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Revenge Porn Laws in District of Columbia

How District of Columbia law treats revenge porn (sharing intimate images): what is illegal, whether it is a misdemeanor or felony, and the penalties, from the state code.

Short answer: Yes. Knowingly disclosing a sexual image of an identifiable person without consent, knowing (or consciously disregarding the risk) that the person did not consent, with intent to harm them or for financial gain, is a misdemeanor with up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. D.C. Code §§ 22-3052, 22-3053, 22-3054, 22-3571.01

Revenge porn (sharing intimate images)Yes. Knowingly disclosing a sexual image of an identifiable person without consent, knowing (or consciously disregarding the risk) that the person did not consent, with intent to harm them or for financial gain, is a misdemeanor with up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. Publishing such an image (posting it to the public) with the same intent is first-degree unlawful publication, a felony with up to 3 years and a $12,500 fine. Republishing an image obtained from someone else, knowing it was first shared to harm the person or for money, is second-degree unlawful publication, a misdemeanor with up to 180 days.
Disclosure: https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/22-3052; second-degree publication: https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/22-3054. Fines follow D.C.

More District of Columbia criminal law

FAQ

Is revenge porn illegal in District of Columbia?
Yes. Knowingly disclosing a sexual image of an identifiable person without consent, knowing (or consciously disregarding the risk) that the person did not consent, with intent to harm them or for financial gain, is a misdemeanor with up to 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. Publishing such an image (posting it to the public) with the same intent is first-degree unlawful publication, a felony with up to 3 years and a $12,500 fine. Republishing an image obtained from someone else, knowing it was first shared to harm the person or for money, is second-degree unlawful publication, a misdemeanor with up to 180 days.
Can I get a court-appointed lawyer for revenge porn (sharing intimate images) in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia's rule on court-appointed lawyers: Counsel is provided under a court plan to any person in the District who is financially unable to obtain adequate representation and is charged with a felony, misdemeanor or other offense where the Sixth Amendment requires counsel; the plan includes attorneys furnished by the Public Defender Service, private attorneys, and clinical-program attorneys and students (§ 11-2601). The Public Defender Service may represent persons financially unable to obtain adequate representation who are charged with an offense punishable by imprisonment for a term of 6 months or more, among other listed categories; the determination of financial inability is based on information provided by the person to be represented, and the court may require information from other persons or agencies (§ 2-1602). D.C. Code §§ 2-1602, 11-2601
How much does a lawyer for revenge porn (sharing intimate images) cost in District of Columbia?
Lawyers set their own fees, and District of Columbia has rules on how they may charge. See hiring a criminal defense lawyer in District of Columbia for fee rules, how to check a lawyer's license and free help.
What happens after an arrest for revenge porn (sharing intimate images) in District of Columbia?
How release before trial works in District of Columbia: The default is release: 'The judicial officer shall order the pretrial release of the person on personal recognizance, or upon execution of an unsecured appearance bond in an amount specified by the court,' unless that will not reasonably assure appearance or will endanger the safety of any other person or the community. If not, the officer imposes the least restrictive further condition or combination of conditions. A judicial officer may not impose a financial condition to assure community safety, and may impose one to assure the defendant's presence only if it does not result in the preventive detention of the person; a person detained because of inability to meet conditions is entitled, on application, to review of the conditions (§ 23-1321). Pretrial detention requires a hearing, held immediately upon first appearance (continuances limited to 5 days for the defense and 3 days for the government absent good cause), and a finding by clear and convincing evidence that no condition or combination of conditions will reasonably assure appearance and safety; rebuttable presumptions apply for certain armed and violent crimes. A detained person generally must be indicted within 90 days and have trial commence within 100 days (§ 23-1322). D.C. Code §§ 23-1321, 23-1322 What happens after an arrest.
Can a conviction for revenge porn (sharing intimate images) be removed from my record in District of Columbia?
Each state sets its own rules for sealing or expunging records. See District of Columbia expungement and record sealing rules.

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.