Question 1

Can you get a criminal record expunged in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

The District of Columbia offers both "expungement" and "sealing" under the Second Chance Amendment Act of 2022. Expungement (for decriminalized or unconstitutional offenses, pre-2015 marijuana possession, and actual innocence) restores the person to the legal status held before the arrest. Sealing removes records from public view while allowing restricted access by specific agencies. Both can happen automatically for some records or by motion to the D.C. Superior Court, and the relief applies retroactively.

Question 2

Can you clear an arrest or dismissed charge in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

Citations, arrests and charges that ended without a conviction (and not in an acquittal by reason of insanity) are to be sealed automatically by the court, unless the offense is on the excluded list (for example intrafamily offenses, dangerous crimes, crimes of violence and DUI). Records of cases that ended on or before September 30, 2027 are to be sealed by October 1, 2027, and later cases within 90 days of the final disposition. Excluded offenses, or non-excluded ones where the person files before October 1, 2027, may be sealed by motion if it is in the interests of justice. A person who shows by a preponderance of the evidence that the offense did not occur or was not committed by them may move at any time for expungement on grounds of actual innocence.

Question 3

Can a misdemeanor be expunged in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

Misdemeanor convictions are to be sealed automatically once 10 years have passed since the sentence was completed, unless the offense is excluded (including intrafamily offenses, certain sex offenses, offenses against vulnerable adults, and DUI or operating while impaired). By motion, a misdemeanor conviction may be sealed after 5 years from completion of the sentence if the court finds sealing is in the interests of justice; the prosecutor may waive the waiting period in writing.

Question 4

Can a felony be expunged in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

Felony convictions may be sealed by motion after 8 years from completion of the sentence if the court finds it is in the interests of justice. Offenses in Offense Severity Groups 1, 2 or 3 of the D.C. Sentencing Commission's Master Grid (the most serious felonies) are not eligible. Felony convictions are not covered by automatic sealing.

Question 5

Does District of Columbia have automatic record clearing (clean slate)?

Accepted Answer

Yes. The court is to automatically expunge records of offenses later decriminalized, legalized or held unconstitutional, and records related only to simple marijuana possession before February 15, 2015, by October 1, 2027 (or within 90 days after the case ends, if later), unless the prosecutor shows a lawful need to retain them. The court is also to automatically seal non-conviction records and eligible misdemeanor convictions 10 years after the sentence, on the same October 1, 2027 timeline.

Question 6

Can a DUI be expunged in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

DUI, commercial-vehicle DUI and operating while impaired are excluded from automatic sealing. The motion-based sealing section does not list DUI among its exclusions, so a DUI conviction may be considered for sealing by motion after the misdemeanor waiting period if the court finds it is in the interests of justice.

Question 7

How do you seal a juvenile record in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

On the person's motion or its own, the Family Court must vacate its findings and seal juvenile case, social and law enforcement records if two years have passed since final discharge from custody or supervision (or since the last order), and the person has not since been convicted or adjudicated and has nothing pending. After sealing, the proceedings are treated as if they never occurred and the person may reply that no record exists. A later delinquency adjudication or felony conviction cancels the sealing. Juveniles may refuse to disclose delinquency history on employment, education or housing applications.

Question 8

How do you file for expungement in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

File a written motion in D.C. Superior Court stating all of the person's unsealed citations, arrests, charges and convictions known to the person, the grounds for eligibility, and supporting facts, and serve a copy on the prosecutor (who need not respond unless the court orders it). The court may deny a motion that is plainly ineligible, may order a response, and decides whether to hold a hearing. It weighs the person's interest in sealing and rehabilitation against the community's interest in access to the records, and must rule in writing with reasons. A person need not seek relief for every eligible record at once.

Question 9

What happens after a record is expunged or sealed in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

Sealing removes the records from public view, and agencies reply to public inquiries that no records are available. A person whose record is sealed or expunged cannot be found guilty of perjury or a false statement for failing to disclose it in response to any inquiry. Sealed records remain available to the person and, for lawful purposes, to prosecutors, law enforcement, corrections and supervision agencies (including for later charges, sentencing, employment decisions and firearm checks) and to certain other listed entities. Expungement restores the person to the legal status held before the arrest or conviction, with even narrower access. Federal immigration authorities may treat sealed records differently.

Question 10

Can old marijuana convictions be cleared in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

Records related only to simple possession of any quantity of marijuana before February 15, 2015 are to be expunged automatically, along with records for any offense later decriminalized or legalized, unless the prosecutor shows by clear and convincing evidence a lawful need to retain them.

Question 11

How do I check my own criminal record in District of Columbia?

Accepted Answer

The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Arrest and Criminal History Section issues police clearances, and you can only request information about yourself (age 18 or older). In person, complete PD Form 70 (Criminal History Request) at 441 4th Street NW, Room 550 South, Washington, DC 20001 ((202) 727-4245); the fee is $7, by cash or credit card (no money orders or personal checks), with a driver's license or non-driver ID, or an original birth certificate plus Social Security card. Option A lists all adult arrests regardless of outcome (used for sealing or expungement); Option B lists adult convictions with completed sentences in the past 10 years. By mail, send a notarized request letter, a copy of your ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope and a $7 money order payable to the DC Treasurer to the same address; allow about six weeks.

What relief the state offers	The District of Columbia offers both "expungement" and "sealing" under the Second Chance Amendment Act of 2022. Expungement (for decriminalized or unconstitutional offenses, pre-2015 marijuana possession, and actual innocence) restores the person to the legal status held before the arrest. Sealing removes records from public view while allowing restricted access by specific agencies. Both can happen automatically for some records or by motion to the D.C. Superior Court, and the relief applies retroactively. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: D.C. Code §§ 16-802 to 16-808
Arrests and dismissed charges	Citations, arrests and charges that ended without a conviction (and not in an acquittal by reason of insanity) are to be sealed automatically by the court, unless the offense is on the excluded list (for example intrafamily offenses, dangerous crimes, crimes of violence and DUI). Records of cases that ended on or before September 30, 2027 are to be sealed by October 1, 2027, and later cases within 90 days of the final disposition. Excluded offenses, or non-excluded ones where the person files before October 1, 2027, may be sealed by motion if it is in the interests of justice. A person who shows by a preponderance of the evidence that the offense did not occur or was not committed by them may move at any time for expungement on grounds of actual innocence. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: D.C. Code §§ 16-805(a)(1), (b), (c)(1); 16-806(a)(1); 16-803
Misdemeanor convictions	Misdemeanor convictions are to be sealed automatically once 10 years have passed since the sentence was completed, unless the offense is excluded (including intrafamily offenses, certain sex offenses, offenses against vulnerable adults, and DUI or operating while impaired). By motion, a misdemeanor conviction may be sealed after 5 years from completion of the sentence if the court finds sealing is in the interests of justice; the prosecutor may waive the waiting period in writing. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: D.C. Code §§ 16-805(a)(2), (b); 16-806(a)(3)(A)(i), (e)
Felony convictions	Felony convictions may be sealed by motion after 8 years from completion of the sentence if the court finds it is in the interests of justice. Offenses in Offense Severity Groups 1, 2 or 3 of the D.C. Sentencing Commission's Master Grid (the most serious felonies) are not eligible. Felony convictions are not covered by automatic sealing. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: D.C. Code § 16-806(a)(3)(A)(ii)
DUI / DWI convictions	DUI, commercial-vehicle DUI and operating while impaired are excluded from automatic sealing. The motion-based sealing section does not list DUI among its exclusions, so a DUI conviction may be considered for sealing by motion after the misdemeanor waiting period if the court finds it is in the interests of justice. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: D.C. Code §§ 16-805(b)(15)-(17), 16-806(a)(1)(B)(ii), (a)(3)
Juvenile records	On the person's motion or its own, the Family Court must vacate its findings and seal juvenile case, social and law enforcement records if two years have passed since final discharge from custody or supervision (or since the last order), and the person has not since been convicted or adjudicated and has nothing pending. After sealing, the proceedings are treated as if they never occurred and the person may reply that no record exists. A later delinquency adjudication or felony conviction cancels the sealing. Juveniles may refuse to disclose delinquency history on employment, education or housing applications. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: D.C. Code § 16-2335
Past marijuana convictions	Records related only to simple possession of any quantity of marijuana before February 15, 2015 are to be expunged automatically, along with records for any offense later decriminalized or legalized, unless the prosecutor shows by clear and convincing evidence a lawful need to retain them. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: D.C. Code § 16-802

How to apply	File a written motion in D.C. Superior Court stating all of the person's unsealed citations, arrests, charges and convictions known to the person, the grounds for eligibility, and supporting facts, and serve a copy on the prosecutor (who need not respond unless the court orders it). The court may deny a motion that is plainly ineligible, may order a response, and decides whether to hold a hearing. It weighs the person's interest in sealing and rehabilitation against the community's interest in access to the records, and must rule in writing with reasons. A person need not seek relief for every eligible record at once. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: D.C. Code §§ 16-806(b)-(i), 16-803(b)-(d)
Automatic (clean slate) relief	Yes. The court is to automatically expunge records of offenses later decriminalized, legalized or held unconstitutional, and records related only to simple marijuana possession before February 15, 2015, by October 1, 2027 (or within 90 days after the case ends, if later), unless the prosecutor shows a lawful need to retain them. The court is also to automatically seal non-conviction records and eligible misdemeanor convictions 10 years after the sentence, on the same October 1, 2027 timeline. The law's applicability dates have been changed several times by budget and emergency acts; the code notes reflect the current timing. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: D.C. Code §§ 16-802, 16-805
Getting a copy of your criminal record	The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Arrest and Criminal History Section issues police clearances, and you can only request information about yourself (age 18 or older). In person, complete PD Form 70 (Criminal History Request) at 441 4th Street NW, Room 550 South, Washington, DC 20001 ((202) 727-4245); the fee is $7, by cash or credit card (no money orders or personal checks), with a driver's license or non-driver ID, or an original birth certificate plus Social Security card. Option A lists all adult arrests regardless of outcome (used for sealing or expungement); Option B lists adult convictions with completed sentences in the past 10 years. By mail, send a notarized request letter, a copy of your ID, a self-addressed stamped envelope and a $7 money order payable to the DC Treasurer to the same address; allow about six weeks. The MPD page lists both appointment and walk-in options and differing hours; check before you go. Source: Metropolitan Police Department, Police Clearances (Arrest and Criminal History Section)

District of Columbia Expungement Laws: How to Clear or Seal a Criminal Record

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