District of Columbia, DC Arrests, Mugshots & Jail Records
Table of Contents
How To Search District of Columbia Arrest Records?
Law enforcement agencies in the District of Columbia process at least 4,190 arrests annually. Under the District of Columbia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), members of the public can access records of these arrests for a $10 fee. However, certain records, such as those involving minors, domestic violence, adoptions, and active investigations, are confidential and cannot be obtained without legal authorization. Access to these records is restricted to specific individuals, such as those directly involved in the case, their legal representatives, law enforcement personnel, and the District of Columbia Attorney General's Office.
How To Look Up District of Columbia Arrest Records
Arrest records in the District of Columbia can be accessed through several designated government offices. These offices include:
- District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department
- United States Marshal to the District of Columbia
- District of Columbia County Superior Court Clerk
- District of Columbia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
District of Columbia Sherrif Arrest Records
The District of Columbia does not have a county sheriff like other U.S. states. Instead, several government agencies handle roles typically assigned to a sheriff's office, including access to arrest records. The key agency that performs law enforcement functions and maintains records similar to a sheriff's office in the district is the Metropolitan Police Department.
Persons seeking arrest records from this agency may submit a detailed request via mail or visit the department's office in person at:
441 4th Street, NW, 7th Floor
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 727-9099
District of Columbia Police Arrest Records
In the District of Columbia, arrest records may be obtained through the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)—the city's sole police department. To streamline the search, it is recommended to provide key details such as the individual's name, the alleged offense, and the arrest date.
Note that when submitting a request, applicants must present one of the following forms of identification:
- Driver's License
- Non-Driver ID
- Original Birth Certificate and Social Security Card
District of Columbia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
The District of Columbia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC) oversees criminal history records, including arrest reports from various law enforcement agencies across the district. Interested persons may request arrest records from this agency by submitting a request by mail to:
Criminal Justice Coordinating Council
441 4th Street
NW Suite 715 North,
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 442-9283
Alternatively, interested persons may search for the records online using the DC FOIA request portal.
Criminal Court Records
Individuals seeking arrest records related to formal charges in the District of Columbia can obtain them from the County Clerk's Office. If the case is a felony, the records may be obtained from the Superior Court Clerk's Office. If the case is a misdemeanor, requesters may contact the D.C. Court of Appeals Clerk's Office.
Criminal records may also be searched online using the district's court case search portal, where users can streamline searches using details such as the individual's name, case number, age, or other identifiers. For in-person requests, you may visit:
Superior Court Clerk's Office
500 Indiana Avenue NW
Suite 200
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: (202) 879-1133
Third-party websites like InfoTracer also offer more extensive and faster options for conducting criminal record searches.
Arrest Statistics
The District of Columbia has an arrest rate of 5,458.3 per 100,000 residents. Below are additional details about its arrest figures.:
| Arrest Type | Number of Arrests |
|---|---|
| Homicide | 25 |
| Robbery | 358 |
| Sex Abuse | 31 |
| Aggravated Assault | 136 |
| Arson | 1 |
| Burglary | 124 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 738 |
| Total Crimes Against Persons (Violent Crimes) | 550 |
| Total Crimes Against Property | 3,640 |
| Total Number of Arrests | 4,190 |
Source: Metropolitan Police Department District Crime Data