How to Search District of Columbia Public Records

District of Columbia's court, criminal, vital, property, voter, and licensing records are maintained by D.C. government agencies. Use the tabs to filter by record type, or jump directly to any source.

  • Courts: The D.C. Court of Appeals sits at the top of the system; trial-court business is handled by the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Most courts publish dockets and case lookups online.
  • Criminal history: The state's criminal-history repository handles official background checks. Fees and procedures are set by the state agency — see the linked official source.
  • Vital records: Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates are issued by the DC Health Vital Records Division. Marriage records are filed with the Marriage Bureau of the D.C. Superior Court.
  • Property & recorded documents: Maintained by the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue (Real Property) and the D.C. Recorder of Deeds.
  • Business filings: The Secretary of State (or equivalent) operates the official business-entity search.
Population
1,051,917
Households
411,859
Median Income
$101,027
Median Home Value
$705,000
SearchSystems Editorial
Edited by — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: District of Columbia repository URL, fee, and statute verified against the official Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) - Arrest and Criminal History Section publisher on review date. 6 primary .gov sources cited below.

District of Columbia Criminal Records — Key Numbers (2026)

MPD provides DC criminal history. Note: DC court records (DC Superior Court) are separate and also required for a complete DC criminal record.
$7
Public access fee
Per state-only check
PD Form 70 — Arrest and
Primary method
How to submit
Metropolitan Police Depa
Issuing agency
Statewide repository
D.C. Code §2-1402.66
Governing statute
State law citation
June 04, 2026
Last reviewed
By SearchSystems
What's in a state criminal check (typical %)
In-state arrests
100%
In-state convictions
100%
Out-of-state arrests
10%
Federal cases
5%
Sealed/expunged
0%
Juvenile records
15%
Unit: % included in a typical state-only check.

What Changed in 2026 — District of Columbia Criminal Records

2026
District of Columbia state-only check active
The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) - Arrest and Criminal History Section continues to process state criminal history checks via mpdc.dc.gov.
2026
District of Columbia background check fee structure
Current fee for a District of Columbia state-only check: $7. Method: PD Form 70 — Arrest and Criminal History Section, 300 Indiana Ave NW.
2026
District of Columbia statutory framework
District of Columbia criminal history records are governed by D.C. Code §2-1402.66 and disseminated through Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) - Arrest and Criminal History Section.
2026
FBI Identity History Summary (federal complement)
For records that may exist outside District of Columbia, the FBI Identity History Summary at fbi.gov complements the state-only result.

The 4-Step District of Columbia Criminal Records Pathway

1
Step 1 — Confirm what you need
For most non-employment uses, a District of Columbia state-only check from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) - Arrest and Criminal History Section is sufficient.
2
Step 2 — Choose your method
PD Form 70 — Arrest and Criminal History Section, 300 Indiana Ave NW. Current fee: $7.
3
Step 3 — Submit your request
Use the official portal at mpdc.dc.gov — never a third-party data broker.
4
Step 4 — Add federal coverage if needed
For pre-employment FCRA screening or out-of-state coverage, add an FBI Identity History Summary check ($18) — fingerprint required.

Five Things People Get Wrong About District of Columbia Criminal Records

❌ Myth: "District of Columbia background check shows everything."
✓ Truth: False. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) - Arrest and Criminal History Section check covers ONLY District of Columbia arrests/convictions. Out-of-state and federal records are NOT included.
❌ Myth: "Free third-party 'instant' checks are accurate."
✓ Truth: False. Only mpdc.dc.gov (the official District of Columbia repository) is authoritative. Data brokers often have stale data.
❌ Myth: "Sealed records will show on a check."
✓ Truth: False. Records sealed or expunged under District of Columbia law are removed from public-facing checks. Law enforcement may still access them.
❌ Myth: "Arrest = conviction on my record."
✓ Truth: False. An arrest is not a conviction. Most District of Columbia public checks distinguish arrests, dispositions, and convictions; the FCRA bars non-conviction arrests older than 7 years from employer checks.
❌ Myth: "State and FBI checks return the same data."
✓ Truth: False. The District of Columbia state check shows District of Columbia-only records. The FBI check is fingerprint-based and shows records reported by all agencies nationwide.

Primary Sources (All .gov / Official)

Related Criminal Records Resources

📍 Other District of Columbia records:
🇺🇸 Criminal Records in other states:
Related Public Records
National view of this topic: All states: Criminal records

Criminal Records Databases

4 official District of Columbia criminal records sources.

Criminal Records

Police Clearances and Reports | mpdc
Official Free
The meaning of SITE is the spatial location of an actual or planned structure or set of structures (such as a building, town, or monuments). How to use site in a sentence. Cite, Sight, and Site
🌐 mpdc.dc.gov
District of Columbia - Sex Offender Registry
Official Free
Data provided by the Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency identified sex offender registry providing location at the block level. https://www.csosa.gov/ . ... Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency Crime District of Columbia ...
🌐 catalog.data.gov
| doc - DC.gov
Official Free
As a public safety agency in the District of Columbia, DOC is committed to safeguarding our communities and treating inmates with humanity, dignity and respect. DC Department of Corrections In-Person Visitations
🌐 doc.dc.gov
BOP: Federal Bureau of Prisons Web Site
Official Free
Visit a federal inmate · Get Reentry Information · Locate a federal inmate · We are seeking applicants for the following positions: Chaplain · Clinical Psychologist · Correctional Officer · Dental Officer · General Practitioner · Nurse Practitioner ·
🌐 bop.gov

Frequently Asked Questions

District of Columbia's official statewide criminal-history check is administered by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) - Arrest and Criminal History Section. Begin the request at mpdc.dc.gov. Most state-level checks require submitting fingerprints (live-scan or ink) plus a processing fee, and the response covers convictions and certain non-conviction data permitted by District of Columbia statute.

Most adult criminal-history information in District of Columbia is considered public record, but access is restricted depending on the requester (self, employer, government agency) and the data type (arrest, conviction, sealed, juvenile). The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) - Arrest and Criminal History Section explains who can request what at mpdc.dc.gov. County-court records are also public and searchable through the trial-court system.

A state check from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) - Arrest and Criminal History Section (mpdc.dc.gov) covers only criminal activity within District of Columbia. An FBI Identity History Summary (fbi.gov) is the nationwide check covering federal records and contributing states. Employers and licensing boards often require both.

Generally, no — only the record subject (with their own ID and signature) or a specifically authorized requester (such as a credentialed employer under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a licensing board, or law enforcement) can pull a third-party criminal history from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) - Arrest and Criminal History Section. The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) - Arrest and Criminal History Section documentation at mpdc.dc.gov lists each authorized requester category.

If you find an error on your District of Columbia criminal history, the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) - Arrest and Criminal History Section offers a record-review and challenge process. Begin at mpdc.dc.gov — typical steps include fingerprint verification, a written dispute, and supporting court documents (such as a dismissal or expungement order) for each contested entry.