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Criminal Division

The Criminal Division hears all local criminal matters including felony, misdemeanor, and serious traffic cases.

The Criminal Division of the Superior Court is composed of four branches:

1. The Case Management Branch processes and maintains all active case files, including all felony and serious misdemeanors that are prosecuted by the United States Attorney's Office traffic violations and minor misdemeanors that are prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia. The Case Management Branch is located in room 4000 of the Moultrie Courthouse.
2. The Special Proceedings Branch processes and maintains all bench warrants, special proceedings cases (i.e. fugitives, witness subpoenas, mental competency matters, etc), and all closed cases (those cases that have reached a final disposition). The Branch also handles any requests for information from the public and processes motions to seal arrest records. The office will also handle any press inquiries concerning case scheduling or disposition information. Other press requests for information should be directed to the public information officer at 879-1700. The Special Proceedings Branch is located in room 4002 of the Moultrie Courthouse.
3. The Quality Assurance Branch reviews all cases coming from the courtroom to ensure that the appropriate paperwork has been generated and that the paperwork and the Court's database are accurate. The Branch also coordinates with the D.C. Jail and the United States Marshals Service to ensure that all detained defendants are brought to the courthouse when they have a scheduled case. The Quality Assurance Branch is located in room 4110 of the Moultrie Courthouse.
4. The Courtroom Support Branch is responsible for courtroom clerk staffing. Courtroom clerks assist the judges when they are presiding in the courtroom.

Filing Fees:
The Criminal Division has only two filing fees:
Motion to Seal Arrest Record $20
Appeal $100
(All filing fees may be waived if the defendant is indigent.)

Filing Motions:
All motions (except Motions to Seal Arrest Records) can be filed in the Case Management Branch, Room 4001. The Court requires the original document and one copy for use of the assigned judicial officer.

To Inquire About Future Court Dates:
You may call 202-879-1373 for all inquiries concerning future court dates. It is most helpful if you can provide the defendant's full name, the defendant's case number, or the Police Department Identification number (PDID).

Paying Fines, Court Costs, or Restitution:
All fines, court costs, and restitution payments can be made in the Court's Finance Office, which is located in Room 4203 (on the fourth floor, east wing, of the Moultrie Courthouse, 500 Indiana Avenue). The Court will accept cash, checks, and money orders.

To Post a Money Bond:
In order to ensure that a defendant returns to Court, the Court may order that a cash or surety bond be posted. The bond amount is paid to the Court and, if the defendant fails to appear, the bond will be forfeited. Money bonds are posted in the Court's Finance Office, which is located in Room 4203 (on the fourth floor, east wing, of the Moultrie Courthouse, 500 Indiana Avenue). Bonds may only be posted in the form of cash or money order - personal checks are not accepted. The Finance Office is open Monday - Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until one hour after the Arraignment Court has adjourned.

If You Are Arrested in the District of Columbia

If you are arrested in the District of Columbia, you will be scheduled to appear for arraignment or presentment in D.C. Superior Court. Depending upon the time of your arrest your case may be heard the same day as your arrest or may be heard the following day with the exception of Sunday when Court is not in session.

Arraignment/Presentment Court Hours of Operation
Monday, Wednesday, and Friday
1:00 p.m. until finished

Tuesday and Thursday
11:00 a.m., for citations
1:00 p.m. until finished, for lock-ups.

Saturday
11:00 a.m. until finished

Location of Arraignment/ Presentment Courtroom
Moultrie Courthouse, Courtroom C-10
500 Indiana Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20001

Arraignment Court Coordinator
James Ellis
Phone: (202) 879-1626

D.C./Traffic Arraignments
Moultrie Courthouse, Courtroom 115

Arraignment
The police officer presents a complaint to the prosecutors of the United States Attorneys Office (USAO) or the District of Columbia Attorney General's Office (OAG). The USAO or OAG then decides whether to prosecute the case, and if so, what charges will be lodged against the defendant. If a case is "no papered" the government has decided not to prosecute the case and the defendant is free to go if there are no other charges pending.

After arrest, an arraignment is the initial appearance in a misdemeanor case, and a presentment is the initial appearance in a felony case. At an arraignment, the judge, prosecutor and defense attorneys are present. Arraignments are held in two places: U.S. misdemeanor cases are arraigned in Courtroom C-10 on the second floor of the Moultrie Courthouse. D.C. misdemeanor and criminal traffic cases are arraigned in Courtroom-115, which is on the first floor of the Moultrie Courthouse. Felony presentments are also handled in C-10. If someone is charged with both a U.S. matter and a D.C. matter, they are first arraigned in courtroom C-10 and then in courtroom 115.

While most arraignments and presentments are held in Courtroom C-10, there are three specialized misdemeanor courtrooms -- D.C./Traffic Community Court , East of the River Community Court , and Domestic Violence Court -- where arraignments are also heard, depending on the charges for which a defendant has been arrested and/or where the arrest occurred.

If you are unsure as to where an arraignment will be held you may call the Superior Court's information number at (202) 879-1010 or personally go to the information desk on the first floor of the Moultrie Courthouse. Information Desk staff have a record of all cases being heard that day.

In the District of Columbia, the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) guarantees that legal counsel will be provided for defendants at arraignment. If defendants are able to pay for their attorney, they must do so. Defendants who state that they are unable to afford an attorney will be interviewed by a member of the CJA staff to determine eligibility for a court-appointed attorney. At arraignment, the judge will appoint an attorney for those who have been found to be eligible.

In order to secure a future appearance, the judge may order that a cash or surety bond be posted. The bond amount is paid to the Court and, if the defendant fails to appear, the bond may be forfeited. Cash bonds are posted in the Superior Court's Criminal Division Finance Office, located on the fourth floor, east wing, of the Moultrie Courthouse, Room 4203. Bonds may only be posted in the form of cash or money order - personal checks are not accepted. The Criminal Finance Office is open Monday - Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until the arraignment courtroom has adjourned for the day.

The Pretrial Services Agency is a Federal agency that conducts a background investigation of each defendant preceding the defendant's appearance for arraignment.

At an arraignment the following occurs:

• The defendant is informed of the charge(s).
• The Court makes a decision regarding whether the defendant can be released or detained pending his or her next court appearance. If the judge determines it appropriate, bond can be required in order to secure the defendant's release.
• If the defendant is released, conditions of release may be imposed in which case the judge explains the release conditions to the defendant.
• The case is assigned to a specific judge and the defendant is informed of the date and courtroom where he/she will be expected to appear.

The arraignment is not a trial, so the following does not occur:

• Guilt or innocence is not decided.
• No evidence or witnesses are produced.

After Arraignment
After a defendant has been arraigned, the next appearance will be before the judge to whom his or her case has been assigned. If a defendant is released, it is important that he/she return to the court each time they are scheduled to do so. Those who fail to return to court as expected may have a bench warrant issued for failure to appear.

All defendants should maintain contact with the attorney that has been assigned to their case and should feel free to ask them about any aspect of the court proceedings that they do not understand.

Information on Criminal Record:
The District of Columbia City Council enacted the Criminal Record Sealing Act of 2006. This act permits persons who have a criminal record to have their criminal record sealed provided they meet the eligibility criteria. For a copy of the Criminal Record Sealing Act of 2006, please click here.

You can obtain an information package on the Criminal Records Sealing law, including blank form motions, at the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia. Public Defender Service staff can give you advice on whether you are eligible to get your record(s) sealed and can answer your questions about how to complete the form motions and file them with the D.C. Superior Court on your own. The Public Defender Service will not, however, provide a lawyer to represent you on your motion. You can visit their offices at 633 Indiana Ave., NW, from Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. or call them at 202-628-1200 or 800-341-2582.

Criminal Division 2010 Caseload Statistics [1463k]

Criminal Division 2009 Caseload Statistics [770k]

Criminal Division 2008 Statistical Summary [879k]

Criminal Division 2007 Statistical Summary [15k]

The District of Columbia Courts' Community Courts

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