Overview
The District of Columbia (DC) does not have any laws explicitly criminalising HIV ‘exposure’, non-disclosure, or transmission, and we are not aware of any cases that applied general criminal laws.
Health laws in DC permit officials to compel people suspected of living with communicable diseases to undergo treatment, isolation, and quarantine. People confirmed to be living with communicable diseases can be detained for ‘as long as necessary’. It is a misdemeanour to violate these orders or to leave detention, which can be punished by up to 90 days’ imprisonment and a fine.
In addition, the health records of people living with communicable diseases, including HIV, can be disclosed by courts in order to assist criminal prosecutions.
For a detailed analysis of HIV criminalisation in the United States, see the Center for HIV Law and Policy report, HIV Criminalisation in the United States: a Sourcebook on State and Federal HIV Criminal Law and Practice.
HIV Justice Network's Positive Destinations
Visit the District of Columbia (DC) page on Positive Destinations for information on regulations that restrict entry, stay, and residency based on HIV-positive status, as well as access to HIV treatment for non-nationals.