District of Columbia Code
Subchapter I - Compensation for Crime Victims
§ 4–508. Disqualifications and reductions

(a) The Court shall not award compensation if the:
(1) Claimant knowingly or willingly participated in the commission of the crime which forms the basis for the claim; provided, that a claimant who was a minor and a victim of sex trafficking of children, may be awarded compensation; or
(2) Injury or death for which compensation is sought was caused by the victim’s consent, substantial provocation, or substantial incitement.
(b) An application for assistance may be denied, in whole or in part, if the Court finds:
(1) Denial is appropriate due to the nature of the victim’s or secondary victim’s involvement in the events leading to the relevant crime; or
(2) The claimant failed to provide information to a requesting law enforcement agency or did not reasonably cooperate with law enforcement officials in apprehending the offender. Refusal of a victim or claimant to testify against the offender may be excused if testifying would subject the victim or claimant to a substantial risk of serious physical or emotional injury.
(c) Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) of this section, if the victim is found to have willingly or knowingly participated, consented, provoked, or incited the crime, a secondary victim is not automatically precluded from compensation.
(d) Gang membership or co-habitation with the offender is not considered a disqualifying factor under subsections (a) or (b) of this section, unless the claimant will be substantially and unjustly enriched by the award.
(Apr. 9, 1997, D.C. Law 11-243, § 9, 44 DCR 1142; Oct. 23, 2010, D.C. Law 18-239, § 201(b), 57 DCR 5405.)
1981 Ed., § 3-428.
D.C. Law 18-239, in subsec. (a)(1), substituted “claim; provided, that a claimant who was a minor and a victim of sex trafficking of children, may be awarded compensation; or” for “claim; or”.
See note to § 4-501.

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