Can I Have a Misdemeanor Arrest or a Conviction Sealed in DC?

Paulette M. Pagán: Yes, in most circumstances. In the event that you are arrested for a misdemeanor and you were not convicted, then your record can typically be expunged after a waiting period of either two or four years, depending on your charge. However, in the event that you’re able to prove your innocence, then you can waive that waiting period and request an immediate expungement by producing the evidence of your innocence, such as witnesses statements, video, or photographs.

Most misdemeanor convictions can also be sealed after an eight-year waiting period, but there is a list of misdemeanor convictions that are never eligible to be expunged.  These offenses include Driving Under the Influence, Sex Abuse, and various types of Fraud charges

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