An expungement is a court action that deletes police and court records relating to a criminal case when any of the following has occurred: acquittal, nolle prosequi, dismissal, absolute pardon, or when an individual’s name was used in error. When a record is expunged, the record is not immediately destroyed but is removed from public access and sealed. Three (3) years after the date the expungement order is entered, the records are destroyed.

No forms are available from the Clerk's office, however the Alexandria Circuit Court Expungement Packet contains sample forms and is available from the Alexandria Law Library here: Expungement Packet or by calling (703) 746-4077.

1. Person seeking expungement (“petitioner”) obtains three (3) copies of the arrest warrants or charges to be expunged.

2. Petitioner completes a Petition for Expungement and a draft Order of Expungement (see Packet linked above for examples) and creates two copies of each.

Petitioner files the original Petition for Expungement, the original draft Order of Expungement, and a copy of each as well as two copies of the Arrest Warrant(s)/Charging Document(s) with the Clerk of Circuit Court.

The last set of copies is for the petitioner’s records.

3. The petitioner will only be required to provide fingerprints if the case the petitioner is seeking to expunge involves embezzlement.

4. The petitioner will need to request a criminal history record from the Virginia State Police. The petitioner should go to the Virginia State Police Criminal Background Check website and complete the required request using the information provided in the expungement petition.

5. Once the petitioner requests the criminal background check, the Virginia State Police will electronically forward the criminal history record to our office. The record will then be available for processing as part of the expungement case.

6. IF necessary, hearings on expungements are scheduled on Thursdays.

The Alexandria Sheriff’s Office processes fingerprint requests for expungement petitioners on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the courthouse. There is no fee for this service. For information on fingerprinting only, call (703) 746-4120 or visit their expungement page https://www.alexandriava.gov/sheriff/sheriffs-office-offering-free-fingerprinting-for-local-expungement

Disclaimer: The information provided is for procedural purposes only. It is not intended as legal advice and should not be used as such. The Clerk's Office cannot advise you or determine which charges are eligible for expungement. We recommend you seek the advice of an attorney. Proceeding 'Pro Se' means that you are acting as your own attorney and that you are responsible for filing the appropriate forms and documents and that you are responsible for their content.