Record Gathering

HOW TO OBTAIN YOUR COMPLETE CRIMINAL RECORD

If you have ever been arrested or had a warrant out for your arrest in the District of Columbia for a suspected violation of D.C. law, you have a D.C. criminal record. To get a copy of your complete D.C. criminal record before meeting with an attorney, you will need to go to both the Metropolitan Police Department and to D.C. Superior Court.

D.C. Police Records

  1. Be prepared with the following:
    • A valid ID (such as a Driver’s License),
    • $7.00 cash or card to pay for the record, and
    • Your social security number 
       
  2. Go to the following office of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD):

    Record Information Desk
    300 Indiana Avenue. NW
    Criminal History Section, Room 1075
    Mon-Fri 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
     
  3. Ask to fill out the Request for Criminal Arrest History for Determining Record Sealing Eligibility of Filing Purposes Only.

    Note: The Request for Criminal Arrest History for Determining Record Sealing Eligibility of Filing Purposes Only is not the same as a Police Clearance or PD 70. The “Criminal Arrest History for Determining Record Sealing Eligibility of Filing Purposes Only” document includes more complete information than a PD 70. So, you should be sure to ask for the report intended to determine eligibility for record sealing, not just a simple criminal history report.
     
  4. The employee will give you a payment slip. Take the slip to the cashier and pay $7.
     
  5. Bring the receipt back to Room 1075.
     
  6. You might be able to wait for the report and receive it the same day, or the employee will give you a day to come back to pick it up.
     
  7. When you receive a copy of your Criminal Arrest History for Determining Record Sealing Eligibility of Filing Purposes Only hold on to this form – you will need it to determine your eligibility to file a motion to seal your arrest record.

D.C. Criminal Court Records

  1. Go to the following office within the D.C. Superior Court:

    Clerk’s Information Office
    Criminal Records Division
    D.C. Superior Court, Room 4001 (on the 4th floor)
    500 Indiana Avenue, N.W. (202) 879-1373
    Monday - Friday, 8:30am - 5:30pm
     
  2. To obtain the information needed to complete the Motion to Seal Records:
    1. Give your name and birth date to the Clerk and request your entire Superior Court criminal record, or
    2. Enter your name into the Court View software on the computers in Room 4001 and search for your records.
       
  3. If the case does not have a number (usually if it is a “no paper” or a “Post & Forfeit”), you must ask the clerk to assign them a case number to use in your Motion to Seal. You must have a case number in order to file the Motion.