Title 14 — Crimes
77 chapters · 525 sections in this title.
14 V.I.C. § 138 Business entity liability
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(a) A person that is a business entity may be prosecuted for an offense under sections 133 through 137 only if:(1) the entity knowingly engages in conduct that constitutes human trafficking; or(2) an employee or nonemployee agent of the entity engages in conduct that constitutes …
14 V.I.C. § 139 Aggravating circumstance
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(a) An aggravating circumstance during the commission of an offense under section 133, 134, or 135 occurs when the defendant recruited, enticed, or obtained the victim of the offense from a shelter that serves individuals subjected to human trafficking, domestic violence, or sexu…
14 V.I.C. § 140 Restitution
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(a) The court shall order a person convicted of an offense under section 133, 134, or 135 to pay restitution to the victim of the offense for:(1) expenses incurred or reasonably certain to be incurred by the victim as a result of the offense, including reasonable attorney’s fees …
14 V.I.C. § 141 Forfeiture
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(a) On motion, the court shall order a person convicted of an offense under section 133, 134, or 135 to forfeit any interest in real or personal property that:(1) was used or intended to be used to commit or facilitate the commission of the offense; or(2) constitutes proceeds or …
14 V.I.C. § 142 Victim confidentiality
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(1) In an investigation of or a prosecution for an offense under this chapter, law-enforcement officers and the Attorney General’s Office shall keep confidential the identity, pictures, and images of the alleged victim and the family of the alleged victim, except to the extent th…
14 V.I.C. § 143 Past sexual behavior of victim
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In a prosecution for an offense under this chapter or a civil action under section 147, evidence of a specific instance of the alleged victim’s past sexual behavior, or reputation, or opinion evidence of past sexual behavior of the alleged victim is not admissible unless the evid…
14 V.I.C. § 144 Immunity of minor
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(a) An individual is not criminally liable or subject to a juvenile-delinquency proceeding for prostitution or other nonviolent crimes if the individual was a minor at the time of the offense and committed the offense as a direct result of being a victim. (b) An individual who ha…
14 V.I.C. § 145 Affirmative defense of victim
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An individual charged with prostitution or other nonviolent offenses committed as a direct result of being a victim may assert an affirmative defense that the individual is a victim.
14 V.I.C. § 146 Motion to vacate and expunge conviction
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(a) An individual convicted of prostitution or other nonviolent offenses committed as a direct result of being a victim may apply by motion to the Superior Court to vacate the conviction and expunge the record of conviction. The court may grant the motion on a finding that the in…
14 V.I.C. § 147 Civil action
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(a) A victim may bring a civil action against a person that commits an offense against the victim under section 133, 134, or 135 for compensatory damages, punitive damages, injunctive relief, and any other appropriate relief. (b) If a victim prevails in an action under this secti…
14 V.I.C. § 148 Council on Human Trafficking
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(a) The Council on Human Trafficking is established in the Virgin Islands Department of Justice. The Governor shall appoint the chair and members of the Council. Members must include representatives of:(1) the Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General, the Department …
14 V.I.C. § 149 Display of public awareness sign; penalty for failure to display
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(a) The Department of Justice shall cause to be displayed a public-awareness sign that contains the Virgin Islands and the National Human Trafficking Resource Center hotline information in every airport, marine transportation terminal facility rest area, and visitors center in th…
14 V.I.C. § 150 Eligibility for benefit or services
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(a) A victim is eligible for a benefit or service available through the Criminal Victims Compensation Commission and other agencies identified in the plan developed under section 148(d)(1), regardless of immigration status. (b) A minor who has engaged in commercial sexual activit…
14 V.I.C. § 151 Law enforcement protocol
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(a) On request from an individual, who the Attorney General reasonably believes is a victim who is or has been subjected to a severe form of trafficking or criminal offense required for the individual to qualify for a nonimmigrant T or U visa under 8 U.S.C. section 1101(a)(15)(T)…
14 V.I.C. § 152 Grant to or contract with service
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(a) To the extent that funds are appropriated for this purpose, the Virgin Islands Law Enforcement Planning Committee may make a grant to the Council for Human Trafficking or nongovernmental victim’s service organization to develop or expand service programs for victims. (b) A re…
14 V.I.C. § 153 Uniformity of application and construction
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In applying and construing this chapter, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among jurisdictions that enact it.
14 V.I.C. § 154 Severability
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If any provision of this chapter or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provision…
14 V.I.C. § 155 Rules and regulations
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The Commissioner of Health shall prescribe rules and regulations for the implementation and enforcement of this chapter, not inconsistent with the provisions hereof.
14 V.I.C. § 156 Penalty
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Any person who performs or procures an abortion other than as authorized by this chapter is guilty of a felony and, upon conviction thereof, may be fined not exceeding $1,000 or imprisoned not exceeding 5 years, or both.
14 V.I.C. § 180 Definitions
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(a) The following terms, wherever used or referenced in this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context:(a) “Adequate care” means the provision of adequate food, clean water, shelter, sanitary conditions, exercise, rest…
14 V.I.C. § 181 Animal abuse in the first degree
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(a) Any person who maliciously or unnecessarily:(a) kills any animal; or(b) tortures, maims, mutilates, disfigures, wounds, or inflicts unjustifiable pain on any animal; or(c) forces, causes or induces a minor to maliciously or unnecessarily kill, torture, maim, mutilate; malicio…
14 V.I.C. § 182 Animal abuse in the second degree
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(a) Any person who intentionally or knowingly:(a) causes, permits or inflicts unjustifiable or repeated physical pain, suffering or injury to any animal; or(b) leads any animal from any vehicle or from a trailer drawn by a motor vehicle in a malicious or negligent manner; or(c) t…
14 V.I.C. § 183 Animal neglect in the first degree
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(a) Any person who intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or negligently:(a) fails to provide an animal in such person's custody or control with adequate care, and such failure causes serious physical injury or death to the animal; or(b) abandons an animal or causes an animal to be…
14 V.I.C. § 184 Animal neglect in the second degree
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(a) Any person who intentionally, knowingly, recklessly or negligently fails to provide adequate care for an animal in such person's custody and such failure causes the animal needless suffering shall, for every such offense, be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up …
14 V.I.C. § 185 Future animal custody and counseling
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(a) If a person is convicted of any offense defined in sections 181, 182, 183 and 184 of this chapter, the court shall, in addition to any other sentence or penalty imposed, enter an order enjoining the person from acting as a custodian of any animal for a period of not less than…
14 V.I.C. § 186 Animal Abuse Fund
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(a) There is established a special fund in the Treasury of the Virgin Islands known as the Animal Abuse Fund, referred to as the “Fund”. The Commissioner of Finance shall provide for the administration of the Fund as a separate fund in the Treasury of the Virgin Islands. (b) The …
14 V.I.C. § 187 Seizure
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(a) Any employee of the Department of Agriculture appropriately designated by the Commissioner of Agriculture, any peace officer, animal warden or agent of a Humane Society or Animal Shelter designated by the Commissioner of Agriculture pursuant to title 19, section 2604 of the V…
14 V.I.C. § 188 Permitting animals to stray on public roads
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Whoever permits donkeys, horses, mules, sheep, cattle, hogs or goats to stray at large so as to create a menace or hazard upon any public road, street or highway shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.
14 V.I.C. § 189 Dogs running at large
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For purposes of this chapter and in accordance with 19 V.I.C., chapter 66, it is unlawful for any person owning, controlling, or having in their care or custody any dog, whether licensed or unlicensed, to permit the dog to be upon any public street, alley, public beaches, or publ…
14 V.I.C. § 190 Ferocious, vicious or mischievous animals [Renumbered]
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(1) Whoever, owning a ferocious, vicious, or mischievous animal and knowing its propensities—(1) willfully suffers it to go at large; or(2) keeps it without ordinary care—and such animal while so at large, or while not kept with ordinary care, kills or seriously injures any human…
14 V.I.C. § 191 Wrongful taking of animals [Renumbered]
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Any person not entitled to the possession of any animal who, without the consent of the owner of said animal and with intent to deprive the owner, temporarily or permanently, of the animal or its possession, takes, uses or rides said animal is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be…
14 V.I.C. § 192 Importation of snakes
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(a) Whoever imports into the Virgin Islands any snake of any kind, without the prior written permission of the Department of Agriculture, shall be fined not more than $10,000. (b) Whoever willfully frees within the Virgin Islands any non-indigenous snake of any kind shall be fine…
14 V.I.C. § 193 Wrongful killing of animals for personal use or financial gain [Renumbered]
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Any person not entitled to the possession of any animal or animals, who with the intent to permanently deprive the owner of the same, kills the animal or animals for the purpose of procuring the meat for his own personal use or to sell the meat or carcass for personal gain is, if…
14 V.I.C. § 194 Dogs or horses used by peace officers; willful or malicious harm or interference; penalty; restitution [Renumbered]
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(a) Any person who willfully and maliciously and with no legal justification strikes, beats, kicks, stabs, shoots with a firearm, administers any poison or other harmful or stupefying substance to, or throws, hurls, or projects at, or places any rock, object, or other substance w…
14 V.I.C. § 221 Malicious procurement of warrants
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Whoever, maliciously and without probable cause, procures a search warrant or warrant of arrest to be issued and executed, shall be fined not more than $200 or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
14 V.I.C. § 222 False arrest or seizure
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(1) Whoever, being a public officer, under pretense or color of any process or other legal authority—(1) arrests any person or detains him against his will;(2) seizes or levies upon any property; or(3) dispossesses any one of any lands or property—without a regular process or oth…
14 V.I.C. § 223 Refusal to aid in arrest
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(1) Whoever, being a male person over eighteen years of age, willfully neglects or refuses to aid and assist in—(1) taking or arresting any person against whom there may be issued any process;(2) retaking any person who, after being arrested or confined, may have escaped from suc…
14 V.I.C. § 251 Definitions
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As used in this chapter, unless the context requires a different meaning—“arson” means the willful and malicious burning of a building of another with intent to destroy it;“bomb” means any explosive, incendiary or poison gas device that may be detonated under specified conditions…
14 V.I.C. § 252 Arson in the first degree
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(a) A person is guilty of arson in the first degree when, with intent to destroy or damage a building, or while in the commission of any felony, he starts a fire or causes an explosion, and:(1) the building is inhabited or occupied, or the person has a reason to believe the build…
14 V.I.C. § 253 Arson in the second degree
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Whoever maliciously burns any building of another with intent to destroy it under circumstances not amounting to arson in the first degree, shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years.
14 V.I.C. § 254 Incendiarism
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(a) Whoever willfully and maliciously burns any bridge exceeding $50 in value, or any building or vessel, not the subject of arson, or any growing or standing crop, grass or tree, or any fence not the property of such person, shall be imprisoned not more than 10 years. (b) Whoeve…
14 V.I.C. § 255 Setting on fire goods, grasses, or other property on lands
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Whoever willfully and maliciously or negligently sets on fire any goods, grasses or shrubbery or other property, on any lands, shall be fined not more than $200 or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both.
14 V.I.C. § 256 Placing and detonating of bombs
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Whoever willfully and maliciously or negligently causes a bomb to be placed on any property which causes fire or concussion damage leading to a fire on property has committed arson in the first degree and shall be fined $50,000 and imprisoned for 20 years.
14 V.I.C. § 291 Assault defined
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(1) Whoever—(1) attempts to commit a battery; or(2) makes a threatening gesture showing in itself an immediate intention coupled with an ability to commit a battery—commits an assault. (1) attempts to commit a battery; or (2) makes a threatening gesture showing in itself an immed…
14 V.I.C. § 292 Assault and battery defined
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Whoever uses any unlawful violence upon the person of another with intent to injure him, whatever be the means or the degree of violence used, commits an assault and battery.
14 V.I.C. § 293 Lawful violence, what constitutes
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(a) Violence used to the person does not amount to an assault or an assault and battery—(1) in the exercise of the right of moderate restraint or correction given by the law to the parents over the child, the guardian over the ward, the master over his apprentice or minor servant…
14 V.I.C. § 294 Provocation, effect of
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No verbal provocation justifies an assault and battery, but insulting and abusive words may be given in evidence in mitigation of the punishment affixed to the offense.
14 V.I.C. § 295 Assault in the first degree
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(1) Whoever—(1) with intent to commit murder, assaults another;(2) with intent to kill, administers or causes to be administered to another, any poison or other noxious or destructive substance or liquid, and death does not result;(3) with intent to commit rape, sodomy, mayhem, r…
14 V.I.C. § 296 Assault in the second degree
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(1) Whoever willfully—(1) mingles any poison with any food, drink, or medicine, with intent that the same shall be taken by any human being, to his injury; or(2) poisons any spring, well, or reservoir of water; or(3) strangle or attempts to strangle any person in an act of domest…
14 V.I.C. § 296a Assault of school personnel
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(a) Whoever, under circumstances not amounting to an assault in the first or second degree assaults a principal, assistant principal, superintendent, assistant superintendent, counselor, teacher, substitute teacher, paraprofessional, aide or monitor of the Department of Education…