Washington, D.C. Criminal Defense Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced D.C. criminal defense attorneys who understand the District’s unique federal-prosecution structure, the Second Look Amendment Act (2021), and D.C.’s expanding record-sealing pathway under D.C. Code § 16-803.

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30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide

Free Washington, D.C. criminal defense case review

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How we match your Washington, D.C. criminal defense case

When you submit a Washington, D.C. criminal defense matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A criminal defense matter needs someone who handles criminal defense work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under Washington, D.C. law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in Washington, D.C. who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

Get started How DearLegal works

DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Exhibit A

What happens with a criminal defense claim in Washington, D.C.

Day 0
Arrest or charge.
Say nothing beyond identifying yourself and ask for a lawyer. Do not consent to searches. Everything after this is built on what you did not say.
Within 24 hours
Tell us what happened.
Two minutes on this page. A Washington, D.C. criminal defense attorney reviews it for free and, if it’s a fit, you’re matched within 24 hours.
Days 1–14
First appearance and bail.
Your attorney addresses release conditions and gets the charging documents. In Washington, D.C., this is where the tone of the case is set.
Weeks to months
Discovery and motions.
Police reports, video, lab work, witness statements. Motions to suppress or dismiss are filed where the evidence was obtained improperly.
Before trial
Negotiation or trial.
Most cases resolve by dismissal or plea; some go to trial. Your attorney advises on the risk of each with the actual evidence in hand.
Resolution
Outcome and record.
Fees are quoted before you commit — hourly or a retainer, spelled out in writing at the free consultation.

Felony Statute of Limitations: No limit
No limit for first-degree murder; 6 years for most felonies; 3 years for assault and other lesser felonies (D.C. Code § 23-113)
Misdemeanor Statute of Limitations: 3 years
3 years for most misdemeanors (D.C. Code § 23-113(a)(3))
Sentencing Structure: D.C. Voluntary
D.C. Voluntary Sentencing Guidelines (advisory) issued by the D.C. Sentencing Commission; mandatory minimums for some violent and gun offenses; Second Look Amendment Act resentencing (D.C. Law 23-274) for offenses committed under age 25
Expungement / Record Sealing: D.C. Code § 16-801
D.C. Code § 16-801 et seq. — Second Chance Amendment Act of 2022 (D.C. Law 24-284) expands automatic sealing of arrests and misdemeanor convictions; petition-based sealing for many other offenses
Bail / Pretrial Release: D.C. uses
D.C. uses risk-based pretrial release under D.C. Code § 23-1321 — cash bail is rarely used; Pretrial Services Agency conducts risk assessment
Typical attorney fee: Hourly
Hourly / Flat Fee

D.C. has a unique criminal-prosecution structure: most adult criminal cases — both felonies and misdemeanors — are prosecuted by the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia (a federal prosecutor) in D.C. Superior Court (a local court). The D.C. Office of the Attorney General handles juvenile matters and some misdemeanors. Felonies are graded under D.C. Code § 22-101 et seq., with first-degree murder carrying life without parole (D.C. abolished the death penalty in 1981). D.C. legalized recreational marijuana for adults 21+ in 2014 (Initiative 71) — possession of up to 2 oz is legal — though Congress has blocked retail sales. The Second Look Amendment Act (D.C. Law 23-274, 2021) allows resentencing for individuals serving lengthy sentences for offenses committed before age 25. D.C.’s record sealing under D.C. Code § 16-803 was expanded by the Second Chance Amendment Act of 2022 (D.C. Law 24-284) — broader auto-sealing of arrests and many misdemeanor convictions begins phasing in.

Exhibit B

When to call a criminal defense attorney in Washington, D.C.

Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.

Exhibit C

Criminal Defense cases we take in Washington, D.C.

Which one is closest to yours?

DUI / OWI / DWI

D.C. DUI under D.C. Code § 50-2206.11 (.08 BAC). First offense: up to 180 days jail, $1,000 fine, 6-month license suspension. Second offense: 10-day mandatory minimum. Third and subsequent: mandatory minimums increase. D.C. also prosecutes OWI (Operating While Impaired) at lower thresholds.

Sound like yours? A Washington, D.C. attorney reviews it free — fees are quoted upfront, before you commit.

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Exhibit D

How much do Washington, D.C. criminal defense attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

Washington, D.C. · Criminal Defense

Fee modelHourly / Flat Fee

Feequoted per petition or matter

Filing costsitemized upfront

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

Criminal Defense matters in Washington, D.C. are usually a flat fee per filing — quoted before you commit, not billed by the hour.

Criminal defense attorneys in D.C. work on hourly or flat-fee retainers — contingency fees are prohibited in criminal cases under D.C. R. Prof. Conduct 1.5(d) and ABA Model Rule 1.5(d). Misdemeanors and many felonies are flat-fee; complex cases (homicide, federal, high-profile) use hourly billing with substantial retainers. The Public Defender Service for D.C. — widely considered the best PD office in the country — represents qualifying indigent defendants in both Superior Court and U.S. District Court.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

Get startedTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit E

What your Washington, D.C. criminal defense compensation can include

A Washington, D.C. criminal defense recovery is built from several parts. Tap one to see what it covers.

Charge Dismissal

Outright dismissal through motion to suppress, motion to dismiss, speedy trial under D.C. Sup. Ct. R. Crim. P. 48, or U.S. Attorney nolle prosequi.

DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.

Exhibit F

Washington, D.C. criminal defense questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a Washington, D.C. attorney will review it for free.

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No. Politely decline and ask for a lawyer. MPD (Metropolitan Police Department), FBI, ATF, and Secret Service all operate in D.C. and your statements can be used by either D.C. Superior Court prosecutors (the U.S. Attorney) or federal prosecutors. Invoke your Fifth and Sixth Amendment rights.

Yes. D.C. misdemeanors carry up to 180 days in D.C. Jail and fines up to $1,000 under D.C. Code § 22-405 (misdemeanor schedule). Diversion programs through the U.S. Attorney’s Office (DEJ — Deferred Sentencing Agreements, deferred prosecution) require advocacy. Even minor D.C. convictions affect federal employment, security clearances, and immigration status.

D.C. has a unique structure. D.C. Superior Court prosecutes both D.C. Code violations and federal misdemeanors — but the prosecutor in both is the U.S. Attorney for D.C. (a federal prosecutor). U.S. District Court for D.C. handles purely federal cases. So in D.C., the same U.S. Attorney’s office may charge you with a “D.C. crime” in Superior Court or a federal crime in District Court — strategic choice with major sentencing implications.

D.C. plea agreements under D.C. Sup. Ct. R. Crim. P. 11 are negotiated between the U.S. Attorney’s office and defense. Pleas can include charge reductions, Deferred Sentencing Agreements (DSA), Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPA), and stipulated sentences. The U.S. Attorney has substantial discretion — and D.C.’s diversion programs (DEJ, mental health diversion) require negotiation.

Yes — the Second Chance Amendment Act of 2022 (D.C. Law 24-284) significantly expanded sealing. Automatic sealing now applies to many arrest records and certain misdemeanor convictions after waiting periods (effective in phases). Petition-based sealing under D.C. Code § 16-803 covers many other offenses. Sealing eligibility depends on offense, waiting period, and subsequent criminal history. Federal convictions generally cannot be expunged.

D.C. handles juveniles under 18 in D.C. Superior Court Family Court — Juvenile Branch, prosecuted by the D.C. Office of the Attorney General (not the U.S. Attorney). Juvenile records are confidential under D.C. Code § 16-2331 et seq. and sealable under § 16-2335. The Comprehensive Youth Justice Amendment Act of 2016 raised some juvenile-court ceilings. Transfers to adult court for serious offenses by 15+ year olds are possible under § 16-2307.

D.C. DUI under D.C. Code § 50-2206.11 uses .08 BAC (.04 commercial, .02 under-21). Implied consent applies under § 50-1904.02 — refusal triggers automatic 12-month license revocation. Mandatory ignition interlock for repeat offenders and high-BAC first offenders. D.C. is also one of the few jurisdictions that prosecutes drugged driving without a specific per-se threshold under § 50-2206.11.

Other case types in Washington, D.C.

All Washington, D.C. practice areas →

Animal Incident attorneysD.C. follows the "one-bite" rule — but contributory negligence can still bar your dog-bite claim if you provoked the animal at all.

Business Dispute attorneysD.C. Superior Court’s Civil Division handles most commercial cases — and the District’s tight bar makes counsel who actually litigates here a real edge.

Car Accident attorneysD.C.’s contributory negligence rule can bar your entire claim if you’re found even 1% at fault — arguing the other side had the "last clear chance" to avoid the accident is often the only path.

Consumer Protection attorneysD.C.’s consumer-protection law lets consumers recover triple damages and attorney fees — one of the strongest in the country.

Defective Product attorneysD.C. holds manufacturers strictly liable for defective products, but contributory negligence can still bar recovery if a jury finds you misused the product at all.

Employment attorneysThe D.C. Office of Human Rights enforces the D.C. Human Rights Act — broader than federal law, with longer filing deadlines and more protected classes.

Family Law attorneysD.C. divides property equitably and has no fault-based divorce — and Family Court venue rules can trip up filers who recently moved to the District.

Immigration attorneysD.C. is home to USCIS headquarters, the Board of Immigration Appeals, and one of the country’s busiest immigration courts at Arlington — local counsel knows the calendars.

Lemon Law attorneysD.C.’s Lemon Law covers vehicles under 18,000 lbs in the first 2 years or 18,000 miles — narrower than most states, so timing is critical.

Medical Malpractice attorneysD.C. requires 90 days’ written notice before you can file a medical-malpractice case — miss it and your case is barred regardless of merit.

Personal Injury attorneysD.C.’s 3-year injury filing deadline is generous, but contributory negligence can still bar recovery — counsel matters more here than in comparative-fault states.

Slip and Fall attorneysD.C. premises liability turns on notice and reasonable care — and contributory negligence makes "watch where you’re walking" a real defense.

Social Security Disability attorneysD.C. residents file at the SSA field office in Northeast — hearing waits here are above the national average, so counsel speeds the timeline.

Workers’ Compensation attorneysD.C.’s Department of Employment Services handles workers’ comp under the District’s own law — separate from federal longshore and harbor-worker cases.

Washington, D.C. Criminal Defense Attorneys

How we match your Washington, D.C. criminal defense case

Case type

Size and complexity

Jurisdiction and licensing

Capacity and fit

What happens with a criminal defense claim in Washington, D.C.

Arrest or charge.

Tell us what happened.

First appearance and bail.

Discovery and motions.

Negotiation or trial.

Outcome and record.

When to call a criminal defense attorney in Washington, D.C.

Criminal Defense cases we take in Washington, D.C.

DUI / OWI / DWI

Drug possession and distribution

Assault and threats

Intrafamily / domestic violence

Theft and shoplifting

White-collar crimes

Gun and firearm charges

Sex offenses

Homicide

Juvenile offenses

Probation and parole violations

Federal crimes prosecuted in D.C.

How much do Washington, D.C. criminal defense attorneys cost?

What your Washington, D.C. criminal defense compensation can include

Charge Dismissal

Charge Reduction

Deferred Sentencing / Prosecution Agreement

Plea Agreement

Trial Acquittal

Post-Conviction Relief

Washington, D.C. criminal defense questions, answered

Other case types in Washington, D.C.

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