assume the responsibility for the child's care, control or subsistence and the person or institution which is providing for the child states an intention to discontinue such care; or
"(E) who is in imminent danger of being abused and whose sibling has been abused; or
"(F) who has received negligent treatment or maltreatment from his or her parent, guardian, or other custodian. No child who in good faith is under treatment solely by spiritual means through prayer in accordance with the tenets and practices of a recognized church or religious denomination by a duly accredited practitioner thereof shall for that reason alone be considered a neglected child for the purposes of this subchapter; and
"(G) who has resided in a hospital located in the District of Columbia for at least 10 calendar days following the birth of the child, despite a medical determination that the child is ready for discharge from the hospital, and the parent, guardian, or custodian of the child has not taken any action or made any effort to maintain a parental, guardianship, or custodial relationship or contact with the child. No child who in good faith is under treatment solely by spiritual means through prayer in accordance with the tenets and practices of a recognized church or religious denomination by a duly accredited practitioner thereof shall for that reason alone be considered a neglected child for the purposes of this subchapter.
"(23) The term 'abused', when used with reference to a child, means a child whose parent, guardian, or custodian inflicts or fails to make reasonable efforts to prevent the infliction of physical or mental injury upon the child, including excessive corporal punishment, an act of sexual abuse, molestation, or exploitation, or an injury that results from exposure to drug-related activity in the child's home environment."
D.C. Law 16-274, in par. (1), at the end of the paragraph, added "Pursuant to section 16-2301.01, the term 'Division' shall be deemed to refer to the Family Court of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia."; and added pars. (1A) and (43), defining "Family Court" and "weapons offense", respectively.
D.C. Law 19-169 repealed pars. (10) and (11), which formerly read:
"(10) The term 'mentally ill child' means a child who is mentally ill within the meaning of section 21-501.
"(11) The term 'substantially retarded child' means a child who is substantially retarded within the meaning of section 21-1101 et seq."
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 301(a) of Adoption and Safe Families Temporary Amendment Act of 1999 (D.C. Law 13-56, March 7, 2000, law notification 47 DCR 1978).
For temporary amendment of section, see § 2 of the District of Columbia Public School Firearm Prohibition Emergency Act of 1989 (D.C. Act 8-4, March 7, 1989, 36 DCR 1906).
For temporary amendment of section, see § 4 of the Prevention of Child Neglect Emergency Amendment Act of 1993 (D.C. Act 10-100, August 9, 1993, 40 DCR 6141).
For temporary amendment of section, see § 4 of the Prevention of Child Neglect Emergency Amendment Act of 1994 (D.C. Act 10-288, July 22, 1994, 41 DCR 4992).
For temporary (90-day) amendment of section, see § 301(a) of the Adoption and Safe Families Emergency Amendment Act of 1999 (D.C. Act 13-117, July 28, 1999, 46 DCR 6558).
For temporary (90-day) amendment of section, see § 301(a) of the Adoption and Safe Families Legislative Review Emergency Amendment Act of 1999 (D.C. Act 13- 178, November 2, 1999, 46 DCR 9714).
For temporary (90-day) amendment of section, see § 301(a) of the Adoption and Safe Families Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 1999 (D.C. Act 13-240, January 11, 2000, 47 DCR 556).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 201(a) of Enhanced Crime Prevention and Abatement Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-446, July 21, 2006, 53 DCR 6477).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 301(a) of Crime Reduction Initiative Emergency Amendment Act of 2006 (D.C. Act 16-491, October 19, 2006, 53 DCR 8818).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 201(a) of Crime Reduction Initiative Congressional Review Emergency Amendment Act of 2007 (D.C. Act 17-9, January 16, 2007, 54 DCR 1471).
Law 6-90 was introduced in council and assigned Bill No. 6-104, which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on November 19, 1985, and December 3, 1985, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on December 30, 1985, it was assigned Act No. 6-118 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 8-1, the "District of Columbia Public School Firearm Prohibition Temporary Act of 1989," was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 8-130. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on February 14, 1989, and February 28, 1989, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on March 21, 1989, it was assigned Act No. 8-8 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 8-1 became effective on May 16, 1989.
Law 8-134, the "Infant and Child Abandonment Prevention Amendment Act of 1990," was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 8-404, which was referred to the Committee on Human Services. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on March 13, 1990, and March 27, 1990, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on April 13, 1990, it was assigned Act No. 8-190 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
Law 8-200, the "Child Abuse and Neglect Amendment Act of 1990," was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 8-81, which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on October 9, 1990, and October 23, 1990, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on November 8, 1990, it was assigned Act No. 8-263 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review.
D.C. Law 10-61, the "Prevention of Child Neglect Temporary Amendment Act of 1993," was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 10-374. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on July 21, 1993, and September 21, 1993, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on October 1, 1993, it was assigned Act No. 10-114 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 10- 61 became effective on November 20, 1993.
Law 10-227, the "Parental Responsibility Amendment Act of 1994," was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 10-634, which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on November 1, 1994, and December 6, 1994, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on December 27, 1994, it was assigned Act No. 10-368 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 10-227 became effective on March 16, 1995.
Law 16-274, the "Mandatory Juvenile Public Safety Notification Act of 2006", was introduced in Council and assigned Bill No. 16-732, which was referred to Committee on Judiciary. The Bill was adopted on first and second readings on December 5, 2006, and December 19, 2006, respectively. Signed by the Mayor on December 28, 2006, it was assigned Act No. 16-630 and transmitted to both Houses of Congress for its review. D.C. Law 16-274 became effective on March 14, 2007.
Prompt Payment of Appointed Counsel. Section 129 of Pub. L. 107-96, Dec. 21, 2001, 115 Stat. 953, provides: