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District of Columbia
 Restoration of Rights, Pardon, Expungement & Sealing

    Last updated: Jan. 2, 2015 ContentsI.  Restoration of Civil/Firearms RightsA.  VoteB.  Office, JuryC.  FirearmsD.  Collateral Consequences ReportII.  Discretionary Restoration Mechanisms:A.  Executive pardonB.  Judicial sealing or expungementMisdemeanor Convictions and Non-conviction RecordsEligibilityProcedure and criteriaBurdens of proofCourt reviewEffectAssistanceJuvenile Adjudication RecordsYouth Rehabilitation ActIII.  Nondiscrimination in Licensing and EmploymentMunicipal Hiring – Ban-the-Box PolicyLimitation on Employer LiabilityLicensure of non-health related occupationsLicensure of health-related professions I.  Restoration of Civil/Firearms Rights A.  Vote A resident of the District of Columbia who is convicted of a felony may vote if not actually incarcerated.  D.C. Mun. Regs. tit. 3, § 500.3.  A person incarcerated for a misdemeanor violation of D.C. Code §§ 1-1001.14 (corrupt election practices), 1-1105.07 (lobbying violations), or 1-1107.01 (miscellaneous provisions under election laws chapter) loses the right to vote during the period of incarceration.  D.C. Code § 1-1001.02(7) (violations of §§ 1-1001.14, 1-1105.07, and 1-1107.01 included in definition of “felony” for purposes of qualification to vote). B.  Office, Jury The right to hold office is also restored automatically upon release from prison.  D.C. Code § 1-204.02.  An individual who is disqualified from jury service by reason of a felony conviction, “may qualify for jury service not less than one year after the completion of the term

District of Columbia clemency authority sought

On March 28, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced a bill that would give the District of Columbia exclusive authority, like states and U.S. territories, to grant clemency for criminal convictions under its laws. The District of Columbia Home Rule Clemency Act is part of Norton’s “Free and Equal D.C.” series. While D.C. law appears to give the mayor authority to grant clemency (D.C. Code 1–301.76), the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has opined that the mayor’s clemency authority, if any, is very narrow, and that the President of the United States has authority to grant clemency in all D.C. criminal cases and exclusive authority for D.C. felonies. Under current practice, clemency petitions for D.C. convictions, like federal convictions, are submitted to the Department of Justice for the President’s consideration. In Norton’s bill, clemency includes pardons, reprieves, or commutations of sentence. In introducing the bill, Norton said “The District, like states and territories, should have full control of its local criminal justice system, the most basic responsibility of local government. Since the D.C. Council has the authority to enact local laws, District officials are in the best position to grant clemency for local law convictions . . . .  This

District of Columbia
Restoration of Rights & Record Relief

                                                                                                          Last updated:  April 8, 2026  ContentsI.  Loss & restoration of civil/firearms rightsA.  VoteB.  Office, jury eligibilityC.  FirearmsD.  Collateral consequences reportII.  Pardon policy & practiceA.  AuthorityB.  FrequencyIII.  Expungement, sealing, and other record reliefA. Overview B.  Sealing of convictions and non-conviction records1.  Sealing by petition2. Automatic sealing of non-convictions and misdemeanorsC.  Criteria for sealing D. Procedures and burden of proofE.  Effect of sealingF.  Vacatur and expungement for survivors of human traffickingG.  Deferred dispositions1. Deferred adjudication for drug possession by first offender2.  Pretrial diversionH.  Expungement for legalized offenses and actual innocenceI.  Sealing of juvenile adjudication recordsJ.  AssistanceIV.  Criminal record in employment, licensing & housingA.  Employment – ban-the-box for public and private employersB.  Limitation on employer liabilityC.  Occupational licensure: health and non-health-related D.  Housing I.  Loss & restoration of civil/firearms rights A.  Vote By virtue of a law enacted in November 2020, and effective in April 2021, conviction does not result in loss of the right to vote in the District of Columbia.  See DC Council Bill 23-0324, Law A23-0484, amending D.C. Code §§ 1-1001.02, .05 and .07.  This law affirmed the right to vote by DC residents incarcerated for felony convictions as well as by qualified individuals under the purview of the Department of Youth

District of Columbia

Restoration of Rights Project – District of Columbia Profile Guide to restoration of rights, pardon, sealing & expungement following a Washington, D.C. criminal conviction Criminal Background Checks and Access to Jobs: A Case Study of Washington, DC Urban Institute (2017) Beyond Second Chances: Returning Citizens’ Re-entry Struggles and Successes in the District of Columbia Council For Court Excellence (2016) Collateral Consequences of Arrests and Convictions under D.C., Maryland, and Virginia Law Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights & Urban Affairs (2014) Collateral Consequences of Criminal Convictions in the District of Columbia: A Guide for Criminal Defense Lawyers Community Reentry Program, Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (2010)   >> Select another state <<   Related blog posts:

Restoration of Rights Project: State-specific guides to restoration of rights, pardon, expungement, sealing & certificates of relief

Federal / Puerto Rico / Virgin Islands Federal | Read the Full Profile |  Summary: Loss & restoration of civil/firearms rights Read more Pardon policy & practice  Read more Expungement, sealing & other record relief Read more Criminal record in employment & licensing Read more | Return to Top | Alabama | Read the Full Profile | Summary: Loss & restoration of civil/firearms rights Read more Pardon policy & practice Read more Expungement, sealing & other record relief Read more Criminal record in employment & licensing Read more | Return to Top |  Alaska | Read the Full Profile |  Summary: Loss & restoration of civil/firearms rights Read more Pardon policy & practice Read more Expungement, sealing & other record relief Read more Criminal record in employment & licensing Read more | Return to Top | Arizona  | Read the Full Profile | Summary: Loss & restoration of civil/firearms rights Read more Pardon policy & practice Read more Expungement, sealing & other record relief Read more Criminal record in employment & licensing Read more | Return to Top | Arkansas | Read the Full Profile |  Summary: Loss & restoration of civil/firearms rights Read more Pardon policy & practice Read more Expungement, sealing & other record relief Read more Criminal record in employment & licensing Read more | Return