Washington DC Criminal Background Check
Search every felony and misdemeanor case filed in DC Superior Court with one order.
Because the District has one local trial court, one search covers all of Washington, DC.
Washington DC Criminal Records at a Glance
Source
Criminal Division of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
Coverage
All DC felony, misdemeanor, and criminal traffic cases.
Price
$20 per name, with no DC repository fee added.
Turnaround
24 hours or less for most orders.
Compliance
FCRA compliant, with every reportable hit verified.
Provider
BCS Background Screening LLC, a PBSA member.
What Our DC Statewide Criminal Search Covers
Our researchers search the DC Superior Court criminal index by full name and date of birth.
Next, we match every possible record against your applicant’s identifiers.
As a result, you receive a clean report with only verified cases.
Felony Cases
We report Felony I, II, and III cases, including charges, pleas, and final dispositions.
Misdemeanor Cases
Our search also returns misdemeanor and domestic violence misdemeanor cases.
Criminal Traffic
Serious traffic crimes, such as DUI, appear because they are criminal cases.
Dispositions
Each case shows the file date, disposition, and disposition date.
Full Sentences
We list confinement, suspended time, supervised release, and VVCA assessments.
Identity Match
Researchers confirm name and DOB before any record reaches your report.
We report convictions without a time limit where law allows. However, the FCRA bars non-convictions older than seven years, so we leave them out.
Why One Search Covers All of Washington, DC
Most states split criminal cases among dozens of county courts.
Washington, DC works differently.
The Superior Court of the District of Columbia hears every local criminal case in the city.
Consequently, a single Superior Court search works as a true DC statewide criminal search.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office prosecutes most local DC crimes.
For that reason, most DC criminal cases carry the caption “United States v.” followed by the defendant’s name.
Don’t let that caption confuse your hiring team.
In fact, these are local cases, not federal ones.
Federal crimes charged in DC go to the U.S. District Court instead.
So, add our federal criminal search when a role calls for it.
MPD Police Clearance vs. BCS Washington DC Criminal Search
The Metropolitan Police Department sells a police clearance for $7.
However, MPD states that you can only get information about yourself.
That means an employer cannot order it on an applicant.
Instead, the applicant must visit MPD in person or mail a notarized request.
Mail requests take about six weeks, according to MPD’s clearance page.
| Feature | BCS DC Criminal Search | MPD Police Clearance | Free Court Portal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who orders it | Employer, online | Applicant only | Anyone |
| Price | $20 per name | $7 | Free |
| Turnaround | 24 hours or less | About 24 hours in person; about 6 weeks by mail | Instant, unverified |
| Records shown | Superior Court cases with dispositions and sentences | Adult DC arrests or convictions, based on option chosen | Raw dockets you must interpret |
| Identity verified | Yes, name and DOB | Yes, by ID at MPD | No |
| FCRA compliant report | Yes | No | No |
DC Criminal Background Check Price: $20 Per Name
Washington, DC Criminal Search
- DC Superior Court felony and misdemeanor search
- Full name and date of birth match
- File date, disposition, and full sentence
- Researcher verification of every hit
- 24 hours or less for most orders
- No setup fee and no monthly minimum
How to Order in Four Steps
- Open your account. Sign up online, and our team verifies your business.
- Collect consent. Get the applicant’s FCRA disclosure and signed authorization first.
- Place the order. Enter the full name and DOB, then select Washington, DC.
- Review results. Your report posts to your secure account, usually within 24 hours.
DC employers with more than 10 employees must wait until after a conditional offer.
Only then may you order the criminal search.
Sample Washington DC Criminal Background Check Report
Below, you can see how a verified DC Superior Court record appears in your report.
Of course, every name, number, and date is fictitious.
Charge (Action)
Party Information
Disposition
Sentence
In plain terms: Prosecutors filed a Felony II drug distribution count. The subject later pleaded guilty to an attempted version of the charge. The court imposed 18 months, with nothing suspended. Five years of supervised release follow the prison term. VVCA is the Victims of Violent Crime Compensation assessment.
Fictitious sample. Any resemblance to a real person or case is coincidental.
Washington DC Hiring Laws That Shape Your Search
In addition, DC adds several rules on top of the federal FCRA.
Before you order, review our full guide to District of Columbia background screening laws.
After the Offer Only
Under D.C. Code § 32-1342, covered employers wait for a conditional offer before any conviction inquiry.
No Arrest-Only Records
Employers may not ask about arrests or accusations that are not pending and did not end in conviction.
Six-Factor Review
Withdrawing an offer requires a legitimate business reason weighed against six statutory factors.
30-Day Record Request
Applicants may request, within 30 days, the records you considered and their complaint rights.
Fines Up to $5,000
Penalties scale from $1,000 to $5,000 by employer size, and half goes to the complainant.
Sealed Records Stay Out
We never report sealed cases, and the Second Chance Amendment Act expands sealing.
Source: D.C. Code § 32-1342 and the DC Office of Human Rights. This page is not legal advice.
How We Keep DC Criminal Records Accurate
Name-only matches cause many background check errors.
Therefore, our researchers confirm both full name and date of birth on every case.
Common names get extra review before any record posts.
Meanwhile, an SSN trace surfaces aliases and past addresses for broader coverage.
If the trace shows Maryland or Virginia addresses, add those searches too.
Access to SSN Trace functionality is restricted at initial registration. This feature cannot be accessed at initial signup until your organization’s business use case is verified.
Complete the DC Metro Picture
Many DC workers actually live in Maryland or Virginia.
Likewise, their records may sit in suburban courts.
Who Needs a Washington DC Criminal Search?
Almost any DC employer can benefit from a court-verified criminal search.
Above all, roles with access to people, money, or secure sites need one.
- Government contractors and consulting firms
- Hospitals, clinics, and home health agencies
- Schools, child care centers, and youth programs
- Security, facilities, and building services
- Property managers and multifamily housing operators
- Hotels, restaurants, and event venues
Similarly, staffing agencies use it to screen workers placed across the District.
What a DC Superior Court Search Will Not Show
No single search sees everything, so plan your package with care.
- Federal cases filed in U.S. District Court
- Cases filed in Maryland or Virginia courts
- Sealed or expunged DC records
- Juvenile matters handled in Family Court
- Non-convictions older than seven years
For broader coverage, pair this search with our nationwide criminal database.
Then, verify any database hit at the source court before you act on it.
Washington DC Statewide Criminal Background Check FAQs
What does a Washington DC criminal background check include?
Our search covers felony, misdemeanor, and criminal traffic cases in DC Superior Court. Each record shows the case number, charge, file date, disposition, and full sentence.
How much does a DC statewide criminal search cost?
BCS Background Screening LLC charges $20 per name. Also, we add no DC repository fee.
How fast are DC criminal search results?
Most orders complete in 24 hours or less. Records that need extra identity review may take slightly longer.
Why does one search cover all of Washington, DC?
DC has no counties. Instead, the Superior Court of the District of Columbia hears every local criminal case. So, one court search covers the whole District.
Can an employer request an MPD police clearance on an applicant?
No. MPD releases police clearances only to the person named on the record. Employers order an FCRA compliant court search instead.
When can a DC employer run a criminal background check?
Employers with more than 10 employees in DC must wait until after a conditional offer. The FCRA disclosure and signed authorization are also required.
Does the DC criminal search include federal cases?
No. Federal crimes go to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Add our federal criminal search to cover them.
Will sealed DC criminal records appear on the report?
No. We do not report sealed records. Additionally, the Second Chance Amendment Act of 2022 widened the cases DC courts may seal.
Start Your Washington DC Criminal Background Check Today
Open a free account and order your first DC search in minutes.
Every account also includes optional Multiple Authentication Factor (MAF) for added login security.
BCS Background Screening LLC is a consumer reporting agency. We provide reports for permissible purposes under the FCRA. Information on this page is general and does not constitute legal advice.