Requesting Data from the DC Courts
The DC Courts are committed to transparency and providing access to public information. If you would like access to court data, the information on this page will help you make a request.
Types of Data Requests
There are different kinds of data you can ask for from the DC Courts. Here are the main types:
Aggregate Data
This is data that has been collected from lots of different cases or people and then summarized. It shows big-picture information, like:
- How many women were charged with misdemeanors in a certain year
- What percent of marriage licenses were given out each month
Individual or Case-Level Data
This kind of data includes details from specific people or court cases.
Talking to Judges, Staff, or Court Users
Sometimes people want to get information by talking to judges, court staff, or people who use the court. This can be done through interviews, surveys, or focus groups.
Important Note:
Some information, like sealed or private case records or records related to juveniles, can only be shared with the issuance of an Administrative Order by the Chief Judge of Superior Court. We may be able to share overall (aggregate) data if it's approved.
Not sure if you can get the data you need? Please email the Strategic Management Division at smddata [at] dcsc.gov before filling out the data request form.
Helpful Definitions
Identifiable Information
This is any kind of data that can be used to figure out who a person is—either by itself or when combined with other details.
Examples include:
- Name
- Address
- Date of birth
Some information, like race, gender, or age, might not identify someone alone. But if the group being studied is small, this information could help identify a person when combined with other details. So, it's still considered identifiable.
Generalizable Knowledge
This is information or findings from a project that can be applied to other people, situations, or programs beyond the one being studied.
DC Courts consider an activity to be generalizable if the information collected is useful or applicable beyond a particular program.
Examples include:
- Projects whose findings will be shared with external stakeholders.
- Activities in which the primary beneficiaries of the project are other researchers, scholars, and practitioners in the field of study.
- Projects in which the findings will be published in an academic or content specific journal or presented at a regional, national, or international meeting or conference.
Institutional Review Board (IRB)
This is a committee that reviews and approves research projects involving human subjects. Their job is to make sure the research is done in an ethical way and that participants' rights and privacy are protected.
IRB Policy – Protecting Human Subjects
If you’re requesting data from the DC Courts for research, you must have IRB review and approval, even if your own organization doesn’t require it.
Providing data to researchers means the DC Courts are supporting research. Because of this, IRB approval is required before any data can be shared.
DC Courts follow the Common Rule, which protects people who take part in research. This means all research supported by or involving the Courts must be reviewed and approved by an Institutional Review Board (IRB) first.
You must get IRB approval if:
- Your project includes interaction with people or includes identifiable (even if it’s public) and the goal is to produce generalizable knowledge (information that applies beyond one case or program)
- The data includes sealed Landlord and Tenant cases
DC Courts only accept IRB reviews from authorized boards that have a Federal Wide Assurance (FWA) number.
You can check if an institution has an FWA number here:
If the institution isn’t listed, it does not have an FWA and cannot be accepted.
How to Request Data from DC Courts
Step 1: Read the FAQs and Instructions
Before you start, check out the FAQs and Instructions (Links from SMD page). They explain how to complete the data request form and give you answers to common questions.
Step 2: Fill Out the Right Form
Choose the form that matches your organization:
- Public (non-government): Use [Form A]
- Government or Court Partners: Use [Form B]
Everyone must complete a form—even for small data requests. This helps the Courts track requests and see if approvals like IRB are needed.
Step 3: Include All Required Info
To avoid delays, make sure your request includes all the requested information.
For aggregate data:
- List of data elements you need
- Time period for each data element
- Who should be included or excluded if applicable (for example, do not include females or only include people under 30)
For individual/case-level data or talking to judges, staff, or customers:
- Project title and abstract
- Research questions and the methodology for how you’ll answer them
- Detailed list of data elements that match your research questions and methodology
- Why you need identifiable information (if requesting it)
- How your research benefits DC Courts
- Who will see the results and how they’ll be shared
- Funding source
- List of other partners with their contact info and FWA number
If your project is research, also include:
- FWA of the approving IRB
- Approval type
- IRB approval letter and application
- Copies of surveys, interview questions, and consent/assent forms
Note: Missing information may cause delays.
Step 4: Submit Your Request
Send your completed form by:
- Email: smddata [at] dcsc.gov
- Mail:
Strategic Management Division
DC Courts
500 Indiana Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20001
After You Submit
The Strategic Management Division will review your request. If more info is needed, someone will reach out. Please allow at least 2 weeks for review.
If your request is approved, you may have to sign a Data Use Agreement. By signing, you agree to:
- Use the data only for the project you described
- Keep the data private — don’t share it with anyone else
If you break these rules, you could face legal consequences and may not be allowed to access data in the future.
Data Request Support and Timeline
Need Help with Your Request?
If you have questions about the data request process or the data you need, contact the Strategic Management Division at smddata [at] dccsystem.gov.
We can help you:
- Identify what data is available to help answer your research questions
- Understand the meaning of the data elements we provide
- Suggest additional data that could be useful
To get the right data, you must have a clear research plan and specific questions.
We cannot help you with:
- Creating your research plan or questions
- Analyzing your data
- Managing or organizing your data
How Long Will It Take?
Once you submit your data request form, the Strategic Management Division will review your request. If more info is needed, someone will reach out. Please allow at least 2 weeks for review.
Once your request is approved, DC Courts will give you an estimated completion date.
- Simple requests may take 1–2 days
- More complex requests may take several weeks, depending on the type of data and staff availability
To avoid delays, include all required information when submitting your request.
Additional Resources