{"data":{"id":"us-dc/d.c.-code-16-802","jurisdiction":"us-dc","citation":"D.C. Code § 16-802","heading":"Automatic expungement of criminal records.","body":"(a)\nThe Court shall order automatic expungement of all criminal records and court proceedings related only to citations, arrests, charges, or convictions for the commission of a criminal offense that has subsequently been decriminalized, legalized, or held to be unconstitutional by the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia or the Supreme Court of the United States, or records related only to simple possession for any quantity of marijuana in violation of § 48-904.01(d)(1) before February 15, 2015, if:\n(1)\nThe case was terminated by the prosecutor or otherwise reached a final disposition; and\n(2)\nThe prosecutor has not:\n(A)\nFiled a written motion, which may be made ex parte, to:\n(i)\nRetain and sequester the record for a limited period of time; or\n(ii)\nContest that a particular person qualifies for expungement under this section; and\n(B)\nDemonstrated by clear and convincing evidence that:\n(i)\nRetention is necessary for a lawful purpose, such as:\n(I)\nInvestigating, prosecuting, or defending another criminal case;\n(II)\nComplying with disclosure obligations in another criminal case; or\n(III)\nDetermining the person's suitability for diversion, release, sentencing reduction, or record sealing in another case; or\n(ii)\nThe person does not qualify for expungement under this section.\n\n(b)\nEligible criminal records and court proceedings related to citation, arrests, charges, and convictions shall be expunged pursuant to subsection (a) of this section by October 1, 2027, or within 90 days after termination of the case by the prosecutor or final disposition, whichever is later.","path":["Title 16. Particular Actions, Proceedings and Matters. [Enacted title]","Chapter 8. Criminal Record Sealing and Expungement."],"source_url":"https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/16-802","current_through":"2026-08-20 (D.C. Law 26-175)","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-29T05:44:07Z","sha256":"db26e933125d38519bd13a52d54e9b1e3a42d0903eb8fd9af60e5180d869bc25","source_id":"us-dc","stale":false,"prev":"us-dc/d.c.-code-16-801","next":"us-dc/d.c.-code-16-803"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}