Washington DC Criminal Records

Are criminal records public in Washington DC?

The District of Columbia's Freedom of Information Act states that any citizen may request any public document or report without giving any kind of explanation. However, there are some exceptions to this rule, including access to law enforcement reports. This means that performing a criminal background check on the District of Columbia can be a complicated task.

How do I look up criminal records in Washington DC?

The most convenient way to access criminal records would be through a third-party website. However, the Arrest and Criminal History Section of the Metropolitan Police Department manages all criminal records in the District of Columbia. You can visit either in person or by mail. If the report's subject has any arrests or criminal offenses on their records, the process can take longer. The requester must pay a fee of $7 and present a PD form 70 (Criminal History Request) and either a driver's license, a non-driver identification document, or an original birth certificate together with a Social Security Card. Requests by mail must include full name, date of birth, and social security number. Mail requests must be notarized, and they must include a self-addressed stamped envelope. These requests may take a minimum of six weeks. The Metropolitan Police Department will not grant access to criminal records belonging to anyone but the requester. Learn more about the Arrest and Criminal History Section at their website.

How far does a criminal background check go in Washington DC?

No state law prohibits the length of a background check in Washington DC. However, depending on the method of getting a criminal record, some services will only show convictions in the past seven years. Washington DC also has a ban-the-box law that prohibits employers from asking about criminal history until after employment.

How do I find jail records in Washington DC?

Finding which jail someone is located in can be found through the court that the case was heard in Washington DC. The District of Columbia has an online court record finder on its website. Jail records usually contain the crimes a person was charged with and information about the person such as name, height, weight, etc.

What's the difference between conviction and arrest records in Washington DC?

In Washington DC, conviction records show crimes where the defendant was proven guilty and given a sentence. They will show where the person is being held and their remaining sentence. Arrest records, on the other hand, do not prove someone was guilty and just show the crimes that they were charged with by the arresting officer.

Are police records public in Washington DC?

Any individual can ask for a Police Clearance -a certificate of clear police record- by mail or by visiting the Arrest and Criminal History Section in person. After the request has been made, the process can take about twenty-four hours to be completed.

Can employers see your criminal record in Washington DC?

The Fair Criminal Record Screening Act of 2014 prevents employers from asking any questions related to criminal history until they have given a conditional offer of employment. Technically, they could make the offer and then look at your criminal records and decide to take away the offer. However, there has to be a legitimate reason to do this, such as the crime one was convicted of is directly related to the job.

Can I get rid of my criminal record in Washington DC?

In Washington DC, you can go through a process called expungement which will erase prior criminal convictions. Not all crimes are eligible, and there is a certain amount of time that must've been passed in order to be eligible. If you were convicted of a misdemeanor, there are many of them that can be expunged. However, the only felony that can be expunged is failure to appear. Additionally, you must wait eight years until the end of your sentence to start the process.

How much does an expungement cost in Washington DC?

The process of sealing or expunging your criminal record in the District of Columbia will be pretty cheap, as you just have to gather court documents and official records. There may be some small fees, but the most expensive part will be if you hire an attorney, which is highly recommended. Getting a lawyer to help with the process will take the workload off your hands and also highly increase the chances of the expungement going through.

How do I get my criminal record expunged in Washington DC?

To start the expungement process in the District of Columbia, you submit a request to the Criminal Information Office, which is located in the Moultrie Courthouse in room 4001. You will need to gather your official criminal record through the police department. After that, there will be an "Interest of Justice" motion, and the court will decide if the record should be erased or not.

How do I get my arrest record expunged in Washington DC?

If you were charged with a crime but the case was dismissed, or you were proven innocent, then you can petition for the sealing of a crime much sooner. If you can show that you were innocent, then the expungement can happen immediately after the case. If you were simply arrested, but the charges were dropped, then you can file a petition for expungement two years after the end of the case.

How long does expungement take in Washington DC?

Expungement can take anywhere from 4-8 months in the District of Columbia. There are a lot of steps for the court to gather all of the information, and if they are particularly busy, then it would be more towards the high end.

Are inmate records public in Washington DC?

Inmate records are available to the public in Washington DC. This is to protect the inmates from any corrupt practices in the DOC (Department of Corrections) and hold them accountable. Additionally, it lets relatives and concerned persons know the whereabouts and status of an inmate.

Is the sex offender registry public in Washington DC?

The Metropolitan Police Department is in charge of maintaining and managing the District of Columbia's sex offender registry. The Department's website features a very powerful and complete search engine, allowing the user to search by name, geographical location, a specific address, or even district. The results of the search are very precise, complete, and specific.

Can a sex offender get off the registry in Washington DC?

Getting off the sex offender registry depends on the level of sex offender that you are in the District of Columbia. Unless it is a more severe offense that is put on the sex offender registry, you will have to register for ten years. More severe offenders have to register for life.

What sex offender information is public in Washington DC?

The reports include the name of the subject, date of birth, physical description, home address, work address, nature of the offense committed, date of conviction, place of conviction, date of registration, date of registry verification, and whether the offender is currently on "wanted" status or not. The disclaimer at the beginning of the report states that the information contained in the report may not be used to cause any prejudice to the offender.

What crimes are misdemeanors in Washington DC?

A misdemeanor in the District of Columbia is any crime that is punishable up to one year in jail, along with fines. There are no classes of misdemeanors in Washington DC, so it depends on the specific misdemeanor as well as the discernment of the judge to decide your sentence. Examples of misdemeanors include driving under the influence, stalking, urinating in public, and simple drug possession.

What crimes are felonies in Washington DC?

A felony in the District of Columbia is any crime punishable by more than one year in state prison. Felonies typically carry much more severe sentences than misdemeanors and are harder to get rid of. Like misdemeanors, there is a sentence for every felony, and instead of getting a set sentence, the judge will give a range of years in prison that another agency can decide on. Examples of felonies include murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.

How do I find court records in Washington DC?

The District of Columbia Courts offers a different way of performing criminal background checks. Their website has a case search engine that allows the user to look up their database. There, it is possible to find transcriptions of court cases, including the offenses committed and the decisions of the court. The returned reports don't include pictures, physical descriptions, addresses, or any sensible or relevant information on the offender. Check out the District of Columbia Courts' website to use their Court Cases Online search engine.

Can employers see your arrest record in Washington DC?

With the Fair Criminal Record Screening Act of 2014, it is not allowed for employers to ask about arrests and charges, more so than convictions. Even after they give a conditional offer of employment, they will still not be able to question you about prior arrests or charges, but they can ask about convictions.

Are arrest records public knowledge in Washington DC?

Arrest records are public information and can be accessed by anyone in Washington DC. However, they are usually harder to find because it is easier to expunge arrests as compared to convictions and some background check companies will not provide a history of arrests.

Do juveniles have criminal records in Washington DC?

Juveniles will have criminal records in Washington DC. However, it is possible to remove them after waiting two years from the last day of the sentence. You can file a petition for expungement to the court and they will have it removed. Or, if there is clear evidence that the juvenile is innocent, the crime can be expunged after filing a motion to prove innocence.