Criminal Record Sealing

You May Be Able to Seal Your DC Criminal Record by Motion If:

  • Records show up in your name by mistake and actually belong to someone else
  • The conviction on your record is misdemeanor and at least 5 years have passed since you completed your sentence in that case
  • The conviction on your record is an eligible felony and at least 8 years have passed since you completed your sentence in that case 
  • You have a non-conviction on your record (some exceptions apply)
  • You can prove that you were actually innocent

Other Pathways for Record Clearing in DC

  • You may be eligible to have your conviction set aside under the Youth Rehabilitation Act (YRA) if you were convicted of an eligible crime committed at age 24 or younger. Under the YRA, you can request to set aside your conviction even if the offense happened before the law was passed.
  • If you are a survivor of trafficking and were convicted of a crime as a result, you may be eligible to have your record sealed under the Trafficking Survivors Relief Amendment Act. The law allows survivors to seal convictions of offenses including, but not limited to, solicitation and possession.