District of Columbia Code
Subchapter I - Proceedings Regarding Delinquency, Neglect, or Need of Supervision
§ 16–2335. Sealing of records

(a) On motion of a person who has been taken into custody pursuant to section 16-2309 or has been the subject of a petition filed pursuant to section 16-2305, or on the Division’s own motion, the Division shall vacate its order and findings and shall order the sealing of the case and social records referred to in sections 16-2331 and 16-2332 and the law enforcement records and files referred to in section 16-2333, or those of any other agency active in the case if it finds that —
(1)(A) a neglected child has reached his majority; or
(B) two years have elapsed since the final discharge of the person from legal custody or supervision, or since the entry of any other Division order not involving custody or supervision; and
(2) he has not been subsequently convicted of a crime, or adjudicated delinquent or in need of supervision prior to the filing of the motion, and no proceeding is pending seeking such conviction or adjudication.
(b) Reasonable notice of a motion shall be given to —
(1) the person who is the subject of the petition;
(2) the Corporation Counsel;
(3) the authority granting the discharge, if the final discharge was from an institution, parole, or probation; and
(4) the law enforcement department having custody of the files and records specified in section 16-2333.
(c) Upon the entry of the order, the proceedings in the case shall be treated as if they never occurred. All facts relating to the action including arrest, the filing of a petition, and the adjudication, filing, and disposition of the Division shall no longer exist as a matter of law. The Division, the law enforcement department, or any other department or agency that received notice under subsection (b) and was named in the order shall reply, and the person who is the subject matter of the records may reply, to any inquiry that no record exists with respect to such person.
(d) Inspection of the files and records included in the order may thereafter be permitted by the Division only upon motion by the person who is the subject of such records, and may be made only by those persons named in the motion; but the Division in its discretion may, by special order in an individual case, permit inspection by or release of information in the records to Child Fatality Review Committee and the Violence Fatality Review Committee, where necessary for the discharge of its official duties, and persons having a professional interest in the protection, welfare, treatment, and rehabilitation of the person who is the subject of the petition or other members of his family.
(e) Any adjudication of delinquency or need of supervision or conviction of a felony subsequent to sealing shall have the effect of nullifying the vacating and sealing order.
(f) A person who has been the subject of a petition filed under this subchapter shall be notified of his rights under subsection (a) at the time a dispositional order is entered and again at the time of his final discharge from supervision, treatment, or custody.
(g) No person shall disclose, receive, or use records in violation of this section.
(h) Notwithstanding the availability of information pursuant to section 16-2333(e), a juvenile shall not be required to disclose and shall have the right to refuse disclosure of his or her juvenile delinquency history in an application for employment, education, or housing.
(July 29, 1970, 84 Stat. 542, Pub. L. 91-358, title I, § 121(a); Sept. 23, 1977, D.C. Law 2-22, title IV, § 408(a), 24 DCR 3341; Mar. 24, 1998, D.C. Law 12-81, § 10(ee), 45 DCR 745; Oct. 3, 2001, D.C. Law 14-28, § 4620(e), 48 DCR 6981; Mar. 8, 2011, D.C. Law 18-284, § 3(g), 57 DCR 10477; Apr. 4, 2017, D.C. Law 21-238, § 102(k), 63 DCR 15312; Oct. 30, 2018, D.C. Law 22-168, § 3052(f), 65 DCR 9388.)
1981 Ed., § 16-2335.
1973 Ed., § 16-2335.
This section is referenced in § 4-1371.06, § 16-1054, § 16-2322, and § 16-2335.02.
D.C. Law 14-28, in subsec. (d), inserted “the Child Fatality Review Committee, where necessary for the discharge of its official duties, and” after “in the records to”.
D.C. Law 18-284 added subsec. (h).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 20(e) of Child Fatality Review Committee Establishment Emergency Act of 2001 (D.C. Act 14-40, April 25, 2001, 48 DCR 5917).
For temporary (90 day) amendment of section, see § 20(e) of Child Fatality Review Committee Establishment Legislative Review Emergency Act of 2001 (D.C. Act 14-82, July 9, 2001, 48 DCR 6355).
For temporary (225 day) amendment of section, see § 20(e) of Child Fatality Review Committee Establishment Temporary Act of 2001 (D.C. Law 14-20, September 6, 2001, law notification 48 DCR 9090).

Structure District of Columbia Code

District of Columbia Code

Title 16 - Particular Actions, Proceedings and Matters. [Enacted title]

Chapter 23 - Family Division [Family Court] Proceedings

Subchapter I - Proceedings Regarding Delinquency, Neglect, or Need of Supervision

§ 16–2301. Definitions

§ 16–2301.01. References deemed to refer to Family Court of the Superior Court

§ 16–2301.02. Purpose

§ 16–2302. Transfer of criminal matters to Family Division

§ 16–2303. Retention of jurisdiction

§ 16–2304. Right to counsel; party status

§ 16–2305. Petition; contents; amendment

§ 16–2305.01. Findings

§ 16–2305.02. Preliminary probation conferences; adjustment process

§ 16–2306. Service of summons and petition

§ 16–2307. Transfer for criminal prosecution

§ 16–2308. Initial appearance

§ 16–2309. Taking into custody

§ 16–2310. Criteria for detaining children

§ 16–2310.01. Separation of young children detained prior to a hearing

§ 16–2311. Release or delivery to Family Division [Family Court]

§ 16–2311.01. Rules

§ 16–2312. Detention or shelter care hearing; intermediate disposition

§ 16–2312a. Evaluation of family team meetings and 72-hour time period for commencement of shelter care hearing

§ 16–2313. Place of detention or shelter

§ 16–2314. Consent decree

§ 16–2315. Physical and mental examinations

§ 16–2316. Conduct of hearings; evidence

§ 16–2316.01. Scheduling of fact finding and dispositional hearings for children alleged to be neglected

§ 16–2317. Hearings, findings; dismissal

§ 16–2318. Order of adjudication noncriminal

§ 16–2319. Predisposition study and report

§ 16–2320. Disposition of child who is neglected, delinquent, or in need of supervision

§ 16–2320.01. Restitution

§ 16–2321. Disposition of child with mental illness or a substantial intellectual disability

§ 16–2322. Limitation of time on dispositional orders

§ 16–2323. Review of dispositional orders

§ 16–2324. Vacation, termination of orders

§ 16–2325. Support of committed child

§ 16–2325.01. Participation order

§ 16–2325.02. Report on failure of respondents to appear in delinquency cases

§ 16–2326. Court costs and expenses

§ 16–2326.01. Compensation of attorneys in neglect and termination of parental rights proceedings

§ 16–2327. Probation revocation; disposition

§ 16–2328. Interlocutory appeals

§ 16–2329. Finality of judgments; appeals; transcripts

§ 16–2330. Time computation

§ 16–2331. Juvenile case records; confidentiality; inspection and disclosure

§ 16–2332. Juvenile social records; confidentiality; inspection and disclosure

§ 16–2333. Police and other law enforcement records

§ 16–2333.01. Permitted disclosures of juvenile information

§ 16–2333.02. Juvenile Abscondence Review Committee

§ 16–2334. Fingerprint records

§ 16–2335. Sealing of records

§ 16–2335.01. Motion to vacate adjudication or grant a new factfinding hearing on the ground of actual innocence

§ 16–2335.02. Sealing of records on ground of actual innocence

§ 16–2336. Unlawful disclosure of records; penalties

§ 16–2337. Additional powers of the Director of Social Services

§ 16–2338. Emergency medical treatment

§ 16–2339. Immunity for juveniles who are witnesses in juvenile proceedings

§ 16–2340. Rights of victims or eyewitnesses in delinquency proceedings