Expungement Process For Criminal Records Streamlined In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — People with criminal records associated with Alexandria Police or the Alexandria court system have a new, easier process to expunge their records.

Alexandria Sheriff Sean Casey, Clerk of Circuit Court Greg Parks, and Commonwealth’s Attorney Bryan Porter announced the new one-stop, limited cost process for expunging Alexandria court and police records. Expungement typically occurs when a criminal case results in an acquittal, nolle prosequi, dismissal, absolute pardon, or a person's name used in error.

The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office will provide fingerprinting services at no cost to the applicant.

"Fingerprinting is critical to the expungement process, and the Sheriff’s Office will provide that service to Alexandrians at no cost to make the process easier and faster," said Casey, the city's sheriff.

The Commonwealth’s Attorney will waive service fees for the process.

"I am committed to ensuring that all Alexandrians have fair access to the expungement process, and waiving the service of process and its fee will remove one barrier to those seeking to clear their records," said Porter, the city's prosecutor.

The Clerk of Court's office oversees the expungement process and refunds filing fees required by law to an applicant whose petition is accepted by the court.

"I am extremely pleased to have the support of Sheriff Casey and Commonwealth’s Attorney Porter in making the expungement process more convenient, and in limiting the out-of-pocket expenses for applicants," said Clerk of Court Parks.

The three officials had also worked with the Alexandria Bar Association, local attorneys, and Vice Mayor Amy Jackson on an expungement clinic in spring 2023. Applicants received legal advice, applied for expungement and were fingerprinted at the event, resulting in more than 30 criminal charges removed from applicants' records. Another expungement clinic will be scheduled for early 2024.

Applicants for expungement may call the Alexandria Bar Association, Lawyer Referral Service, which will work on applicants' case for 30 minutes for $55. Visit alexandria.barlrs.com or call 703-548-1106, Monday to Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.