WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — A new law in Washington, D.C., allowing criminal records to be sealed upon request, will go into effect on March 1, 2025, and many said this law will impact several lives.
The law is intended to help those who were formerly incarcerated be able to get a job, housing and a second chance at life without their criminal record impacting them.
This criminal law sealing and expungement law is a part of the Second Chance Amendment Act of 2022. By petition, those with a criminal record or their lawyer can file for a petition to have their record sealed or expunged, but this only applies to certain criminal cases, only a limited number of people will have access to your record.
Nye Winslow, Public counsel for DC Justice Lab said this doesn’t apply to just anyone with a criminal offense. That person would have to be released for 5 to 10 years before they could file a petition.
“This law is really focused on giving people a second chance when they’ve already paid those that society and then had an additional gap of time,” added Winslow. “By giving people access to, being allowed, being able to get a job, to get employment, to get income, to get housing, it helps promote public safety and helps people not re-offend and move forward their lives.”
In October 2027, automatic record sealing and expungement will also be available. The court will allow certain non-conviction records and most misdemeanor convictions are automatically sealed and or expunged by petition in the courts.
The criminal record sealing and expungement law goes into effect on March 1.
To learn more, click here.
