Criminal Record Sealing
Resource Document
Translations
Reentry
Record Sealing in DC
Record Sealing in DC
Having a criminal record can make it harder to find housing and employment. You may be able to have those records sealed (removed from the public records). Most felony convictions are not eligible to be sealed.
If you want to learn more about your options for criminal record sealing or get help with the process, please contact us.
You May Be Able to Seal Your DC Criminal Record If:
- Records show up in your name by mistake and actually belong to someone else
- The crime on your record has since been legalized or decriminalized, like possession of small amounts of marijuana
- The conviction on your record is misdemeanor and at least 8 years have passed since your last interaction with the criminal legal system on the case
- You received a non-conviction 2-4 years ago
- 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 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.