Right to member of a hospital-based violence intervention program. (a) For the purposes of [this section], [and §§] 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. mber' 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. (Apr. 6, 2023, D.C. Law 24-341, § 110(d), 69 DCR 14698.)
District of Columbia Legal Code