The 2026 Second Chance Index
How D.C. ranks for second chances
D.C. ranks 8th of 51 in the 2026 Second Chance Index, scoring 79.5 out of 100 for clearing a record, voting rights and where its felony line falls. That's 18 points above the median state (61.5).
Built from D.C.'s record-clearing, voting and felony-class records, last checked October 29, 2026. General information, not legal advice.
79.5 out of 100
- Clearing a record
- 34.5 / 50
- Voting rights
- 30 / 30
- Where the felony line falls
- 15 / 20
Every point D.C. earned and missed
Each line is a field we publish about D.C., checked against state law and official guidance. The points are the index's; the method lists every one.
Clearing a record
34.5 of 50 points| What we score | D.C. | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Some records clear automatically | Automatic clearing passed, not yet in effect | 5/15 |
| A general route to clear a felony | Yes | 12/12 |
| A general route to clear a misdemeanor | Yes | 8/8 |
| A way to clear a case with no conviction | Yes | 8/8 |
| A fee waiver on at least one route | None found | 0/4 |
| A DUI conviction can be cleared | In some cases | 1.5/3 |
Voting rights
30 of 30 points| What we score | D.C. | Points |
|---|---|---|
| When the vote comes back after a felony | Never lost | 30/30 |
Where the felony line falls
15 of 20 points| What we score | D.C. | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Theft becomes a felony at | $1,000 | 5/10 |
| Repeat DUI becomes a felony | No repeat-offense felony | 10/10 |
Where the 20.5 missing points are
- 10Some records clear automatically: Automatic clearing passed, not yet in effect
- 5Theft becomes a felony at: $1,000
- 4A fee waiver on at least one route: None found
- 1.5A DUI conviction can be cleared: In some cases
The index scores what state law says, not how courts apply it. A lower score doesn't mean D.C. offers no relief; its pages list every route.
States ranked near D.C.
- #2Utah82.5
- #7Vermont80.5
- #8D.C.79.5
- #9Rhode Island77.5
- #10California77
Cite this page
Second Chance Index, "How D.C. ranks for second chances" https://secondchanceindex.com/state-rankings/district-of-columbia, checked October 29, 2026.