The Arrest and Criminal History Section provides police clearances to the general public for many of the following needs: employment, licensing, adoption, apartment rental, hackers (taxicabs), or FL-20 for overseas or domestic travel.
At least 95 percent of the people served at our public service counters are seeking a police clearance. If you have an arrest record, your wait may be somewhat longer than others.
To get a clearance, you will need to complete a PD Form 70 (Criminal History Request) for a record check. This form is available when you visit the Arrest and Criminal History Section, on the first floor of Police Headquarters. Most requests will take approximately 24 hours to be processed.
Please identify which type of arrest history you are requesting:
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Option A
An individual may request production of his or her arrest record for the purposes of determining eligibility for sealing or expunging that record pursuant to Chapter 8 of Title 16, or similar sealing statutes in the District or in another jurisdiction, and may request production of his or her arrest record for filing a sealing or expungement motion. This document will contain a listing of all adult arrests, regardless of the disposition of each arrest, and regardless of the date on which the arrest, conviction, or completion of the sentence occurred.
Cost: $7
Processing Time: Up to 10 business days
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Option B
An individual may request production of his or her arrest record or authorize another person to request production of his or her arrest record for any other purpose. This document will contain a listing only of adult convictions for which the sentence was completed not more than 10 years before the date on which the records were requested and forfeitures of collateral in a court proceeding that have occurred not more than 10 years before the date on which the record was requested.
Cost: $7
Processing Time: Up to 10 business days
What's Needed
To make a request, you will need one of the following:
- Driver's License
- Non-Driver ID
- Original Birth Certificate AND Social Security Card
Things to Remember:
- You must be 18 years of age to retrieve a police clearance.
- You can ONLY get information about yourself.
- Read over information on your record before leaving service counter.
- Note the name of the clerk who served you.
Individuals must make an appointment through the link below to obtain requests for records in person.
Arrest and Criminal History Section
Address
Henry J. Daly Building
MPDC Headquarters
300 Indiana Avenue, NW, Room 1075
Washington, DC 20001
(202) 727-4245
Contact
Records Manager
(202) 715-7539 (office)
(202) 727-4429 (main)
[email protected]
Hours: Monday-Friday: 9 am - 5 pm
Fee: $7 (cash or credit card; NO money orders or personal checks)
To Request a Local Background Check by Mail
Persons living outside of the District, or who are otherwise unable to come to the office in person, may do the following:
Write a NOTARIZED letter requesting a background check to:
Metropolitan Police Department
Criminal History Section
300 Indiana Avenue, NW, Room 1075
Washington, DC 20001
The letter must include the following information:
- Full Name
- Date of Birth
- Social Security Number
- Self-addressed Stamped Envelope
- $7 Money Order payable to the DC Treasurer (Checks Not Accepted)
Letter must be notarized by a Notary Public prior to mailing. Please allow six weeks for processing from the date the request is made. For more information or additional assistance, contact (202) 727-4245.