District of Columbia Felonies Felonies in the District of Columbia are classified as criminal
offenses that can have imprisonment sentences of one year or more upon
conviction. Only certain crimes are classified as Class A Felonies in
the nation's capital. Class A Felonies are the most serious offenses
that can receive the most serious of punishments and are the only
felonies with classifications. All other crimes are classified into
individual statutes that include specific punishments. Felony crimes
can include treason, embezzlement, burglary, arson, aggravated battery,
espionage, racketeering, robbery, aggravated assault, rape, kidnapping,
fraud, murder, and grand theft. In contrast to felonies misdemeanors in
the District of Columbia carry less severe crimes and less serious
punishments. Misdemeanors are classified as crimes that are punishable
between five days incarceration and no more than a year in a county
jail facility.
District of Columbia Felony Statutes Class A felonies include murder in the first degree, murder in
the second degree, kidnapping, manslaughter, sexual assault in the
first degree, and child sexual abuse in the first degree. Punishments
for this classification can be anywhere between thirty years in a state
prison to life in prison. Other felony crimes are broken into groups.
Child sexual assault in the second degree is punishable by up to twenty
years in a state penitentiary. Sexual abuse in the second degree is
punishable by up to twenty years in a state prison. Arson or the
burning of one's own property with the intent to injure another
individual or with the intent to defraud can receive punishment by up
to fifteen years in prison. Sexual assault in the third degree can
receive up to ten years of imprisonment for a single sentence. Child
sexual assault in the third degree can be punished by up to ten years
in a state prison. Attempted robbery offenses can have convictions of
up to three years of incarceration in a state facility. Robbery is
punishable by a conviction between two and fifteen years of
imprisonment.
District of Columbia Expungement Expungement in the District of Columbia is defined as the
clearing of a criminal record. This allows only the proper authorities
to have access to the files and denies access to the public and law
enforcement. However these files still exist for extraneous
circumstances, like further cases and government application. If a
person is on trial for another conviction, the expunged filed can be
reopened and used as a prior offense to increase the punishment. When
an individual is running for public office or applying for the United
States military, the proper authorities will have review access to the
expunged files. Expungement allows a restart of life and allows
deserving individuals the ability to apply for employment, apply for
financial aid for college, obtain housing, and seek state licensing
without past records as a hindrance.
Not all past convictions or arrests are eligible for expungement. An
individual must have successfully completed probation without any
violations to apply. Those who are still on probation may have their
attorneys motion for early probation termination where afterward
expungement can be petitioned.