Washington, D.C. Start Anew Clinic
Note: The Washington, D.C. Start Anew clinic will be serving all three D.C. Metro area jurisdictions: the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.
The Washington, D.C. Start Anew clinic will be held on Friday, September 27, 2024, at Dress for Success (1126 16th St. NW, Washington, DC 20036). Please join us at any time between 10:00 a.m and 4:00 p.m.
The Washington, D.C. Start Anew clinic will be offering the following services, at no cost to attendees:
Expungement consultations (DC, MD, & VA)
Financial education workshops
Immigration help desk
Interviewing workshop
Resume workshop
Professional workwear
Self-care workshop
Job Applications
Post-conviction employment/housing rights
If you are interested in receiving free professional attire from Dress for Success, please remember to fill out their client intake form, which is available here. This form will help ensure that they have clothing ready to suit your specific needs in an efficient manner.
How to Get Here:
Driving Directions
Click here to access the map.
Type in your starting point to display the best routes to arrive at the building.
Parking
First come, first served parking is available directly in front of and across from the building
Parking on M St
Parking Garage on L St just before 17th St.
Building Information
At the entrance of the building, you will enter into the glass doors and will be instructed by a guide at the front desk on how to arrive at the clinic.
Public Transportation Options:
Metro Trains
Via Farragut North Station
Board the Red Line train heading to Shady Grove.
Exit the train at Farragut North and exit the station on the side with the sign, “Exit to K St., Farragut Crossing.”
Once exiting the station, turn left and walk for two blocks along K St., passing 17th St. and arriving on 16th St.
Make a left and walk along 16th St., passing L St.
Walk a few more feet down the block.
Dress for Success will be on your left.
Via Farragut West Station
Board the Orange/Silver/Blue Line train heading to Vienna/Ashburn/Franconia-Springfield.
Exit the train at Farragut West and exit the station on the side with the sign, “17th and I Streets.”
Once exiting the station, walk along I St. and arriving on 16th St.
Make a left on 16th St. and walk two blocks until arriving at L St.
Make a left on 16th St.
Walk a few more feet down the block.
Dress for Success will be on your left.
Via McPherson Square
Board the Orange/Silver/Blue Line train heading to Vienna/Ashburn/Franconia-Springfield.
Exit the train at McPherson Square and exit the station on the side with the sign, “14th & I Streets”.
Once exiting the station, walk along 15th St., passing/passing through the McPherson Square Park and arriving on K St.
Make a left on K St. and walk a block until arriving at 16th St.
Make a right on 16th St. and walk past L St.
Walk a few more feet down the block.
Dress for Success will be on your left.
Metro Buses
There are several bus stops near Dress for Success.
Click here to access a live visual map of the bus routes near the building.
Seeking Vacatur or an Expungement? Here's What to Expect:
The Washington, D.C. Start Anew clinic is offering free expungement and vacatur services for human trafficking-related charges and convictions in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Below is a brief overview of the vacatur process in Maryland. If your charge(s) or conviction(s) qualify for assistance by the Washington, D.C. Start Anew clinic, we will conduct a consultation meeting with you (either at the clinic or schedule a future meeting).
Step 1: Get copies of your criminal records (RAP sheet).
Step 2: Review your criminal records and figure out if you are eligible for vacatur or expungement.
Vacatur is available to individuals convicted of eligible offenses. There are 26 specific eligible offenses, which fall into the following categories:
Sex-related crimes such as prostitution and indecent exposure;
Vehicular-related crimes such as driving without a license or insurance;
Drug-related crimes such as possessing or distributing controlled substances;
Property-related crimes such as fourth-degree burglary, destruction of property, trespass, or theft; and
Fraud-related crimes such as writing bad checks, forging government ID, and public assistance fraud
Expungement is available to individuals who are arrested and/or prosecuted for any offense, but not convicted.
If a criminal case ends in a dismissal, a finding of not guilty, or a nolle prosequi, the record is eligible to be expunged immediately, if you sign a waiver of liability giving up your right to sue for damages associated with that case. If you do not wish to sign the waiver, you may expunge these charges three years after they occur.
Step 3: File a written motion in Maryland District Court seeking vacatur or expungement.
Step 4: Serve the motion on the prosecutor.
Step 5: The Court will consider your vacatur or expungement request (and any objections, if any).
The prosecutor may file a response to the motion, but is not required to. The court may grant or dismiss the motion without any response.
Step 6: If the court requests a hearing, prepare for and attend the hearing.
Step 7: The court will either approve or deny your request.
Step 8: If the court denies your request for expungement, you can file an appeal.
Obtaining Your Criminal Records
As part of a filing for a vacatur or expungement in Maryland, you must first obtain your RAP sheet (or record of arrests and prosecutions).
Don’t Have a RAP Sheet?
The Washington, D.C. Start Anew clinic will be able to assist you with obtaining your RAP sheet on Clinic Day, completely free of charge to you. You may also authorize to have your RAP sheet sent directly to Jones Day to expedite the expungement process. After obtaining your RAP sheet, we will schedule a time to meet with you for a consultation and, if you qualify, assist you with preparing your expungement and/or vacatur filing.
Already Have a RAP Sheet?
If you already have a current RAP sheet, please bring your RAP sheet with you on Clinic Day, and we will have lawyers onsite who can begin the consultation process and work with you to prepare your vacatur or expungement filing. We may reach out to you after your initial consultation to schedule an additional meeting to finalize your vacatur or expungement filing.
Seeking Vacatur or an Expungement? Here's What to Expect:
The Washington, D.C. Start Anew clinic is offering free expungement and vacatur services for human trafficking-related charges and convictions. Below is a brief overview of the vacatur and expungement process in Washington, D.C. If your charge(s) or conviction(s) qualify, we will conduct a consultation meeting with you (either at the clinic or schedule a future meeting).
Step 1: Get copies of your criminal records (RAP sheet).
Step 2: Review your criminal records and figure out if you are eligible for vacatur or expungement.
The following crimes are ineligible for vacatur: Assault with intent to kill or poison, or to commit first degree sexual abuse, second degree sexual abuse, or child sexual abuse; sex trafficking of children; murder in the first degree; murder in the first degree; placing obstructions upon or displacement of railroads; murder in the second degree; murder of law enforcement officer; solicitation of murder; armed carjacking; first degree sexual abuse; first degree sexual abuse of a minor; first degree sexual abuse of a secondary education student; first degree sexual abuse of a ward, patient, client, or prisoner; first degree sexual abuse of a patient or client; an act of terrorism; provision of material support or resources for an act of terrorism; solicitation of material support or resources to commit an act of terrorism; manufacture or possession of a weapon of mass destruction; attempt or conspiracy to manufacture or possess a weapon of mass destruction; use, dissemination, or detonation of a weapon of mass destruction; attempt or conspiracy to use, disseminate, or detonate a weapon of mass destruction; or attempt or conspiracy to commit any of the offenses listed above.
An eligible offense is any other offense not listed above, including prostitution, certain types of assault, or drug crimes.
Vacatur is available to individuals convicted of eligible offenses.
Expungement is available to individuals who are arrested and/or prosecuted for any offense (eligible or ineligible), but not convicted.
Step 3: File a written motion in the D.C. Superior Court seeking vacatur or expungement.
Step 4: Serve the motion on the prosecutor.
Step 5: The court will consider your vacatur or expungement request (and any objections, if any).
If the motion is not dismissed or denied after initial review, the court will order the prosecutor to file a response to the motion.
Step 6: If 90 days pass without any action taken, file an Order to Show Cause to grant the motion.
If the prosecutor opposes the motion, then the court will hold a hearing within 90 days of the filing of the opposition.
Step 7: If the court requests a hearing, prepare for and attend the hearing.
Step 8: The court will either approve or deny your request.
Step 9: If the court denies your request, you can file an appeal.
Obtaining Your Criminal Records
As part of a filing for a vacatur or expungement in Washington, D.C., you must first obtain your RAP sheet (or record of arrests and prosecutions).
Don’t Have a RAP Sheet?
The Washington, D.C. Start Anew clinic will be able to assist you with obtaining your RAP sheet on Clinic Day, completely free of charge to you. You may also authorize to have your RAP sheet sent directly to Jones Day to expedite the expungement process. After obtaining your RAP sheet, we will schedule a time to meet with you for a consultation and, if you qualify, assist you with preparing your expungement and/or vacatur filing.
Already Have a RAP Sheet?
If you already have a current RAP sheet, please bring your RAP sheet with you on Clinic Day, and we will have lawyers onsite who can begin the consultation process and work with you to prepare your vacatur or expungement filing. We may reach out to you after your initial consultation to schedule an additional meeting to finalize your vacatur or expungement filing.
Seeking an Expungement? Here's What to Expect:
The Washington, D.C. Start Anew clinic is offering free expungement and vacatur services for human trafficking-related charges and convictions. Below is a brief overview of the vacatur and expungement process in Virginia. If your charge(s) or conviction(s) qualify, we will conduct a consultation meeting with you (either at the clinic or schedule a future meeting).
Step 1: Get copies of your criminal records (RAP sheet).
Step 2: Review your criminal records and figure out if you are eligible for vacatur or expungement.
Vacatur is available to individuals convicted of eligible offenses, who committed the offense as a direct result of being a victim of sex trafficking. In Virginia, eligible offenses include only sex-related crimes such as prostitution.
Expungement is available to individuals who are arrested and/or prosecuted for any offense, but not convicted. An individual is eligible for expungement if she was charged with the commission of a crime but was acquitted, a nolle prosequi is taken, the charge was otherwise dismissed, or the charge was a result of identity theft.
Step 3: File a petition for vacatur or expungement in the circuit court of the county or city in Virginia where the conviction or adjudication was entered (for vacatur), or where the case was disposed of by acquittal or otherwise dismissed (for expungement)
As part of this process, you will need to obtain a complete set of fingerprints. We hope to have a vendor onsite at the clinic to help with this [more information coming soon].
Step 4: Serve the petition on the prosecutor.
Step 5: The court will consider your vacatur or expungement request (and any objections, if any).
The prosecutor may file a response to the motion, but is not required to. The court may grant or dismiss the motion without any response.
Step 6: If the court requests a hearing, prepare for and attend the hearing.
Step 7: The court will either approve or deny your request.
Step 8: If the court denies your request, you may file an appeal.
Obtaining Your Criminal Records
As part of a filing for a vacatur or expungement in Virginia, you must first obtain your RAP sheet (or record of arrests and prosecutions).
Don’t Have a RAP Sheet?
The Washington, D.C. Start Anew clinic will be able to assist you with obtaining your RAP sheet on Clinic Day, completely free of charge to you. You may also authorize to have your RAP sheet sent directly to Jones Day to expedite the expungement process. After obtaining your RAP sheet, we will schedule a time to meet with you for a consultation and, if you qualify, assist you with preparing your expungement and/or vacatur filing.
Already Have a RAP Sheet?
If you already have a current RAP sheet, please bring your RAP sheet with you on Clinic Day, and we will have lawyers onsite who can begin the consultation process and work with you to prepare your vacatur or expungement filing. We may reach out to you after your initial consultation to schedule an additional meeting to finalize your vacatur or expungement filing.
Want to Get Your Own RAP Sheet?
In Maryland
If you would like to obtain your RAP sheet on your own to bring with you on Clinic Day, you can make an appointment to obtain your Criminal Justice Information System Report, which includes convictions and non-conviction charges.
You can make an appointment with any authorized location that provides fingerprinting services in Maryland, such as the CJIS main office on Reisterstown Road in Northwest Baltimore. You can find a list of other providers, including private ones, at https://www.dpscs.state.md.us/publicservs/fingerprint.shtml.
However, you will have to pay fees of at least $38, or potentially higher through private providers, if you choose to obtain this report yourself.
In Washington
If you would like to obtain your RAP sheet on your own to bring with you on Clinic Day, you can submit a Criminal Record-Name Search Form by mail or in person to:
Metropolitan Police Department (MPD)
300 Indiana Avenue, NW
Criminal History Section, Room 1075 (on the first floor)
Open M-F 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
You should bring $7.00 (cash or money orders only, payable to DC Treasurer; no credit cards or personal checks), a valid form of identification, and your Social Security number.
When you arrive at MPD, notify the clerk that you are requesting a copy of your record for expungement/vacatur. You will be provided with a Criminal History Request form (also known as PD Form 70). After completing the form, take the elevator to the third floor where there is a payment machine. You will submit the $7.00 and will then be provided a payment slip as a receipt. Return the payment slip and the completed request form to Room 1075. The Criminal History Section takes up to 10 days to process these requests. At the end of 10 days, you can return to Room 1075 with your identification and receipt to obtain a copy of your Police Record.
In Virginia
If you would like to obtain your RAP sheet on your own to bring with you on Clinic Day, you can submit a Criminal Record-Name Search Form by mail or in person to:
Virginia State Police Headquarters
Civil & Applicant Records Exchange (CARE)
7700 Midlothian Turnpike
North Chesterfield, VA 23235
The form requires notarized signatures and a $15 fee, which can be made via credit card, money order, certified check, or business check.
The Criminal Record-Name Search only provides conviction information. To get arrest and charge details, the same form should be submitted along with a fingerprint card. Fingerprints may be taken at the State Police Headquarters (at the address above) or at any State Police Division and Area Offices. You will need two forms of identification and payment. The fee for the first fingerprint card is $10, and any additional cards will be $5 each, payable by cash or Visa/Mastercard.
Consultation and Filing Process
In Maryland
After reviewing your criminal records, we will assist you in determining whether your charge(s) or conviction(s) qualify for assistance by the Start Anew clinic. At this time, the Washington, D.C. Start Anew clinic is offering vacatur or expungement relief for human trafficking-related convictions only. Please note that not all convictions will qualify for expungement services by the Washington, D.C. Start Anew clinic. If your convictions do not qualify, we will refer you to an organization that may be able to help.
If your charge(s) or conviction(s) qualify for assistance by the Washington, D.C. Start Anew Clinic, we will conduct a consultation meeting with you (either at the clinic or schedule one). During your consultation, lawyers will need to ask you several questions regarding the nature and circumstances of any charge(s) or conviction(s) for which you seek expungement or vacatur. Questions may include:
What was the date of each conviction, what was the conviction for, and where were you convicted?
Where were you arrested, what was the date of each arrest, and what was the arrest/charge for?
Do you have any ongoing prosecutions?
Do you know if you have a T-visa?
Do you know if you have a U-visa?
Do you have any medical records or email or text communications relating to your experience?
Do you have any communications (letters, messages, emails) from any federal or state agency regarding your experience?
After your consultation, we will assist you with preparing and filing your expungement/vacatur filing. Once your expungement request has been filed, we will also assist you with any necessary court hearing preparation and preparation for any motion for appeal in the event your initial request is denied.
In Washington, D.C.
After reviewing your criminal records, we will assist you in determining whether your charge(s) or conviction(s) qualify for assistance by the Start Anew clinic. At this time, the Washington, D.C. Start Anew clinic is only offering vacatur or expungement relief for human trafficking-related convictions. Please note that not all convictions will qualify for expungement services by the Washington, D.C. Start Anew clinic. If your convictions do not qualify, we will refer you to an organization that may be able to help.
If your charge(s) or conviction(s) qualify for assistance by the Washington, D.C. Start Anew clinic, we will conduct a consultation meeting with you (either at the clinic or schedule one). During your consultation, lawyers will need to ask you several questions regarding the nature and circumstances of any charge(s) or conviction(s) for which you seek expungement or vacatur. Questions may include:
What was the date of each conviction, what was the conviction for, and where were you convicted?
Where were you arrested, what was the date of each arrest, and what was the arrest/charge for?
Do you have any ongoing prosecutions?
Do you know if you have a T-Visa?
Do you know if you have a U-Visa?
Do you have any medical records or email or text communications relating to your experience?
Do you have any communications (letters, messages, emails) from any federal or state agency regarding your experience?
After your consultation, we will assist you with preparing and filing your expungement/vacatur filing. Once your expungement request has been filed, we will also assist you with any necessary court hearing preparation and preparation for any motion for appeal in the event your initial request is denied.
In Virginia
After reviewing your criminal records, we will assist you in determining whether your charge(s) or conviction(s) qualify for assistance by the Start Anew clinic. At this time, the Washington, D.C. Start Anew clinic is only offering vacatur or expungement relief for human trafficking-related convictions. Please note that not all convictions will qualify for expungement services by the Washington, D.C. Start Anew clinic. If your convictions do not qualify, we will refer you to an organization that may be able to help.
If your charge(s) or conviction(s) qualify for assistance by the Washington, D.C. Start Anew clinic, we will conduct a consultation meeting with you (either at the clinic or schedule one). During your consultation, lawyers will need to ask you several questions regarding the nature and circumstances of any charge(s) or conviction(s) for which you seek expungement or vacatur. Questions may include:
What was the date of each conviction, what was the conviction for, and where were you convicted?
If you were not convicted, what was the date of the final disposition of the charge?
Where were you arrested, what was the date of each arrest, and what was the arrest/charge for?
Who was the arresting agency?
What was the case number for the charge?
Do you have any ongoing prosecutions?
Do you have any medical records or email or text communications relating to your experience?
Do you have any communications (letters, messages, emails) from any federal or state agency regarding your experience?
After your consultation, we will assist you with preparing and filing your expungement/vacatur filing. Once your expungement request has been filed, we will also assist you with any necessary court hearing preparation,and preparation for any motion for appeal in the event your initial request is denied.
