Washington Dc Arrest Records Search | Criminal Records
Recent Arrest Lookup
Name + state search
Lookup Active
Worried About a Recent Arrest?
Search by name and state to check available arrest, mugshot, jail, booking, and court report options.
Enter first name, last name, and state.
Report availability varies. Not for employment, tenant, credit, or insurance decisions.
Washington, DC · MPD arrest history, DC Jail custody, Superior Court and criminal-record relief
Trace a Washington DC Arrest From Police Booking to the Court Disposition
Washington, DC does not use the county-sheriff model. MPD maintains police arrest records, DC Department of Corrections handles local detention, and DC Superior Court maintains local criminal cases.
Use the workflow below to find current custody, court charges, active warrants, police reports, bond information, jail rules, criminal-history records and sealing or expungement options.
DC ARREST RECORD ROUTER
3-SOURCE VERIFY
METROPOLITAN POLICE
ARREST RECORD
DC CORRECTIONS
CUSTODY
SUPERIOR COURT
DISPOSITION
ARREST
FILE
FILE
ARREST + CUSTODY + CASE VERIFIED
Arrest ≠ conviction. An MPD arrest entry, jail placement or booking photo cannot establish guilt. Check the Superior Court disposition to determine whether prosecutors filed the allegation and how the case ended.
Public criminal cases
Use DC Superior Court eAccess.
Current custody
DOC Records: 202-523-7060 or VINE.
Personal MPD record
$7 arrest-history / police-clearance service.
Active warrants
DC Courts publishes an official searchable list.
2026 sealing status
Automatic relief is not yet operating.
There is no single Washington DC public arrest database
MPD
Arrest and police record
Use MPD for your arrest history, police clearances, arrest reports and incident reports created by Metropolitan Police.
Not an unrestricted public name-search database.
DC DOC / VINE
Current detention
Use DOC Records or VINE to determine whether someone is currently held in DC correctional custody.
Custody status does not establish conviction.
DC SUPERIOR COURT
Filed criminal case
Use eAccess for most Criminal Division and Domestic Violence Division cases.
Best source for charges, docket activity and final disposition.
FEDERAL BOP
Later federal custody
Some DC Code felony offenders are ultimately housed by the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Use BOP only when local DC DOC custody no longer applies.How to search Washington DC arrest records correctly
Decide whether you need custody, court or police history
Each is maintained by a different DC agency.
For a recent arrest, check custody first
Call DOC Records or use VINE to determine whether the person entered DC correctional custody.
Search DC Superior Court eAccess
Criminal Division cases remain in eAccess.
Open DC Superior Court eAccess
Search by exact case number when available
eAccess requires the complete formatted case number, including year, case-type abbreviation and leading zeroes.
Otherwise search the defendant
Use the person’s correct legal name and date of birth where the criminal search permits it.
Check the prosecutor filing
A police arrest charge can differ from what the USAO or DC Office of the Attorney General files.
Review the latest disposition
Look for dismissal, plea, verdict, conviction, sentence or other final action.
If no case exists, check for a “No Paper” arrest
A post-2011 arrest that prosecutors declined to pursue may not have court paperwork available from Criminal Customer Service.
For the person’s full MPD arrest history, use the authorized MPD process
This is not available as an unrestricted public online name search.
Check whether someone is currently in DC Jail custody
DC DOC does not operate the same kind of open county-roster page used by many sheriffs. The official DOC locator instructions direct users to the Records Office and VINE.
Call the DOC Records Office
General inmate information:
202-523-7060.
Have multiple identifiers ready
Use the full legal name, DCDC number, PDID or court case number when available.
Search VINELink
VINE can provide current offender-status information.
Open VINELink offender search
Confirm the facility
The person may be at the Central Detention Facility, Correctional Treatment Facility or another custodial placement.
Recheck before visiting or sending money
Transfers and releases change the correct facility and service instructions.
Register for notification when appropriate
VINE’s DC toll-free status line is
877-329-7894.
An arrest happened but you cannot find the person or case
Police booking is still underway
The person may still be at an MPD district before transfer or release.
The defendant was released on citation
A person can receive a future court date without remaining in DOC custody.
The case was “No Papered”
Prosecutors may have declined prosecution, leaving an arrest record but no continuing criminal case.
The matter was Post and Forfeit
Certain lower-level offenses can be resolved through collateral forfeiture rather than ordinary prosecution.
The case is a criminal citation
DC Courts states that criminal citation cases are not available in eAccess.
A federal agency made the arrest
US Capitol Police, Park Police, Secret Service, FBI or another federal agency may create a different records path.
The person moved into federal custody
Search the Federal Bureau of Prisons when appropriate.
The case was sealed or expunged
Legally restricted records may no longer be available to the general public.
Current-custody call script
I am trying to confirm the current custody status of [full legal name], date of birth [if known]. The person may have been arrested on [date] by [agency]. I have [DCDC number / PDID / court case number if available]. Can you confirm whether the person is currently in DOC custody, has been released or has been transferred?
What Washington DC arrest and court terms mean
| Term | What it means | What it does not prove |
|---|---|---|
| PDID | Metropolitan Police Department identification number associated with an individual. | Conviction. |
| DCDC number | DC Department of Corrections inmate identifier. | The person remains incarcerated today. |
| Arrest charge | Allegation associated with police arrest. | What prosecutors formally filed. |
| No Paper | Prosecutor declined to proceed with prosecution. | The arrest never happened. |
| Citation release | Defendant is released with a future court date. | Case dismissal. |
| Post and Forfeit | Collateral is posted and forfeited for specified lower-level matters instead of trial. | An admission or adjudication of guilt by the court. |
| Presentment / arraignment | First court proceeding after arrest where charges and release are addressed. | Final disposition. |
| Money bond | Court-ordered monetary condition used in an applicable case. | Release if another detention basis exists. |
| Sealed case | Record is removed from ordinary public view with restricted legal access. | Every legally authorized agency destroyed its record. |
| Expunged case | A stronger form of record relief under applicable DC law. | No restricted record can ever exist for a lawful purpose. |
Verify identity before relying on a DC criminal record
Full legal name matches
Middle name or suffix is consistent
Date of birth matches
PDID or DCDC number matches
Arrest date is consistent
Arresting agency matches
Superior Court case follows the arrest
Final disposition belongs to the same defendant
Never identify someone from a name, address or mugshot alone. Use at least two independent official identifiers.
What happens after an arrest in Washington DC?
Police identification and booking
The person is taken to a police district, identified, charged and booked.
Release, detention or collateral option
Depending on the case, the person may receive citation release, bond, detention or an applicable post-and-forfeit option.
Prosecutor decision
The United States Attorney’s Office or DC Office of the Attorney General decides whether and what to prosecute.
Presentment or arraignment
The defendant is informed of charges and the judge decides release or detention.
Pretrial Services
Released defendants may be supervised and required to follow court-ordered conditions.
Criminal case proceedings
The docket may include discovery, motions, warrants, pleas, hearings and trial.
Disposition
Each charge can be dismissed, result in acquittal, plea, conviction, sentence or another authorized outcome.
Record relief
Eligible cases can later qualify for sealing or expungement under DC law.
Search the actual Washington DC criminal court case
Criminal Division, criminal tax and Domestic Violence Division cases continue to use DC Superior Court eAccess.
Open eAccess
Open DC Superior Court eAccess
Accept the court disclaimer / CAPTCHA
The system requires verification before searching public records.
Use the exact full case number when known
Include the full year, case-type abbreviation and six-digit case sequence with leading zeroes.
Otherwise search by defendant
Date of birth can be used in a criminal-case name search.
Match the correct case type
DC cases may appear as felony, misdemeanor, domestic-violence or criminal-traffic matters.
Read every docket event
Review warrants, hearings, release orders, plea events and sentencing activity chronologically.
Open available document images
eAccess provides document images for some cases, but not every filing is necessarily available online.
Verify the final disposition
Do not rely on the original arrest charge when a later court result exists.
DC Superior Court Criminal Division
Moultrie Courthouse
500 Indiana Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001
Criminal Information: 202-879-1373
Court general information: 202-879-1010
Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Moultrie Courthouse
500 Indiana Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001
Criminal Information: 202-879-1373
Court general information: 202-879-1010
Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
“No Paper” can explain a missing criminal case
DC Courts defines No Paper as a prosecutor’s decision not to proceed with prosecution.
Arrest still occurred
The MPD arrest event can exist even though the prosecutor declined to file a continuing case.
Court information can be limited
The Criminal Customer Service Office does not provide post-2011 paperwork for arrests that resulted in No Paper.
Use MPD history when needed
A sealing-purpose MPD arrest history lists adult arrests regardless of disposition and date.
No Paper ≠ acquittal. It means prosecution did not proceed. An acquittal occurs after a criminal case reaches a not-guilty determination.
What the Criminal Information Office can confirm
Case number for a particular person
Defense attorney name and contact information
Charges filed in the case
Next court date
Payment information
Release or detention status
Current case status
Case disposition
Criminal Information:
202-879-1373
A third party requesting a formal criminal case-information search by the court is currently subject to a $10 search fee; government and qualifying nonprofit organizations are exempt from that court search charge.
Search active Washington DC warrants by name or case
Unlike many jurisdictions, DC Superior Court publishes a searchable official Active Warrant List.
Open the official Active Warrant List
Search DC active warrants
Search the case number when known
This is safer than relying only on a common name.
Otherwise enter last and first name
Use middle name to reduce false matches.
Save the exact case number
Use it in eAccess to inspect the underlying court case.
Review the newest docket entry
Confirm whether subsequent court action affects the warrant.
If the warrant concerns you, call PDS
The PDS Duty Day Program specifically helps people responding to outstanding arrest warrants.
202-628-1200
Do not confront, detain or publicly accuse anyone because of a warrant-name match.
Post a DC Superior Court bond at the court—not at the jail
Criminal Finance Office
Moultrie Courthouse, Room 4003
500 Indiana Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-879-1840
Alternate: 202-638-5352
Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Moultrie Courthouse, Room 4003
500 Indiana Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-879-1840
Alternate: 202-638-5352
Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Confirm that the judge actually ordered a money bond
Many DC defendants are released under nonfinancial conditions or supervised by Pretrial Services.
Confirm the exact amount
Use Criminal Information or the current case docket.
Check for a separate detention order
Money does not override a lawful order detaining the defendant.
Go to the Criminal Finance Office
Money bonds are posted through the court.
Use cash or money order
DC Courts states that personal checks are not accepted.
For certain Saturday or holiday payments under $1,000
Contact the court’s BondPayPortal service before attempting electronic payment.
Keep the receipt
Save the case number, amount, date and payment record.
Release in DC often means supervision instead of cash bail
No conditions
Some defendants are released without special pretrial conditions.
PSA supervision
The majority of released defendants are supervised by the Pretrial Services Agency.
Detention
A judge can order detention when applicable law supports continued custody.
Possible supervision conditions
Regular reporting
Drug testing
Stay-away orders
Substance-use treatment
Mental-health treatment
Frequent pretrial-officer contact
Check the actual release order instead of assuming a defendant is unrestricted merely because the person left jail.
Request the arrest or incident report from Metropolitan Police
MPD Public Documents Section
441 4th Street NW, Room 550 South
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-727-4275
Report-request assistance: 202-727-4357
441 4th Street NW, Room 550 South
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-727-4275
Report-request assistance: 202-727-4357
Confirm MPD created the report
Federal agencies and other police agencies maintain their own records.
Identify the report type
PD-251 is an Incident/Offense Report; PD-10 is an accident report.
Provide the Central Complaint Number when known
This is the most useful report identifier.
Add date, time and location
These fields are particularly important for third-party FOIA requests.
For your own record, provide identity proof
MPD requests identifying documentation for records concerning the requester.
For an ordinary PD-251, use Public Documents
MPD says production charges for Incident/Offense Reports are currently temporarily waived.
For broader records, submit DC FOIA
Use the District’s public access portal to submit and track the request.
Open MPD FOIA instructions
MPD currently publishes a $3 charge for PD-10 accident reports. Incident/Offense Report production fees are temporarily waived.
Copy-ready MPD request
I request the releasable PD-251 Incident/Offense Report, arrest-related report and specifically identified supplements concerning [full legal name] for the event on [date/time] at [location]. The Central Complaint Number is [number if known], the PDID is [number if known], and the Superior Court case number is [number if known]. Please provide electronic copies where available and notify me before processing if any charge will exceed $[amount].
Get your own Washington DC arrest-history record
This is not a public “search anyone” service. MPD criminal-history requests are identity-controlled records.
Option A: sealing / expungement record
- Lists all adult arrests.
- Includes arrests regardless of disposition.
- No date limit on arrest, conviction or sentence completion.
- Current charge: $7.
- Processing: up to 10 business days.
Option B: other authorized purpose
- Used for other authorized arrest-history purposes.
- Generally reports specified adult convictions within the statutory 10-year period.
- Includes qualifying collateral forfeitures within the applicable period.
- Current charge: $7.
- Processing: up to 10 business days.
MPD Arrest and Criminal History Section
441 4th Street NW, Room 550 South
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-727-4245
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday: 9:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
441 4th Street NW, Room 550 South
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202-727-4245
Monday, Wednesday, Friday: 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, Thursday: 9:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.
Choose the correct record purpose
Tell MPD whether you need Option A for record relief or Option B for another authorized purpose.
Complete PD Form 70
The Criminal History Request form is provided through MPD.
Bring acceptable identification
Driver’s license, non-driver ID, or original birth certificate together with Social Security card are listed options.
Applicant must generally be 18 or older
The police-clearance service is an adult record process.
Pay the $7 charge
In-person payment currently accepts cash or credit card.
Review the completed record before leaving
MPD specifically tells requesters to check the information and note the clerk who served them.
Mail request when you cannot appear in person
Notarized request letter
Full name
Date of birth
Social Security number
Phone number
Email address
Copy of ID
Self-addressed stamped envelope
$7 money order payable to DC Treasurer
Allow approximately six weeks for mailed processing
Schedule DC Department of Corrections visitation
| Rule | Published requirement |
|---|---|
| Main visit format | Most social visits are video visits. |
| Scheduling window | Up to one week ahead and at least 24 hours before visit. |
| Free social visits | Two 45-minute social visits per week. |
| Main operating days | Wednesday through Sunday. |
| Main hours | 11:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m.; last session begins at 9:00 p.m. |
| Arrival | Arrive at least 15 minutes early. |
| Late arrival | Visit is automatically cancelled if the visitor is late. |
| Visitor group | One adult and up to two minor children may enter the video visitation room. |
Confirm the inmate’s current facility
Use DOC Records or VINE before scheduling.
Create the visitation account
Open DC DOC visitation scheduler
Select the correct inmate
Use the inmate’s exact DCDC identity.
Schedule at least 24 hours ahead
The system can schedule visits up to one week in advance.
Arrive or log in early
Late visits can be cancelled automatically.
Ask about face-to-face eligibility
Some eligible inmates may receive in-person visitation as an incentive for positive behavior.
Avoid a cancelled or suspended DC Jail visit
No smoking during visits
No alcohol consumption
No phone or other device use during visit
No photographs
No screenshots
No recordings
Wear appropriate non-revealing clothing
Only scheduled visitors may participate
No background participants or group setting
Visits are actively monitored
Violation of DOC visitation rules can cause immediate termination or suspension of visiting privileges.
Send personal or legal correspondence correctly
Personal mail
Inmate Full Name
DCDC Number
DC Jail
1901 D Street SE
Washington, DC 20003
Inmate Full Name
DCDC Number
DC Jail
1901 D Street SE
Washington, DC 20003
Use the inmate’s full name
Include the DCDC number
Incoming mail is opened
Mail is searched for contraband
DOC publishes no numerical limit on ordinary sent/received mail
Confirm custody before sending
Legal mail
Legal mail uses the inmate’s name, DCDC number and DC Jail address. DOC states that legal mail is opened in the inmate’s presence only to inspect for contraband.
Do not use ordinary personal mail for confidential attorney-client communications.
Fund a DC Jail telephone account
DOC currently directs friends and family to its approved telephone-account service from the Inmate Telephone Services page.
Confirm the inmate’s DCDC number
Do not fund an account based on name alone.
Open DOC Inmate Telephone Services
Use the vendor link provided by DOC rather than an advertisement or search result.
Open DC DOC telephone instructions
Select the correct phone account
Phone funds and commissary funds can serve different purposes.
Save the transaction record
Keep the DCDC number, amount and confirmation number.
Treat ordinary inmate phone calls as non-confidential. Attorneys have separate legal-call and visitation access.
Deposit money for someone in DC DOC custody
Every DOC inmate receives a finance account during intake. It holds intake money, qualifying work earnings and deposits from family and friends.
| Method | How it works |
|---|---|
| DOC kiosk | Inmate Connector Kiosk in the Correctional Treatment Facility lobby at 1901 E Street SE. |
| Western Union online | DOC publishes online fees starting as low as $3.95. |
| Western Union phone | Call 800-634-3422; published fees start as low as $5.95. |
| Western Union walk-in | Use participating agent locations; published fees start as low as $5.95. |
| Online inmate account service | Use the commercial service linked from the official DOC deposit page. |
For the Western Union Quick Collect process, DOC publishes: Pay To: DCDOC, Code City: DCGOV, State: DC, and the sender-account field should contain the inmate number and last name.
Find appointed counsel or get help with an arrest warrant
Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia
633 3rd Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
Main: 202-628-1200
Toll-free: 800-341-2582
633 3rd Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
Main: 202-628-1200
Toll-free: 800-341-2582
For a new arrested defendant
The PDS Defender Services Office conducts financial interviews and assists the court in determining eligibility for appointed counsel.
Appointment occurs before the initial court appearance
PDS or a Criminal Justice Act attorney may be appointed depending on the case.
To find the assigned lawyer
Call DC Superior Court Criminal Information at
202-879-1373.
For an outstanding arrest warrant
PDS’s Duty Day Program specifically handles warrant-related assistance.
Duty Day call-in hours
Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., excluding federal and DC holidays.
Duty Day walk-in hours
Monday–Friday, 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Open PDS Duty Day Program
Attorneys and authorized legal agents have 24-hour, seven-day in-person access to represented DOC clients for legal visits under the DOC legal-access rules.
Get release, transfer and court-status notifications
Register with DC VINE
VINE can provide notifications for release, transfer, court hearing, escape and re-incarceration.
Use the inmate’s strongest identifier
DCDC number, PDID, full name or court case number can help identify the correct person.
Call VINE for current information
877-329-7894.
Use VINELink for online offender status
Open VINELink
Keep the court case number
Court and prosecutor victim services can provide better case-stage assistance with the exact case.
DC DOC Victim Information Services
Phone: 202-673-7316
Phone: 202-673-7316
Search federal prison when a DC Code felony offender leaves DOC
Under the National Capital Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997, the Federal Bureau of Prisons houses people convicted of felony offenses under DC law.
Use DC DOC for current local pretrial custody first
Do not start with BOP for every new Washington DC arrest.
Use BOP after federal or qualifying DC felony placement
Search by BOP register number whenever known.
Otherwise search by legal name
Compare age, race, sex and other displayed information.
Remember BOP release dates can change
The locator warns that sentence calculations may be updated.
Open Federal BOP Inmate Locator
Correct the agency that actually owns the bad information
| Error appears in | Start with |
|---|---|
| MPD arrest history | MPD Arrest and Criminal History Section. |
| MPD incident report | MPD Public Documents / responsible investigative unit. |
| DOC custody information | DC Department of Corrections Records Office. |
| Superior Court case | DC Superior Court Criminal Division. |
| BOP custody information | Federal Bureau of Prisons for federal custody data. |
Save the incorrect entry
Record the PDID, DCDC number, case number, report number and date viewed.
Obtain the controlling record
Use the corrected police record, court order or other official proof.
Contact the originating agency
Do not ask DOC to change a court disposition or the court to rewrite an MPD report.
Recheck connected databases
A correction in one agency does not guarantee an immediate update everywhere else.
Washington DC sealing and expungement rules are broader—but not fully automatic yet
Important August 2026 status: DC Superior Court states that the automatic sealing and automatic expungement provisions of the Second Chance Amendment Act of 2022 are not yet operating. Do not assume an eligible record has already disappeared automatically.
Sealing
Removes the citation, arrest, prosecution, disposition or conviction from ordinary public view while allowing restricted access for specified legal purposes.
Expungement
Provides stronger relief. DC law states that expungement restores the person, in contemplation of law, to the status occupied before the citation, arrest, charge or conviction, subject to statutory restricted-record provisions.
Current motion-based paths
| Record type | Current DC route |
|---|---|
| Non-conviction | Many eligible arrests and charges that ended without conviction can be sealed by motion under current DC law. |
| Misdemeanor conviction | Current motion statute generally requires at least 5 years after completion of sentence, plus statutory eligibility. |
| Eligible felony conviction | Current motion statute generally requires at least 8 years after completion of sentence; designated serious offense groups are excluded. |
| Actual innocence | Expungement by motion can apply where a non-conviction case qualifies and the person proves the offense did not occur or was not committed by that person. |
| Decriminalized / legalized offense | DC law creates automatic expungement for qualifying records, including specified marijuana-possession records, but the court says automatic processing is not yet operating in 2026. |
What to collect before filing
MPD Option A complete adult arrest history
Every Superior Court case number
No Paper arrests
Post-and-Forfeit matters
Final disposition for every court case
Sentence-completion date when conviction occurred
Evidence supporting actual innocence when applicable
Supporting rehabilitation or interest-of-justice evidence when relevant
Order MPD Option A
This is the arrest-history product specifically intended for sealing or expungement preparation.
Search every court case
Use eAccess and Criminal Information.
Determine the disposition of every arrest
Separate convictions, dismissals, No Paper matters and other outcomes.
Check the current DC statute
Eligibility can depend on offense category, disposition and time since sentence completion.
Read DC Code Chapter 8
Use the Superior Court sealing procedure
File through the Criminal Information Office using the current court motion process.
Open DC Courts record-sealing instructions
Submit the original plus required copy
DC Courts currently instructs filers to submit the original sealing request and one copy.
Wait for government response and court review
The prosecutor receives an opportunity to respond before the court decides a motion.
Keep the signed sealing or expungement order
Use it to resolve databases that do not update correctly.
Future automatic relief: Current DC Code schedules qualifying automatic sealing and automatic expungement processing around the October 1, 2027 implementation framework. Because that process is not yet active in August 2026, a person who needs relief now should check whether a motion-based route is available.
PDS Community Defender Division
1442 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20003
Phone: 202-824-2801
PDS currently states that its Community Defender Division is not accepting new record-relief clients, but callers may request referrals to other DC organizations that handle record relief.
1442 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20003
Phone: 202-824-2801
PDS currently states that its Community Defender Division is not accepting new record-relief clients, but callers may request referrals to other DC organizations that handle record relief.
Washington DC arrest and criminal-record contacts
MPD Arrest & Criminal History
441 4th Street NW, Room 550 South
Washington, DC 20001
Washington, DC 20001
MPD Public Documents
441 4th Street NW, Room 550 South
Washington, DC 20001
Washington, DC 20001
DC DOC Records Office
Current inmate information.
DC DOC Main Office
3924 Minnesota Avenue NE, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20019
Washington, DC 20019
DC Superior Court Criminal Information
500 Indiana Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20001
Washington, DC 20001
Criminal Finance / Bond
Room 4003, Moultrie Courthouse.
Public Defender Service
633 3rd Street NW
Washington, DC 20001
Washington, DC 20001
VINE
Custody status and notifications.
MPD Records Division map
DC Superior Court Moultrie Courthouse map
DC Jail map
One Washington DC record problem → one best next action
| Your question | Best action |
|---|---|
| Is someone in DC Jail now? | Call DOC Records at 202-523-7060 or use VINE. |
| What criminal case was filed? | Search DC Superior Court eAccess. |
| Why is an arrest missing from court? | Check whether it was No Paper, citation release or Post and Forfeit. |
| Need your full adult MPD arrest list? | Request MPD Option A for sealing / expungement preparation. |
| Need a police incident report? | Request the PD-251 from MPD Public Documents. |
| Need to check a warrant? | Search the official DC Courts Active Warrant List and eAccess. |
| Need to post money bond? | Use the Criminal Finance Office, not DC Jail. |
| Need the assigned lawyer? | Call Criminal Information at 202-879-1373. |
| Need release notifications? | Register with VINE at 877-329-7894. |
| Need to remove an eligible public record? | Check the current DC motion-based sealing or expungement process. |
Washington DC arrest and criminal-record questions
How do I search Washington DC arrest records?
There is no single public citywide arrest-history database. Use DC Superior Court eAccess for public criminal cases, DOC/VINE for custody and MPD’s authorized record process for a personal arrest history.
How do I find someone currently in DC Jail?
Call DC DOC Records at 202-523-7060 or search custody through VINELink.
How do I search DC criminal court records?
Use DC Superior Court eAccess for Criminal Division and Domestic Violence Division cases.
Why might an MPD arrest have no court case?
The prosecutor may have declined prosecution, known in DC as “No Paper,” or the matter may involve citation release or another procedure.
How do I get my complete MPD arrest history for record sealing?
Request Option A through the MPD Arrest and Criminal History Section. It currently costs $7 and lists adult arrests regardless of disposition or date.
Can I search DC warrants online?
Yes. DC Superior Court publishes an official Active Warrant List searchable by case number and name.
Where do I pay a DC criminal bond?
Applicable money bonds are posted through the DC Superior Court Criminal Finance Office, Room 4003, Moultrie Courthouse.
How do DC Jail social visits work?
Most visits are by video, must generally be scheduled at least 24 hours ahead, and DOC publishes two 45-minute social visits per week.
Can I search another person’s complete MPD arrest history?
MPD criminal-history service is not an unrestricted public people-search database. For public criminal-case information about another person, use DC Superior Court eAccess.
Are DC criminal records automatically sealed in 2026?
No. DC Superior Court currently states that the Second Chance Amendment Act’s automatic sealing and expungement provisions are not yet operating. Eligible people can still evaluate available motion-based relief.
