Whoever, without legal authority or without the consent of the nearest surviving relative, shall disturb or remove any dead body from a grave for the purpose of dissecting, or of buying, selling, or in any way trafficking in the same, shall be imprisoned not less than 1 year nor more than 3 years. In addition to any other penalty provided under this section, a person may be fined an amount not more than the amount set forth in § 22-3571.01.
(Mar. 3, 1901, 31 Stat. 1334, ch. 854, § 891; June 11, 2013, D.C. Law 19-317, § 303(s), 60 DCR 2064.)
1981 Ed., § 22-3103.
1973 Ed., § 22-3103.
The 2013 amendment by D.C. Law 19-317 added the last sentence.
Unlawful traffic in dead bodies, see § 3-206.
For temporary (90 days) amendment of this section, see § 303(s) of the Criminal Fine Proportionality Emergency Act of 2013 (D.C. Act 20-45, April 1, 2013, 60 DCR 5400, 20 DCSTAT 1300).
Applicability of D.C. Law 19-317: Section 401 of D.C. Law 19-317 provided that the act shall apply only to offenses committed on or after June 11, 2013.
Structure District of Columbia Code
Title 22 - Criminal Offenses and Penalties
Chapter 33 - Trespass; Injuries to Property
§ 22–3301. Forcible entry and detainer
§ 22–3302. Unlawful entry on property
§ 22–3303. Grave robbery; buying or selling dead bodies
§ 22–3304. Depredation of fixtures in houses. [Repealed]
§ 22–3305. Placing explosives with intent to destroy or injure property
§ 22–3306. Defacing books, manuscripts, publications, or works of art
§ 22–3307. Destroying or defacing public records
§ 22–3309. Destroying boundary markers
§ 22–3310. Destroying vines, bushes, shrubs, trees or protections thereof; penalty
§ 22–3312. Destroying or defacing buildings, statues, or monuments. [Repealed]
§ 22–3312.01. Defacing public or private property
§ 22–3312.02. Defacement of certain symbols; display of certain emblems
§ 22–3312.03. Wearing hoods or masks. [Repealed]
§ 22–3312.03a. Abatement of graffiti. [Repealed]
§ 22–3312.03b. Collection against owner. [Repealed]
§ 22–3313. Destroying or defacing building material for streets
§ 22–3314. Destroying cemetery railing or tomb
§ 22–3315. Offenses against property of electric lighting, heating, or power companies [Repealed]
§ 22–3316. Tapping gas pipes [Repealed]
§ 22–3317. Tapping or injuring water pipes; tampering with water meters [Repealed]
§ 22–3318. Malicious pollution of water
§ 22–3319. Placing obstructions on or displacement of railway tracks
§ 22–3320. Obstructing public road; removing milestones
§ 22–3321. Obstructing public highway
§ 22–3322. Fines under § 22-3321 to be collected in name of United States