Teen Dating Violence Summit

OAG's Teen Dating Violence Summit

Teen Dating Violence Summit Poster

According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, 39% of women who live in the District of Columbia have reported physical assault, sexual assault, or stalking by a current or former intimate partner. To support youth and healthy relationships, OAG provides training to youth across the District on how to recognize different types of abuse, and how kids can get help if they need it. Now, student ambassadors from these trainings will lead a summit for teenagers to help them identify healthy relationships and eliminate unhealthy behaviors through interactive panels and discussion.

Friday, February 21
12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
* FREE * LUNCH PROVIDED * GIVEAWAYS * DCPS COMMUNITY SERVICE CREDITS *

R.I.S.E. Demonstration Center
2730 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE
(Congress Heights Metro)

Click here to register

Contact OAGCommunity@dc.gov for information and/or to register.

This event is sponsored by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG), Break the Cycle, and DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Do the Write Thing Challenge 2021

20-21 DtWT Flyer

The District is in the grips of a violence epidemic. With lives at risk, we need a comprehensive, “all-hands on deck” response from leaders across the District—and that includes the young people who see the impacts of this crisis up close.

That’s the idea behind the “Do the Write Thing Challenge,” a national essay contest that gives middle school students the chance to speak out about how violence affects their lives, and share their ideas about what we all must do to stop it. By elevating their thinking around how to end gun violence and create a safe city that supports their hopes and dreams, we can offer them new pathways to begin the healing process. In turn, when a student writes about how they are afraid to go to sleep because they hear gunshots that make them stay up all night, their words obligate us to stop, listen, and act.

Below are more details about the program, along with a link where youth can submit their essays online. All essayists—along with their principals, teachers, and family—will be invited to a recognition celebration at the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) in April 2021. 

Final submissions are due on June 4, 2021 by 11:59 p.m.  

Please join OAG in encouraging our youth to participate in the Do the Write Thing Challenge and help us elevate their ideas to end violence and make the District safer.

Click here to submit an essay for the "Do the Write Thing" Challenge.

DC’s Red Flag Law: Removing Guns From Potentially Dangerous Persons

COVID-19 UPDATE: During the COVID-19 public health emergency, you can complete the below ERPO form electronically and then contact the Court to complete the filing by phone at (202) 879-0157 or by email at domesticviolencemanagement@dcsc.gov.

Are you concerned about a friend or family member who owns a gun and could be a danger to themselves or others? Learn how the District’s “Red Flag Law” can be used to remove a firearm from a potentially dangerous individual.

DC Red Flag Law
OAG's educational handout on DC's Red Flag Law. Full PDF linked below.

 

How the Red Flag Law Works
In December 2018, a new law was passed in the District of Columbia to help keep the District and its residents safe by quickly removing guns from people who are considered a danger to themselves or others. This “Red Flag” law allows certain District residents to petition the D.C. Superior Court to issue Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs), which requires the temporary removal of firearms and ammunition from potentially dangerous persons.

Who can seek an ERPO:

  • Family Members
  • Guardians
  • Domestic Partners
  • Romantic Partners or Dates
  • Parent of a Child in Common
  • Roommates
  • Police Officers
  • Mental Health Professionals

How to seek an ERPO:
Fill out a FREE form called a Petition and file it with the D.C. Superior Court. The Petition must include facts supporting the claim that the person in possession of firearms or ammunition is a danger to themselves or others. File the petition in person at:

D.C. Superior Court

500 Indiana Ave. NW, Room 4510

Washington, DC 20001

Or

Anacostia Professional Building

2041 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., SE, Room 400

Washington, DC

20020

How the Court grants an ERPO:
The requester can see a judge within one business day even before the person knows about the case.  If the court determines that the person poses a significant danger to themselves or another, it can issue a temporary ERPO taking away the person’s firearms and ammunition pending a full hearing.

The requester will then have to go back to court for another hearing within 14 days to get a one-year order.  The court can only decide whether to issue a one-year order after the person it is filed against has been served by MPD with the petition and both parties have been given the chance to present their evidence to the court.

What happens if a Temporary ERPO is granted:
Police will contact the person who is the subject of the ERPO to retrieve any firearms and ammunition. A search warrant can be issued, if necessary. The police will also serve copies of the Petition on the person and a copy of the temporary order.

What happens if an ERPO is granted:
If the firearms and ammunition where not seized as a result of a Temporary ERPO, the police will seize them. This order can be in effect for up to one year and can be renewed. Anyone who peaceably surrenders any firearms or ammunition in response to an ERPO cannot be arrested or prosecuted for unlawfully possessing or carrying the firearms or ammunition.

Resources

Reminder: Anyone can dispose of unwanted firearms or ammunition by delivering them to any police station unloaded, in a locked container, and separate from any ammunition or by requesting that a police officer retrieve them by calling 911. No one who surrenders a firearm or ammunition this way is required to furnish identification, photographs, or fingerprints and cannot be arrested for possession of an unregistered firearm or ammunition. For more information on how to turn in a firearm or ammunition, please call the Firearms Registration Branch at (202)727-4275.

The Attorney General’s Right Direction Awards

2022 Right Direction Awards

AG Racine and Zion Kelly
Zion Kelly (right) receiving his Right Direction Award from Attorney General Karl Racine (left) at the 5th Annual Right Direction Awards.

The Office of the Attorney General is excited to bring back the Right Direction Awards. Started by AG Racine in 2015, this ceremony is an annual celebration that honors District youth who have overcome significant challenges or who have positively affected their community. Over the past several years, the Office of the Attorney General has celebrated over 150 inspiring young people through this award program.

The purpose of Right Direction Awards Ceremony is to help uplift and recognize youth in the District. This year’s award ceremony will be the last of AG Racine’s tenure.

Every day we are inspired by the tenacity, resilience, and engagement of youth across the District – especially those who have had to overcome obstacles like generational poverty and trauma. Over the past few years, the COVID-19 pandemic has thrown even more challenges at youth that they never saw coming. At the Office of the Attorney General, we have worked to harness their energy and help propel them forward so they can thrive and become the next leaders of the District. That’s what these awards are all about.

Nominate District Youth

We’re asking DC residents to help us identify exceptional young people to receive a Right Direction Award. If you know a young person (age 14-24) in the District who should be recognized for overcoming challenges and being a positive role model, we invite you to share their story with us.

Please share this within your personal, professional, and community networks to ensure our youth are acknowledged for their resiliency and hard work. 

Deadline: All nominations must be submitted by Wednesday, October 5, 2022 (by 11:59 PM EST) to be eligible.

Click here to nominate an inspiring young person for a Right Direction Award.

QR Code

Eligibility Requirements

  • Nominee must be a DC resident.
  • Nominee must be 14-24 years old.
  • If the nominee is selected as a winner, they must complete a public release form.

About the Ceremony

AG Racine will hold the Right Direction Award Ceremony on October 12, 2022. At that event, he will announce the winners of the 2022 Right Direction Awards. Their family will be invited as well as District agencies, school teachers and administrators, community leaders, and after school programs.

Winners will receive:

  • Recognition in an OAG press release;
  • A framed Right Direction Award signed and presented by Attorney General Karl Racine; and
  • Other prizes.

Questions

If you have any questions, please email oagcommunity@dc.gov.

2018-2019 Annual Report and Resource Guide

Click here to read the full 2018-2019 Annual Report and Resource Guide.

Annual Report Banner

Four years ago, I ran to become the District’s first elected attorney general on a promise of establishing an independent Office of the Attorney General (OAG) that would use the law to serve the public interest. I pledged to vigorously protect our residents, advance the District’s interests in court, and become recognized as one of our country’s premier AG offices. While there is more work to be done, I believe we have lived up to that promise.

OAG has developed programs that reduce crime by getting kids out of the juvenile justice system and on the right path. We’ve taken legal action against slumlords and businesses that harm our residents. Over the past four years, OAG’s legal work has resulted in more than $2.5 billion in savings and benefits to the District and relief for harmed consumers. In the years ahead, we are committed to developing new strategies and initiatives to protect District residents. Our focus will include:

  • Reducing gun violence and saving lives in the District: In response to an alarming spike in homicides, OAG launched a violence interruption pilot program — “Cure the Streets” — at two sites with some of the District’s highest rates of gun violence. This program uses proven public-health strategies that treat violence like a disease that can be interrupted, treated, and stopped from spreading. OAG is working to expand this program and is looking at other strategies to combat gun violence and to stem the flow of illegal guns into the District.
     
  • Addressing the harmful effects of childhood trauma: In too many District communities, youth face debilitating poverty, exposure to violence, and abuse and neglect. These experiences can induce trauma that, if left untreated, can have long-term negative effects on kids’ brain development and their ability to stay on the right track. To support these youth, we will explore new strategies to increase access to mental and behavioral health services and early intervention programs that treat the symptoms of trauma.
     
  • Fighting elder abuse and protecting vulnerable residents: Too many of our senior citizens are victimized by unscrupulous individuals and organizations. OAG has launched a Special Victims Unit to seek justice for seniors, children, and other vulnerable victims of abuse and violent crimes. We have used enhanced authority to protect seniors from fraudulent caregivers and scammers and will double down on these efforts in coordination with agency partners.
     
  • Standing up for our civil and human rights: To better protect the civil rights of all District residents, OAG will dedicate resources to protecting residents from discrimination and other harm based on gender, race, religion, country of origin, sexual orientation, and disability.

I deeply appreciate the trust that District residents have placed in me and I am grateful for our talented, dedicated team of lawyers and professionals. I am also thankful for the strong support and consistent engagement of District residents, the Council, and the willingness of the Executive Office of the Mayor to partner on matters that help our residents.

As I embark on this second term, District residents can rest assured that OAG will not rest on its laurels; indeed, we are more committed and energized than ever to continue the important work of protecting and improving the lives of District residents. Together, we can move the District forward.

Sincerely,
Karl A. Racine
Attorney General

Defending Our Immigrant Community

Immigrants represent approximately 100,000 of the District’s 700,000 residents and add immeasurable value to our communities and economy. OAG is working to protect our immigrant community through public education, community engagement, and defending their rights in court.

OAG Resources

  • Information on the Public Charge Rule: We know that many District residents have questions and concerns about the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) new Public Charge Rule. This Trump administration rule affects people applying for new visas, visa renewals, or lawful permanent resident status (green cards) on or after February 24, 2020. This page contains general information about the public charge rule and how D.C. residents can get further information and assistance. The information in English and Spanish is for general educational purposes and is not legal advice.
     
  • Know your rights if ICE knocks on your door: In 2018, local news outlets reported that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials detained District residents in predominantly Latino neighborhoods and suggested the agency engaged in racial profiling. OAG issued “Know Your Rights” tips for residents in English and Spanish.
     
  • Know your rights about immigration enforcement in the workplace: In response to heightened concerns over immigration enforcement in the workplace, OAG released guidance to help employers and employees know their rights in English and Spanish.
     
  • Know your rights about immigration enforcement in schools: In an effort to clarify student rights and allay concerns over immigration enforcement at schools, OAG released guidance for District school personnel about protecting the rights of students and their families in English and Spanish.

Community Engagement

  • Immigrant Community Forum: OAG organized a multilingual forum about issues important to the immigrant community at the Carlos Rosario International Public Charter School. The presentation informed residents about issues including how to report wage theft, what steps to take if landlords fail to make critical home repairs, and what to do if ICE knocks on your door. Click here to watch a recording of that presentation.
     
  • Pro Bono Immigration Trainings: Navigating the immigration process can be a difficult task if you don’t have the resources to afford a lawyer. To increase immigrants’ access to legal services and ensure the justice system works for everyone, OAG hosts trainings to help local lawyers understand immigration proceedings and how they can provide free legal support to District residents. Click here to watch a recording of that training.

Cure the Streets: OAG’s Violence Interruption Program

Cure the Streets is a public safety program launched by OAG aimed at reducing gun violence. It operates in discrete high violence neighborhoods using a data-driven, public-health approach to gun violence by treating it as a disease that can be interrupted, treated, and stopped from spreading. Research and data show that empowering communities to interrupt violence, intervening with those most likely to commit or be victims of violence, and changing norms around violence can have long-lasting impacts. That’s why OAG launched Cure the Streets in several targeted neighborhoods that have historically experienced some of the highest rates of gun violence. OAG staff manage grants to organizations that administer the program and monitor data regarding its efficacy.

Cure the Streets is based on the Cure Violence Global model, which employs local, credible individuals who have deep ties to the neighborhood in which they work. Here how’s the program works:

How Cure the Streets Works

Cure the Streets is designed to address certain types of gun crimes, those that result from reciprocal violence. It is not intended to address, for example, intimate partner violence or violence related to random crime.

The Cure Violence public health approach to violence reduction has had success in cities across the country. But it is not solution by itself. Rather, Cure the Streets and violence interruption efforts are a needed piece in a much larger effort to reduce crime and violence, that includes the critical work of police, prosecutors, more involvement in trauma reduction services, and workforce development. Those larger efforts to improve public safety also should include aggressive gun safety reform, holding individuals accountable when they commit crimes and changing their behavior, so they are less likely to reoffend in the future, and addressing the root causes of crime in our communities including poverty, hopelessness, and trauma to break the cycle of violence

Cure the Streets Sites

OAG launched the program in the summer of 2018. In December 2019, four additional sites began preparing for operations. Six sites were fully operational by January 2020, and by fall of 2021, DC Council allocated funding for an additional four sites. In March, 2022, OAG announced partner organizations to run the new sites. The program will now operate program sites in Wards 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. Each site was chosen after an analysis of data regarding where the program is likely to have the greatest impact. Included in that analysis was MPD incident and shot spotter data, as well community intelligence regarding shootings, homicides, and warring neighborhoods. After identifying areas with persistent gun homicides and shootings, Cure the Streets staff reached out to community members in the areas to understand the nature of the violence. Each of the sites has experienced high levels of gun violence both historically as well as in the past few years.

Current Cure the Streets Sites (for FY25)

For more information about where and how Cure the Streets operates, click here.

Data on Cure the Streets

See the Cure the Streets Data Dashboard here.

Contact Us

Contact OAG's Cure the Streets team at curethestreets@dc.gov.

Additional Resources

Supervisory Attorney Advisor (Land Use & Public Works Section Chief), Commercial Division (#19-014, Closing: 12/21/18)

GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

 

POSITION VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

ANNOUNCEMENT NO:       #19-014

POSITION TITLE:  

SUPERVISORY ATTORNEY ADVISOR

(Land Use and Public Works Section Chief)

POSITION GRADE & SERIES:  LX-1 Band

SALARY RANGE:   $130,000 – $155,000

 

Salary in this range will be based on a multitude of factors including applicable rules, regulations and guidelines. 

OPENING DATE:   December 7, 2018

CLOSING DATE:   December 21, 2018

DURATION OF APPOINTMENT: Permanent

AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Open to the Public

WORKSITE LOCATION:

Office of the Attorney General

   for the District of Columbia

Commercial Division

Land Use and Public Works Section

441 4th Street NW

Washington, DC 20001

NO. OF VACANCIES:  One (1)

This position is outside of the collective bargaining unit. 

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:   The Commercial Division of the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia seeks a Supervisory Attorney Advisor to manage the Land Use and Public Works Section (Section) within the Commercial Division (Division). The Section provides legal assistance to the Zoning Commission for the District of Columbia (Commission) and the Board of Zoning Adjustment (BZA) as well as the Office of Zoning (OZ), which provides technical and administrative assistance to the Commission and the BZA. In carrying out its responsibilities, the Section provides legal assistance in zoning matters as may be requested by the Office of Planning (OP). Lastly, the Section reviews covenants required by the Zoning Regulations.   

The Section’s work product includes, but is not limited to:

  • Draft orders and rulemakings.
  • Revisions to draft orders submitted by parties.
  • Memoranda of legal advice.
  • Emails to the Commission and BZA identifying all legal and procedural issues arising from the cases scheduled for decision at their meetings.
     
    In addition to producing the work product described above, the Section’s attorneys attend all Commission and BZA decision meetings, all BZA hearings, and those Commission hearings as determined by the Section Chief in consultation with OZ.
     
    The responsibilities of the Chief include, but are not limited to:
  • Supervising the Section’s attorney in carrying out the Section’s work as described above.
  • Establishing deadlines for review of Section attorneys’ work product.
  • Ensuring that all work product needed before or after Commission and BZA meetings is of the highest quality and provided to OZ in accordance with mutually agreed upon deadlines.
  • Working with the Office of the Solicitor General with respect to any petitions for review challenging a Commission or BZA order including reviewing draft briefs and participating in moot courts.
  • Maintaining a caseload for applications and petitions that are novel, complex, or have the potential to significantly affect the public or the District government.
  • Attending Commission meetings for the above-described class of cases.
  • Providing legal advice directly to the Director of OZ, the Commission, and BZA Secretaries, and the OP Deputy Director for Development Review and Historic Preservation.
  • Establishing strong and cordial relationships with all participants in the zoning process including the Zoning Administrator, the D.C. Surveyor, members of the private bar, and District citizens and their representatives and advocates.
  • Keeping OZ staff informed as to the status of all assignments through order logs or similar mechanisms.
  • Responding to inquiries from the Attorney General, the Chief Deputy Attorney General, and other attorneys in the Office of the Attorney General concerning the impact of zoning on their work, and attending meetings as requested by the Attorney General, the Chief Deputy Attorney General, or the Commercial Division Deputy, which may be with high ranking District officials.
  • Performing administrative duties including approval of absence requests and time sheets.
  • Preparing fair and honest formal and informal performance evaluations of subordinates and providing the Division Deputy with a fair and honest self-evaluation.
  • Providing monthly reports to the Division Deputy identifying issues that should be brought to the attention of the Chief Deputy Attorney General.
  • Establishing performance goals for the Section consistent with the mission of the Office of the Attorney General.
  • Devising and maintaining record keeping systems to generate narrative and statistical reports.
  • Performing other duties as assigned.                                                                   

QUALIFICATIONS:  The ideal candidate must have:  

(1) at least one (1) year of land use law experience, a significant component of which must be in zoning; 

(2) working knowledge of the District’s zoning regulations or those of a comparable jurisdiction; 

(3) familiarity with administrative law; 

(4) experience appearing before and/or giving legal advice to a rulemaking body or a quasi-judicial body or administrative law judge; 

(5) experience drafting or reviewing draft legislation or rulemakings; 

(6) experience drafting complex legal memoranda or comparable documents; 

(7) ability to work in a high stakes environment under extreme time pressure; and 

(8) the skills to lead, motivate, coach, organize, and evaluate others. 

ELIGIBILITY:  The successful candidate must have a law degree and be an active member in good standing of the bar of any jurisdiction.  If not a member of the District of Columbia Bar, the candidate must be sworn into the District of Columbia Bar within 360 days of his/her initial appointment with the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia. 

OTHER INFORMATION:  The selected candidate will be subject to a background investigation including reference checks.

Please see attachment below for details.

Trial Attorney (Specialty Courts Prosecutor), Public Safety Division (#19-008: Closing 12/27/18)

GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL

 

POSITION VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT

ANNOUNCEMENT NO:       #19-008

POSITION TITLE:  

TRIAL ATTORNEY

(Specialty Courts Prosecutor)

POSITION GRADE & SERIES: 

LS 13/1 to 14/1

SALARY RANGE:   $98,362 – $116,228

 

Salary in this range will be based on a multitude of factors including applicable rules, regulations and guidelines. 

OPENING DATE:   December 6, 2018

CLOSING DATE:   December 27, 2018

DURATION OF APPOINTMENT: Permanent

AREA OF CONSIDERATION: Open to the Public

WORKSITE LOCATION:

Office of the Attorney General

   for the District of Columbia

Public Safety Division

Criminal Section

441 4th Street NW

Washington, DC 20001

NO. OF VACANCIES:  One (1)

This position is in the collective bargaining unit represented by AFGE Local 1403. If you opt to join the union, and consent, a service fee will be paid through direct payroll deduction.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:   The Public Safety Division of the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) for the District of Columbia believes that the challenges that face the criminal justice system today require innovative and unique solutions.  With the prevalence of substance abuse and mental health disorders among those in the adult criminal system, expansion of rehabilitation and treatment options are a priority.  OAG refers a significant number of its adult criminal cases to the Superior Court for the District of Columbia’s Drug Court and Mental Health Community Court.  Many low-level offenders are also diverted to employment and education programs as an alternative to prosecution.  OAG seeks a trial attorney for the Criminal Section who is a team player and highly motivated to further strengthen and coordinate these specialty courts and diversion efforts. 

The Criminal Section prosecutes adults who commit certain types of offenses within the District of Columbia, including all adult misdemeanor traffic and quality of life offenses.  Specifically, the Section prosecutes all alcohol and drug impaired driving cases, certain firearm offenses, quality of life offenses such as disorderly conduct, as well as tax and welfare fraud matters.  Duties include screening arrests for diversion eligibility, coordinating referrals, formulating appropriate plea offers to defense attorneys, and representing OAG both in these specialty courts and in meetings among the various stakeholders involved in these diversion efforts.  The Public Safety Division’s management is dedicated to extensive training and attentive support for its Assistant Attorneys General, providing an atmosphere where their prosecutors learn to exercise discretion and sound judgment and can grow into strong, ethical, and confident trial attorneys.                                                                  

QUALIFICATIONS:  The candidate must have 5-10 years of trial experience, the ability to work across disciplines, and the ability to work with a high degree of independence.  The ideal candidate should also have a demonstrated commitment to work in the area of prosecution, with a sincere passion for seeking justice. 

ELIGIBILITY:  The successful candidate must have a law degree and be an active member in good standing of the bar of any jurisdiction.  If not a member of the District of Columbia Bar, the candidate must be sworn into the District of Columbia Bar within 360 days of his/her initial appointment with the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia. 

OTHER INFORMATION:  The selected candidate will be subject to a background investigation including reference checks.

Please see attachment below for details.

Todo el mundo tiene la obligación de denunciar el abuso sexual de menores

De conformidad con la Ley del Distrito de Columbia (ver código §22-3020.52[a] del DC), cualquier persona de 18 años o más que sepa o tenga motivos razonables para creer que un menor de 16 años es víctima de abuso sexual debe denunciar inmediatamente tal conocimiento o creencia a la policía (911) o a la Agencia de Servicios a Niños y Familias del DC (202-671-SAFE).

Existen denunciantes obligatorios que deben denunciar todo abuso o abandono de menores

Los requerimientos de denuncia obligatoria ayudan a proteger a los menores de situaciones perjudiciales y garantizan que los funcionario de orden público y trabajadores sociales puedan comenzar a investigar inmediatamente. Además de la obligación general de denunciar la sospecha de abuso sexual, la ley del DC también requiere que ciertas personas que trabajan regularmente con menores sean "denunciantes obligatorios" de sospecha de abuso o abandono de menores de cualquier tipo y de ciertas otras lesiones a menores de 18 años (ver más abajo). Esto significa que tienen la obligación legal de denunciar cualquier tipo de sospecha de abuso de menores a los agentes de la ley y trabajadores sociales inmediatamente y sin demora.

¿Quién es un denunciante obligatorio?

Los denunciantes obligatorios se definen según la ley (ver código §4-1321.02 del DC) como las personas que deben denunciar las sospechas de abuso físico o sexual o abandono de menores. Estas son personas que trabajan en ciertas profesiones en las que entran en contacto regular y cercano con menores, como:

  • funcionarios escolares, maestros y entrenadores;
  • empleados del Departamento de Parques y Recreación;
  • gestores residentes de viviendas públicas;
  • trabajadores de servicios sociales;
  • trabajadores de guarderías;
  • personas involucradas en el cuidado y tratamiento de pacientes, incluidos: médicos, psicólogos, examinadores médicos, odontólogos, quiroprácticos, enfermeras tituladas y enfermeras con licencia para practicar;
  • Funcionarios de orden público;
  • oficial humano de cualquier agencia encargada de la aplicación de las leyes de crueldad animal;
  • empleados, agentes y proveedores de la Agencia de Servicios a Niños y Familias;
  • consejeros del tráfico de personas, según lo define el código §14-311(2) del DC;
  • consejeros de violencia doméstica, según lo define el código §14-310(a)(2) del DC; y
  • profesionales de salud mental, según lo define el código §7-1201.01(11).

¿Cuándo y qué tipo de información debo denunciar a las autoridades?

Los denunciantes obligatorios deben notificar cuando saben o sospechan que un menor a quien han conocido durante su trabajo profesional:

  • sufre de abandono (su padre/madre o tutor no le brinda vivienda, comida, vestimenta o higiene adecuados);
  • sufre de abuso (físico o mental);
  • está expuesto a violencia doméstica;
  • está en inminente peligro de sufrir abuso debido al abuso de un hermano u otro menor que vive en la misma vivienda;
  • tiene un padre/madre que está intoxicado, encarcelado o que sufre de una deficiencia en su capacidad mental o física (p.ej., uso de drogas o enfermedad mental) y no puede o no quiere proporcionarle cuidados;
  • está expuesto regularmente a actividad de drogas ilegales;
  • ha estado o está en peligro inmediato de ser víctima de abuso sexual o intento de abuso sexual; es víctima de trata de personas; o ha sido herido por una bala, un cuchillo u otro objeto afilado por medios no accidentales (independientemente del hecho de que el autor fue un pariente, un conocido o un extraño).

¿Cómo denuncio esta información a las autoridades?

Puede denunciar esta información al 202-671-SAFE (202-671-7233) del Distrito de Columbia.

Además, le ofrecemos algunos aspectos importantes que debe saber:

  • Un denunciante obligatorio que trabaja en un hospital, escuela, agencia social u organización similar, también debe informar la sospecha de abuso de menores a la persona encargada de esa organización. 
  • La persona encargada del hospital, escuela, agencia social u organización similar que recibe una denuncia de sospecha de abuso de menores de un denunciante obligatorio, también debe denunciar la sospecha de abuso a las autoridades.
  • Escuche cuando un menor le comunica sobre un evento para determinar si este parece ser abuso o abandono de menores, pero no intente investigar más allá. Denuncie inmediatamente a las autoridades lo expuesto por el menor y permita que profesionales entrenados determinen si ha ocurrido un crimen o si es necesaria una intervención de bienestar infantil.

¿Qué sucede si el denunciante obligatorio no denuncia?

En conformidad con la ley del DC, los denunciantes obligatorios que decidan no denunciar pueden ser enjuiciados por la Oficina del Fiscal General. Las penalidades incluyen una multa de hasta $1,000, prisión hasta por 180 días, o ambas.

¿Qué sucede si no hago la denuncia un abuso sexual de menores?

De conformidad con la ley del DC, el no denunciar que un menor de 16 años puede que sea víctima de abuso sexual podría dar lugar a una multa de $300.

¿Qué sucede si no estoy seguro de que debo denunciar o estoy preocupado por la confidencialidad?

Si no está seguro de que debe denunciar, no demore y denuncie inmediatamente.

Obtenga más información sobre denuncia obligatoria en: https://dc.mandatedreporter.org/