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Clear your District of Columbia record DIY

You can clear your D.C. record. D.C. law lets you petition to seal a wide range of arrest records and convictions under D.C. Code §§ 16-801 to 16-809. The process uses a petition filed with the D.C. Superior Court, which may set a hearing before ruling.

Expeal Ranking

District of Columbia's Expeal ranking is 13 out of 15, or a A-. This is the average of five metric scores across four case types.

Metric Misdemeanor — Arrest Misdemeanor — Conviction Felony — Arrest Felony — Conviction
Clean Slate 3 3 3 3
Expeal 3 2 3 2
Tasks 3 3 3 3
Wait 3 0 3 0
Cost 3 3 3 3
Total 15 11 15 11

The metrics are defined as follows:

  • Clean Slate: 3 if implemented; 2 if proposed or in the process of being implemented; 1 if being discussed; 0 if nothing.
  • Expeal: 3 if records are erased or destroyed; 2 if records are hidden but still exist; 1 if records are given a notation or some other form of reduction; 0 if nothing or if the process requires a pardon or similar prerequisite.
  • Tasks: 3 if application alone or automatic; 2 if straightforward court or administrative engagement is required; 1 if administrative engagement is required before straightforward court; 0 if convincing the court is required.
  • Wait: 3 if immediate to 1 year; 2 if 1 to 3 years; 1 if 3 to 5 years; 0 if more than 5 years or an intermediate step is required before the clock starts.
  • Cost: 3 if under $50; 2 if $50.01 to $250; 1 if $250.01 to $500; 0 if more than $500.

Governing statutes

Fees

Fee Amount Source
Certified copy fee $5.00 Reference
Record request fee $7.00 Reference

Step-by-step process

Below are the five phases that take you through the Expeal process in District of Columbia if you don't qualify for the automatic process.

If you have to mail anything, remember to keep a copy of whatever you send and to use a method with a tracking number like the USPS Flat Rate Envelope.

Phase 1: Verifying you Qualify

  1. Step 1: Request your Record. Schedule an appointment with the Metropolitan Police Department's Arrest and Criminal History Section, complete the application, and submit the request for an official copy of your criminal history record.

    Cost: $7.00

  2. Step 2: Review your Record. Confirm there is no disqualifying information in your history. If there is something incorrect, follow the process to challenge the issue. If everything is accurate, make a copy for your file and keep the original somewhere safe.

Phase 2: Collecting your Documents

  1. Step 3: Request Certified Documents. Collect certified copies of relevant documents. These include a copy of the disposition of the case from the clerk of court that handled the original case and the arrest record from the arresting agency. If you had probation or parole, had to take classes, had to pay fees, or had any other obligations, you also need certified proof that you completed those requirements.

    Cost: $5.00

  2. Step 4: Verify the Final Documents. Review each document for accuracy. Confirm each one is certified and clearly shows you completed your obligations. Make copies of every original.

Phase 3: Completing the Petition

  1. Step 5: Prepare your Petition. Complete the petition based on the type of charge and outcome you are seeking. Among other requirements, there are timing restrictions to note: certain misdemeanor convictions require five years to pass, others require eight years, and certain felony convictions require ten years to pass before the record qualifies for sealing.

  2. Step 6: Finalize your Petition. Take the completed petition from Step 5, the documents collected in Step 3, and the background check from Step 1, and put them together in a complete package. Double-check every file in the package is the original and ensure you have a copy of the complete package for your personal file.

Phase 4: Final Steps

  1. Step 7: File your Sealing Petition. File the petition with the D.C. Superior Court that handled the case.

  2. Step 8: Work with the Court. After the D.C. Superior Court confirms it has received your filing, watch for the court's next instructions — typically an order setting a hearing date, a request for additional briefing, or a direct ruling on the petition. Respond promptly to anything the court asks for.

Phase 5: Confirming Your Record is Cleared

  1. Step 9: Receive the Court's Order. Once the D.C. Superior Court rules on your petition, it issues a written order either granting or denying the request to seal. Review the order's terms carefully — they spell out which records are covered and what each agency must do. Keep a certified copy for your own files.

  2. Step 10: Verify the Record is Sealed. Under D.C. Code §§ 16-803 and 16-805, the Metropolitan Police Department, the D.C. Superior Court, and other named agencies update or restrict the records covered by the order. If a background-check provider later produces an outdated report, your certified copy of the court's order is your authoritative reference. Confirm with the arresting agency that its records reflect the sealing as well.

Official government links

The following pages are important to be familiar with as you work through the sealing process:

Common questions

Is this legal advice?

No. Expeal provides plain-language educational content and tools with direct citations to your state's statutes — not legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.

Why is this free?

The state-by-state guides — statutes, fees, steps, sources — are free for everyone. Expeal's revenue model is the optional DIY+ guided product available in select states, which funds the public-benefit educational content.