Ranking of Offenses and Enhancements in the Secure DC Omnibus Amendment Act 2024 and the Secure DC Omnibus Emergency Amendment Act of 2024 - May 2024

The District of Columbia Sentencing Commission has ranked the new adult felony offenses and enhancements contained in the Secure DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2024 and the Secure DC Omnibus Emergency Amendment Act of 2024.  

The offenses are ranked as follows:

Directing Organized Retail Theft (D.C. Code § 22-3211.01) - Master Group 8;
Possessing a Firearm with Intent to Sell, Offer for Sale, or Make Available for Sale (D.C. Code § 7-2507.06(a)(5)) - Master Group 8;
Strangulation (unarmed) (D.C. Code § 22-404.05) - Master Group 8;
Strangulation While Armed (Strangulation W/A) (D.C. Code § 22-404.05) - Master Group 6;
Possessing a Firearm with the Importer’s or Manufacturer’s Serial Number Removed, Obliterated, or Altered (D.C. Code § 22-4503(c-1)(1)) - Master Group 8;
Receive, Possess, Conceal, Store, Barter, Sell, or Dispose of Any Stolen Firearm or Stolen Ammunition (D.C. Code § 22-4503(c-1)(2)) -Master Group 8;
Endangerment with a Firearm (D.C. Code § 22-4503.03) - Master Group 8;
Endangerment with a Firearm – 5 or more projectiles or prior felony – Master Group 8;
Unlawful Discarding of Firearms and Ammunition (D.C. Code § 22-4503.04) -Master Group 8;
Unlawful Discarding of Firearms and Ammunition – prior felony -Master Group 8;
Possession of a Sawed-off Shotgun or Ghost Gun (D.C. Code § 22-4514(c)(2)) - Master Group 8;
Possession of a Machine Gun (D.C. Code § 22-4514(c)(2)) - Master Group 8;
Possession of a Sawed-off Shotgun, Ghost Gun, or Machine Gun– 2nd offense or prior felony (D.C. Code § 22-4514(c)(3)– Master Group 8;
Misdemeanor Sexual Abuse, 3 or More Prior Convictions (D.C. Code § 22-3006(b)(1)) - Master Group 8;
Misdemeanor Child Sexual Abuse, 3 or More Prior Convictions (D.C. Code § 22-3010.01(a-1)(1)) - Master Group 8;
Unlawful Discharge of a Weapon (D.C. Code § 22-4503.01) - Master Group 9;

Secure DC added an element for disqualifying a person from having a firearm in their possession; however, it did not amend the penalty for (Unlawful Possession of a Firearm (D.C. Code § 22-4503). Therefore, the offense ranking remained the same.

Secure DC also adds the following enhancements that may increase the fine and/or the maximum penalties by 1 ½ times for the below offenses:

Crime of Violence Against Another Person While on Department of Parks and Recreation Property (D.C. Code § 22-3603);
Crime of Violence Against Vulnerable Adult (D.C. Code § 22-3604);
Strangulation (D.C. Code § 22-404.04);
Transportation Provider Enhancement (D.C. Code § 22-3751);
Transit Operator Enhancement (D.C. Code § 22-3751.01(a)); and
Mass Transit Passenger Enhancement (D.C. Code § 22-3751.01(a-1)).

The Court shall apply these ranking to pleas/verdicts entered on or after March 12, 2024. Please see the Guidelines Alert for more specifics.

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