2023 District of Columbia Code › Title 22 - Criminal Offenses and Penalties › Chapter 32 - Theft; Fraud; Stolen Property; Forgery; and Extortion › Subchapter I - General Provisions › § 22–3201. Definitions

§ 22–3201. Definitions.
For the purposes of this chapter, the term:
(1) “Appropriate” means to take or make use of without authority or right.
(2) “Deprive” means:
(A) To withhold property or cause it to be withheld from a person permanently or for so extended a period or under such circumstances as to acquire a substantial portion of its value; or
(B) To dispose of the property, or use or deal with the property so as to make it unlikely that the owner will recover it.
(2A) “Person” means an individual (whether living or dead), trust, estate, fiduciary, partnership, company, corporation, association, organization, union, government department, agency, or instrumentality, or any other legal entity.
(3) “Property” means anything of value. The term “property” includes, but is not limited to:
(A) Real property, including things growing on, affixed to, or found on land;
(B) Tangible or intangible personal property;
(C) Services;
(D) Credit;
(E) Debt; and
(F) A government-issued license, permit, or benefit.
(4) “Property of another” means any property in which a government or a person other than the accused has an interest which the accused is not privileged to interfere with or infringe upon without consent, regardless of whether the accused also has an interest in that property. The term “property of another” includes the property of a corporation or other legal entity established pursuant to an interstate compact. The term “property of another” does not include any property in the possession of the accused as to which any other person has only a security interest.
(5) “Services” includes, but is not limited to:
(A) Labor, whether professional or nonprofessional;
(B) The use of vehicles or equipment;
(C) Transportation, telecommunications, energy, water, sanitation, or other public utility services, whether provided by a private or governmental entity;
(D) The supplying of food, beverage, lodging, or other accommodation in hotels, restaurants, or elsewhere;
(E) Admission to public exhibitions or places of entertainment; and
(F) Educational and hospital services, accommodations, and other related services.
(6) “Stolen property” includes any property that has been obtained by conduct previously known as embezzlement.
(7) “Value” with respect to a credit card, check, or other written instrument means the amount of money, credit, debt, or other tangible or intangible property or services that has been or can be obtained through its use, or the amount promised or paid by the credit card, check, or other written instrument.
(Dec. 1, 1982, D.C. Law 4-164, § 101, 29 DCR 3976; Dec. 10, 2009, D.C. Law 18-88, § 214(a), 56 DCR 7413.)
Prior Codifications
1981 Ed., § 22-3801.
Section References
This section is referenced in § 7-1901 and § 22-3227.01.
Effect of Amendments
D.C. Law 18-88, added par. (2A); in par. (3), deleted “and” from the end of subpar. (B), substituted a semicolon for a period at the end of subpar. (C), and added subpars. (D) to (F); and added par. (7).
Cross References
Exploitation, adult protective services, see § 7-1901.
Emergency Legislation
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 102(a) of Crime Bill Emergency Amendment Act of 2009 (D.C. Act 18-129, June 29, 2009, 56 DCR 5495).