Current through codified legislation effective September 18, 2024
Section 23-1904a - Right to member of a hospital-based violence intervention program(a) For the purposes of §§ 23-1904 a, 23-1904b, and 23-1904c, the term:(1) "Hospital" means a facility that provides 24-hour inpatient care, including diagnostic, therapeutic, and other health-related services, for a variety of physical or mental conditions, and may, in addition, provide outpatient services, particularly emergency care, from which a hospital-based violence intervention program operates.(2) "Hospital-based violence intervention program" means a non-governmental program that:(A) Provides counseling, case management, and social services to victims at, or in conjunction with, a hospital to prevent retaliatory violence; and(B) Participates in, or is a member of, a coordinating body for similar programs, such as Project CHANGE or the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention.(3) "HVIP member" means an employee, contractor, or volunteer of a hospital-based violence intervention program.(4) "Victim" means a person who has suffered an intentionally inflicted gunshot or stabbing wound.(b)(1) A HVIP member shall, if the victim consents, have the right to remain physically present with a victim at any:(A) Forensic medical, evidentiary, or physical examination at the hospital; or(B) Interview with law enforcement at the hospital.(2) A victim may at any time revoke their consent to have a HVIP member present at the setting described in paragraph (1) of this subsection.Added by D.C. Law 24-341,§ 110, 69 DCR 014698, eff. 4/6/2023.