Title 14, Crimes
77 chapters · 518 sections in this title.
14 V.I.C. § 1 Definition of crime or offense
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(1) A “crime” or “offense” is an act committed or omitted in violation of a law of the Virgin Islands and punishable by—(1) imprisonment; or(2) fine; or(3) removal from office; or(4) disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust, or profit. (1) imprisonment; or (2…
14 V.I.C. § 101 Penalty for violation of regulations
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Whoever violates any regulation issued under authority of law for which no other penalty is provided shall be fined not more than $20 or imprisoned not more than 30 days, or both.
14 V.I.C. § 102 Civil remedies
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The omission to specify or affirm in this Code any liability for any damages, penalty, or forfeiture, or other remedy imposed by law and allowed to be recovered in a civil action, for any act or omission declared to be punishable as a crime does not affect any right to recover or…
14 V.I.C. § 103 Forfeiture of property
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No conviction of any person for crime works any forfeiture of any property, except in cases in which a forfeiture is expressly imposed by law.
14 V.I.C. § 104 Act or omission punishable under different provisions
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An act or omission which is made punishable in different ways by different provisions of this Code may be punished under any of such provisions, but in no case may it be punished under more than one. An acquittal or conviction and sentence under any one bars a prosecution for the…
14 V.I.C. § 11 Principals
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(a) Whoever commits a crime or offense or aids, abets, counsels, commands, induces or procures its commission, is punishable as a principal. (b) Whoever willfully causes an act to be done which if directly performed by him or another person would be a crime or offense, is punisha…
14 V.I.C. § 111 Definitions
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(1) As used in this subchapter the following words have the following meanings:(1) “Abuse” means attempting to cause or causing physical or emotional harm to another or placing another in fear of imminent serious physical or emotional harm.(2) “Harassment” means more than one act…
14 V.I.C. § 112 Petitions and complaints; fees; other remedies not precluded
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(a) Petitions for proceedings under this subchapter must be filed, heard and determined in Magistrate Division of the Superior Court. (b) The Court shall adopt a form of complaint for use under this subchapter which shall be in such form and language to permit a petitioner to pre…
14 V.I.C. § 113 Temporary orders; Harassment Prevention Order
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(a) Upon the filing of a petition under this subchapter, the Court may enter such temporary orders as it considers necessary to protect a petitioner from harassment, including relief as provided in subsection (c) of this section. (b) If the petitioner demonstrates a substantial l…
14 V.I.C. § 114 Relief when court is closed or petitioner unable to appear
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(a) When the Court is closed for business or the petitioner is unable to appear in court because of severe hardship due to the petitioner’s physical condition, the Court may grant relief to the petitioner as provided under section 113, if the petitioner demonstrates a substantial…
14 V.I.C. § 115 Full faith and credit
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(a) Any protection order issued by another jurisdiction must be given full faith and credit throughout the territory and enforced as if it were issued in the territory for as long as the order is in effect in the issuing jurisdiction. A person entitled to protection under a prote…
14 V.I.C. § 116 Emergency response by peace officer; civil liability; incident report; release of person arrested
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(a) Whenever a peace officer has reason to believe that a person has been abused or harassed or is in danger of being abused or harassed, such officer shall use all reasonable means to prevent further abuse or harassment. Peace officers shall make every reasonable effort to do th…
14 V.I.C. § 117 Violations of orders
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(a) In each instance in which there is a violation of a Harassment Prevention Order or a protection order issued by another jurisdiction, the Court may order the respondent to pay the petitioner for all damages including, but not limited to, loss of earnings, out-of-pocket losses…
14 V.I.C. § 118 Records
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(a) The records of cases arising out of an action brought under this subchapter in which the petitioner or respondent is a minor must be withheld from public inspection except by order of the court; but such records must be open, at all reasonable times, to the inspection of the …
14 V.I.C. § 119 Assessment for referral to treatment program
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The Court shall impose an assessment of $350 against any person who has been referred to a treatment program as a condition of probation. The assessment is in addition to the cost of the treatment program. In the discretion of the Court, the assessment may be reduced or waived if…
14 V.I.C. § 12 Accessory after the fact
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(a) Whoever, knowing that a crime or offense has been committed, receives, relieves, comforts or assists the offender in order to hinder or prevent his apprehension, trial or punishment, is an accessory after the fact. (b) Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Code or an…
14 V.I.C. § 120 Harassment Prevention and Treatment Fund
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The Harassment Prevention and Treatment Fund are established in the Treasury of the Virgin Islands as a separate and distinct fund. The Commissioner of Finance shall maintain and provide for the administration of the Fund and no monies may be made available for expenditure, excep…
14 V.I.C. § 13 Misprision of felony
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Whoever, having knowledge of the actual commission of a felony, willfully conceals it from the proper authorities, shall be fined not more than $500 or imprisoned not more than 3 years, or both.
14 V.I.C. § 14 Capacity to commit crimes or offenses
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(1) All persons are capable of committing crimes or offenses except—(1) children under the age of seven years;(2) children over the age of seven years and under the age of fourteen years, in the absence of clear proof that at the time of committing the act charged against them th…
14 V.I.C. § 15 Omissions not punishable
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No person shall be punished for omitting to perform an act, where such act has been performed by another person acting in his behalf, and competent by law to perform it.
14 V.I.C. § 16 Intoxication
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No act committed while in a state of voluntary intoxication is less criminal because committed while in such state. However, the court or jury may take into consideration the fact that the accused was intoxicated at the time in determining the purpose, motive or intent with which…
14 V.I.C. § 18 Admissibility of evidence obtained pursuant to warrant
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Evidence obtained as a direct or indirect result of a search or seizure conducted pursuant to a lawfully issued order or warrant of a court shall be admissible in any trial, hearing or other proceeding before any court in the Virgin Islands, provided the evidence is competent, re…
14 V.I.C. § 19 Prior inconsistent statements
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Evidence of a prior statement, oral or written, made by a witness is not made inadmissible by the hearsay rule if the prior statement is inconsistent with his testimony at a hearing or trial. After the witness has been given an opportunity at such hearing or trial to explain or d…
14 V.I.C. § 2 Classification of crimes or offenses
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(a) Crimes or offenses are divided into felonies and misdemeanors. (b) Notwithstanding any Act of the Legislature to the contrary—(1) a felony is a crime or offense which is punishable by imprisonment for more than one year; and(2) every other crime or offense is a misdemeanor. (…
14 V.I.C. § 20 Immunity
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(a) Immunity generally. Whenever a witness refuses, on the basis of his privilege against self-incrimination, to testify or provide other information in a proceeding before or ancillary to—(1) a court of the United States,(2) a court of the Virgin Islands,(3) any other investigat…
14 V.I.C. § 3 Penalties where penalties not otherwise prescribed
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(a) Except in cases where a different punishment is prescribed by law—(1) every crime or offense declared to be a felony is punishable by imprisonment not exceeding five years; and(2) every crime or offense declared to be a misdemeanor is punishable by a fine not exceeding $200 o…
14 V.I.C. § 4 Discretionary powers of judges in misdemeanor cases
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In misdemeanor cases only, trial judges are authorized to limit the term of imprisonment to six months in prison; in which event, the defendant may be tried by the court, except in cases where a mandatory sentence is imposed.
14 V.I.C. § 41 Resistance by party to be injured
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(1) Any person about to be injured may make resistance sufficient to prevent—(1) an illegal attempt by force to take or injure property in his lawful possession; or(2) an offense against his person or his family or some member thereof. (1) an illegal attempt by force to take or i…
14 V.I.C. § 42 Resistance by other parties
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Any person, in aid or defense of the person about to be injured, may make resistance sufficient to prevent the offense.
14 V.I.C. § 43 Self-defense
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The right of self-defense does not extend to the infliction of more harm than is necessary for the purpose of defense. To justify a homicide on the ground of self-defense, there must be not only the belief but also reasonable ground for believing that at the time of killing the d…
14 V.I.C. § 44 Justifiable use of force
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(a) Any person is justified in the use of force when:(1) the person is resisting an attempt by another to kill him or to inflict serious bodily injury upon him; or(2) the person is resisting an unlawful or forcible entry by another into his residence and he reasonably believes th…
14 V.I.C. § 61 Penalties
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(a) Whoever, whether under the laws of the Virgin Islands, the United States or a state or territory thereof, or any other jurisdiction, has been convicted of an offense which would be a felony in the Virgin Islands, shall upon a subsequent conviction of a felony in the Virgin Is…
14 V.I.C. § 62 Proceedings to establish previous convictions
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(a) No person who stands convicted of an offense under the laws of the Virgin Islands shall be sentenced to increased punishment by reason of one or more previous convictions, unless prior to sentencing, the United States Attorney or the Attorney General of the Virgin Islands, as…
14 V.I.C. § 81 Persons liable to punishment
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(1) The punishment prescribed by this title shall apply to whoever—(1) commits, in whole or in part, any offense within the Virgin Islands; or(2) commits larceny or robbery outside the Virgin Islands, and brings, or is found with, the stolen property within the Virgin Islands; or…
14 V.I.C. § 82 Crimes commenced outside Virgin Islands
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When the commission of a crime commenced without the Virgin Islands is consummated within its boundaries the defendant is liable to punishment thereof in the Virgin Islands, although he was out of the Virgin Islands at the time of the commission of the crime charged, provided he …
14 V.I.C. § 83 Place of commission of murder or manslaughter
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When the crime of murder or manslaughter has been committed by means of a mortal wound given, or injury inflicted, or poison administered without the Virgin Islands, and the person so wounded, injured, or poisoned dies thereof within the Virgin Islands, the person committing such…
14 V.I.C. § 84 Conviction or acquittal outside Virgin Islands
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When an act declared to be a crime is within the jurisdiction of any United States, State, county, commonwealth or Superior Court in the United States or any of its possessions as well as of the Virgin Islands, a conviction or acquittal thereof in the former is a bar to a prosecu…
14 V.I.C. § 91 Sentence for term of more than one year
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A sentence of imprisonment for any term of more than one year and less than for life suspends all the civil rights of the person so sentenced, and forfeits all public offices and all private trusts, authority, or power during such imprisonment.
14 V.I.C. § 92 Sentence for life
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Whoever is sentenced to imprisonment for life is thereafter deemed civilly dead.
14 V.I.C. § 93 Capacity of persons imprisoned
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The provisions of sections 91 and 92 of this title shall not be construed to render the persons therein mentioned incompetent as witnesses upon the trial of a criminal action or proceeding, or incapable of making and acknowledging a sale, conveyance of property or will.
14 V.I.C. § 121 For purposes of gambling or prostitution
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Whoever, through invitation or device, prevails upon any person to visit any room, building, or other places kept for the purpose of gambling or prostitution, shall be imprisoned not more than 5 years.
14 V.I.C. § 131 Short title
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This chapter may be cited as the Virgin Islands Uniform Prevention of and Remedies for Human Trafficking Act.
14 V.I.C. § 132 Definitions
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(1) In this chapter:(1) “Adult” means an individual 18 years of age or older.(2) “Coercion” means:(A) the use or threat of force against, abduction of, serious harm to, or physical restraint of, an individual;(B) the use of a plan, pattern, or statement with intent to cause an in…
14 V.I.C. § 133 Trafficking an individual
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(a) A person commits the offense of trafficking an individual if the person knowingly recruits, transports, transfers, harbors, receives, provides, obtains, isolates, maintains, or entices an individual in furtherance of:(1) forced labor in violation of section 134; or(2) sexual …
14 V.I.C. § 134 Forced labor
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(a) A person commits the offense of forced labor if the person knowingly uses coercion to compel an individual to provide labor or services, except when such conduct is permissible under federal law or law of the Virgin Islands other than this chapter. (b) Forced labor of an indi…
14 V.I.C. § 135 Sexual servitude
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(a) A person commits the offense of sexual servitude if the person knowingly:(1) maintains or makes available a minor for the purpose of engaging the minor in commercial sexual activities; or(2) uses coercion or deception to compel an adult to engage in commercial sexual activity…
14 V.I.C. § 136 Patronizing a victim of sexual servitude
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(a) A person commits the offense of patronizing a victim of sexual servitude if the person knowingly gives, agrees to give, or offers to give anything of value so that an individual may engage in commercial sexual activity with another individual and the person knows that the oth…
14 V.I.C. § 137 Patronizing a minor for commercial sexual activity
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(a) A person commits the offense of patronizing a minor for commercial sexual activity if:(1) with the intent that an individual engage in commercial sexual activity with a minor, the person gives, agrees to give, or offers to give anything of value to a minor or another person s…
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…