Jobs for Felons in Washington, DC

D.C.'s Fair Criminal Record Screening law covers employers with more than 10 employees in D.C., including private companies, nonprofits and the D.C. government. It does not cover the federal government or the courts. A covered employer cannot ask about a conviction, on the application, in the interview, or through a background check, until after it makes you a conditional job offer.

Employers can never ask about an arrest, or a charge that is not pending or did not lead to a conviction.

After a conditional offer, an employer can pull it over a conviction only for a “legitimate business reason,” judged by six factors: the job's duties, how the offense bears on them, how long ago it was, your age then, how often and how serious, and your rehabilitation and good conduct since.

If an offer is pulled, you can ask the employer within 30 days for copies of every record it used, including the background check, and a notice of your right to file a complaint. The employer has 30 days to respond.

The law does not apply where a federal or D.C. law requires a record check for the job, to positions in programs designed to hire people with records, or to employers that serve minors or vulnerable adults.

File a complaint with the D.C. Office of Human Rights within 365 days. Fines run up to $1,000, $2,500 or $5,000 depending on employer size, and half goes to you. You cannot sue in court under this law; the OHR complaint is the path.

Under federal law, a background check company can report a conviction no matter how old it is. Arrests that did not lead to a conviction generally drop off after seven years (the limit does not apply to jobs paying $75,000 a year or more). What protects you in D.C. is timing: covered employers cannot run the check until after a conditional offer, and cannot ask about arrests at all.

Sealing in D.C. works by motion to D.C. Superior Court. For an eligible misdemeanor or eligible felony conviction, you can file 8 years after you complete your sentence, if you have no disqualifying arrest or conviction. You must show by clear and convincing evidence that sealing is in the interests of justice.

For a case that ended without a conviction, you can move to seal 2 years after it ended for an eligible misdemeanor, or 4 years for other offenses (3 if you were never charged). The judge weighs your interests, including your employability.

Which offenses count as “eligible” and “disqualifying” is set out in detail in the law. Have legal aid check yours before you file.

A 2022 D.C. law, the Second Chance Amendment Act, provides for automatic sealing. But D.C. Superior Court says those automatic sealing and expungement provisions are not yet in effect, and no cases are being automatically sealed or expunged (court page updated February 2026). For now, you file a motion.

Generally, you do not have to mention a sealed case when asked. But you still must disclose it on jury questionnaires and on applications to certain employers and organizations listed in the law. Ask legal aid which ones apply to the job you want.

For occupations under D.C.'s business and professional licensing law, a conviction can count against you only if it “bears directly on the fitness” of the person to be licensed. The Mayor's office must weigh factors including your rehabilitation, and any denial based on a conviction must be in writing with the reasons. Health professions and some others follow separate rules, so confirm with the licensing office for your job.