OPEN PUBLIC RECORDS

Because You Need to Know
How to use this page: Pick the record type you need below. Each section names the agency that holds those records and links to the official source — no aggregators, no third-party services. Because DC is a federal district rather than a state, the agencies handling records here are DC-specific rather than state-level.

What You Can Find Here

⚖️ DC Superior Court and federal court case records
🔍 Arrest records and police reports through MPD
📋 Criminal background checks and police clearances
🏛️ Records through the DC FOIA process
Have this ready before you start:
  • Full name of the person or business
  • Case number, if you have one
  • The Ward or DC neighborhood where the record was created

How Records Work in the District of Columbia

DC's court and arrest records run through district-level agencies rather than state or county systems. The DC Courts (Court of Appeals and Superior Court) maintain all local court records. The Metropolitan Police Department holds arrest records and criminal history for local matters. DC Health handles vital records. Each DC government agency responds to its own FOIA requests through the DC FOIA Portal.

The District of Columbia is a single federal district with no counties — governed as one jurisdiction across approximately 68 square miles. Local government is organized into 8 Wards, each electing a member to the 13-member Council of the District of Columbia. Congress retains ultimate authority over DC under Article I of the Constitution, but day-to-day local governance runs through the Mayor, Council, and DC agencies under the Home Rule Act of 1973. Federal cases go to the separate U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, which is different from the local DC Courts.

Local Agencies in the District of Columbia

The District of Columbia has no counties. All court and arrest records are managed by district-level agencies.

What this page does not show: Not every record is online. MPD arrest records and police clearances usually require an in-person visit. FOIA responses can take 15 business days or longer. Federal cases (in the U.S. District Court for DC) are handled separately from local DC Courts — if you're looking for federal records, use PACER. When in doubt, call the agency directly.

This page is a guide to help you find official records — it is not the official database. All information comes from government sources. Verify details directly with the agency that holds the records.

Last updated: April 24, 2026