District of Columbia § 21-591 Offenses and penalties.

District of Columbia Statutes

§ 21-591 — Offenses and penalties.

District of Columbia § 21-591

Title 21Fiduciary Relations and Persons with Mental Illness. [Enacted title]

Ch. 5Hospitalization of Persons with Mental Illness.

Subch. VIMiscellaneous Provisions.

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Bluebook

D.C. Code § 21-591 (2026).

Text

Whoever:

(1)without probable cause for believing a person to be mentally ill:

(A)causes or conspires with or assists another person to cause the hospitalization, under this chapter, of the person first referred to; or

(B)executes a petition, application, or certificate pursuant to this chapter, by which he secures or attempts to secure the apprehension, hospitalization, detention, or restraint of the person first referred to;

(2)causes or conspires with or assists another person to cause the denial to a person of a right accorded to him by this chapter; or

(3)being a physician, psychiatrist , qualified psychologist, or qualified nurse practitioner, knowingly makes a false certificate or application pursuant to this chapter as to the mental condition of a person —

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Whoever:

(1) without probable cause for believing a person to be mentally ill:

(A) causes or conspires with or assists another person to cause the hospitalization, under this chapter, of the person first referred to; or

(B) executes a petition, application, or certificate pursuant to this chapter, by which he secures or attempts to secure the apprehension, hospitalization, detention, or restraint of the person first referred to;

(2) causes or conspires with or assists another person to cause the denial to a person of a right accorded to him by this chapter; or

(3) being a physician, psychiatrist , qualified psychologist, or qualified nurse practitioner, knowingly makes a false certificate or application pursuant to this chapter as to the mental condition of a person —

Legislative History

Sept. 14, 1965, 79 Stat. 761, Pub. L. 89-183, § 1; Feb. 24, 1984, D.C. Law 5-48, § 11(a)(20), 30 DCR 5778; June 11, 2013, D.C. Law 19-317, § 282, 60 DCR 2064