How to Clear Your Criminal Record in Connecticut

What You Need to Know First

Connecticut's Clean Slate law is now working. After years of delays due to aging data systems, Connecticut began automatically erasing eligible records in October 2025. About 50,000 convictions have already been erased and more than 100,000 people are expected to have records cleared. Automatic erasure applies to eligible misdemeanors after 7 years and eligible lower-level felonies after 10 years. Check your record — it may already be erased.

Connecticut calls this "erasure" — not expungement. When a record is erased in Connecticut, you are deemed never to have been arrested. All police and court records are removed or sealed. No court fee is ever charged for any erasure petition. You can swear under oath that you were never arrested for the erased matter.

Connecticut has three main pathways for clearing a criminal record depending on how your case was resolved and when.

Non-Conviction Erasure

AUTOMATIC — NO FEE

Dismissed charges, acquittals, and nolled cases are automatically erased by operation of law. Nolled cases erase after 13 months. You are deemed never to have been arrested. Diversion program completions (AR, FVEP, IDIP) also result in dismissal and automatic erasure.

Clean Slate — Automatic

CONVICTIONS AFTER JAN. 1, 2000

Eligible misdemeanor convictions erased automatically after 7 years. Eligible Class D, E, and unclassified felony convictions erased after 10 years. No action needed — the state erases automatically. Check your record to confirm. Sex crimes and family violence crimes excluded.

Absolute Pardon

FOR INELIGIBLE CONVICTIONS

An absolute pardon from the Board of Pardons and Paroles erases any conviction — including serious felonies ineligible for Clean Slate. The pardon erases the entire criminal history, not just one conviction. Apply after 3 years (misdemeanor) or 5 years (felony) from conviction.

Non-Conviction Erasure — The Fastest Pathway

If your case was dismissed, you were acquitted, or the prosecution entered a nolle prosequi — your record is erased automatically by Connecticut law. After a nolle, the record erases after 13 months. After a dismissal or acquittal, erasure happens by operation of law. No petition, no fee, no waiting period beyond the statutory periods.

AUTOMATICALLY ERASED — NON-CONVICTION

Not guilty verdict — automatically erased
Dismissed charges — automatically erased
Nolle prosequi — erased after 13 months
No prosecution within 13 months of continuance — erased
Pretrial diversion completion (AR, FVEP, IDIP) — dismissed, then erased
Accelerated Rehabilitation (AR) program completion — erased
Family Violence Education Program (FVEP) completion — erased
Decriminalized offense conviction — petition for erasure

NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF MENTAL DISEASE

Not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect — NOT eligible for erasure
Guilty but not criminally responsible — NOT eligible
Protective order registry information — not subject to erasure
Dismissal as part of plea involving conviction on another charge — check eligibility

Clean Slate — What's Automatically Erased After 7 or 10 Years

The waiting period clock runs from your MOST RECENT conviction — not from the specific conviction you want erased. If you have a misdemeanor from 2010 and another misdemeanor from 2018, the 7-year clock starts from 2018 for both. All convictions must meet the criteria for erasure to be granted under Clean Slate.

Dismissed / acquitted / nolled (non-conviction)

Automatic

Eligible misdemeanor conviction — Clean Slate

7 years

Class D, E, unclassified felony — Clean Slate

10 years

ELIGIBLE FOR CLEAN SLATE ERASURE

Most misdemeanor convictions — after 7 years from most recent conviction
Class D felony convictions — after 10 years
Class E felony convictions — after 10 years
Unclassified felonies with up to 5-year maximum — after 10 years
OUI/DWI convictions — after 10 years (separate provision)
Convictions on or after January 1, 2000 only

NOT ELIGIBLE FOR CLEAN SLATE

Family violence crimes — permanently excluded
Sexual offenses (nonviolent and sexually violent) — permanently excluded
Specific firearms offenses listed in § 54-142a(e)(2)
Class A, B, or C felony convictions
Convictions before January 1, 2000 — petition process only
Any new conviction during the 7 or 10 year waiting period

Absolute Pardon — For Convictions Not Covered by Clean Slate

An absolute pardon from the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles is the pathway for convictions not covered by the Clean Slate law — including Class A, B, and C felonies, family violence convictions, and sex offenses. When an absolute pardon is granted, it erases the entire criminal history — not just one conviction. The pardon is not crime-specific. Apply through the Board's e-Pardons portal after meeting the waiting period.

PARDON ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

3 years from date of conviction — misdemeanor
5 years from date of conviction — felony
Sentence and probation completed
No pending charges
All fines, fees, and restitution paid
Apply through e-Pardons portal — paper applications no longer accepted

PROVISIONAL PARDON — CERTIFICATE OF EMPLOYABILITY

Does not erase the conviction — stays on record
Protects from being denied jobs or licenses because of the conviction
Faster to obtain than an absolute pardon
Good option if full erasure is not the priority — employment access is
Same application process through e-Pardons portal

How to Check If Your Record Was Already Erased

1

Request Your Connecticut Criminal History

Request a criminal history record check from the Connecticut State Police Bureau of Identification (SPBI). The record must be dated on or after January 1, 2024 to be used in a Clean Slate hearing request. Request online or by mail using form DPS-0846-C at portal.ct.gov.

2

Check the Clean Slate Portal

Visit Connecticut's official Clean Slate portal at portal.ct.gov/cleanslate to check your eligibility, verify whether your records have been automatically erased, and request a hearing if you believe your record should have been erased but wasn't. The portal has an eligibility checker and links to all required forms.

3

If Your Record Wasn't Erased — Request a Hearing

If you believe your conviction qualifies for Clean Slate erasure but it hasn't been erased, complete the Hearing for Clean Slate Erasure Form from the Clean Slate portal. You must certify your identifying information and attest that you meet the eligibility requirements. No fee is charged for any Clean Slate hearing or petition.

4

For Pardon Applications — Use e-Pardons

Apply for an absolute pardon or Certificate of Employability through the Board of Pardons and Paroles e-Pardons portal at ct.gov/bopp. Paper applications are no longer accepted. The Board holds hearings and considers your rehabilitation, time elapsed, and the nature of the offense.

Official Forms and Resources

Connecticut Clean Slate Portal

Official Clean Slate eligibility checker, erasure status, and hearing request forms from the State of Connecticut

Visit portal.ct.gov/cleanslate →

CT State Police — Criminal History Check

Request your Connecticut criminal history record from the Bureau of Identification — required for Clean Slate hearings

Visit portal.ct.gov →

Board of Pardons and Paroles — e-Pardons

Apply for an absolute pardon or Certificate of Employability — the pathway for convictions not covered by Clean Slate

Visit ct.gov/bopp →

Connecticut Judicial Branch — Erasure Information

Official Connecticut Judicial Branch information on erasure of criminal records under C.G.S. § 54-142a

Visit jud.ct.gov →

Helpful Resources

FREE LEGAL HELP

Connecticut Legal Services

Free civil legal help for low-income Connecticut residents — including erasure and pardon assistance statewide

ctlegal.org →

FREE LEGAL HELP

Greater Hartford Legal Aid

Free civil legal help for Hartford area residents — including Clean Slate and pardon assistance

ghla.org →

CLEAN SLATE INFO

Clean Slate CT — Advocacy Site

Plain English Clean Slate eligibility information, updates on erasure progress, and advocacy resources

cleanslatect.org →

HOUSING, FOOD & BENEFITS

findhelp.org

Search thousands of free and reduced-cost programs for housing, food, work, and more in your area

findhelp.org →

JOB SEARCH HELP

American Job Centers

Free job search assistance, resume help, and training — including resources for people with records

careeronestop.org →

DIVERSION PROGRAMS

Connecticut Court Support Services

Information on Connecticut diversion programs including Accelerated Rehabilitation and other pretrial programs

portal.ct.gov/CSSD →

Frequently Asked Questions

Was my record automatically erased under Clean Slate? +

Connecticut's Clean Slate law is now processing erasures after years of delays. About 50,000 convictions were erased as of October 2025, with more than 100,000 people expected to have records cleared. Check the Connecticut Clean Slate portal at portal.ct.gov/cleanslate and request your State Police criminal history to see if your record has been erased. If you believe you qualify but your record hasn't been erased, you can request a hearing through the portal — no fee is charged.

What is "erasure" and how is it different from expungement? +

Connecticut uses the term "erasure" for what most states call expungement. When a record is erased in Connecticut, you are deemed by law never to have been arrested. All police and court records pertaining to the charge are erased. You can swear under oath that you were never arrested for the erased matter. Records are not always physically destroyed immediately but are sealed and courts must treat the matter as if it never occurred. Upon your request, the clerk must physically destroy the records after three years from final disposition.

My case was nolled. When does it erase? +

A nolle prosequi (nolle) in Connecticut means the prosecutor decided not to pursue the case. After 13 months from the date the nolle was entered, all police and court records related to that charge are automatically erased by operation of law — no petition required. If a case was continued at the prosecutor's request and 13 months pass with no prosecution or other disposition, the charge is also treated as nolled and erased. No fee is ever charged.

What if my conviction is not eligible for Clean Slate? +

If your conviction is a Class A, B, or C felony, or involves family violence or a sexual offense — Clean Slate does not apply. An absolute pardon from the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles is your pathway. An absolute pardon erases your entire criminal history — not just the one ineligible conviction. Wait times are 5 years from conviction for felonies and 3 years for misdemeanors. Apply through the e-Pardons portal. A provisional pardon (Certificate of Employability) is also available and does not erase the record but protects you from being denied jobs and licenses because of it.

Do background check companies have to update their records? +

Yes — Connecticut law explicitly requires all purchasers of court records, including background screening providers, to purchase updated records from the Judicial Department monthly and permanently delete erased records from their databases. They may not further disclose erased records. This is one of the strongest private background check compliance requirements in the country. If an erased record still appears on a background check, you have legal grounds to dispute it and the company is required to remove it.

What is the Accelerated Rehabilitation program? +

Accelerated Rehabilitation (AR) is Connecticut's primary diversion program for first-time offenders charged with most crimes. You are placed on probation-like supervision for a period determined by the court. Upon successful completion, charges are dismissed — and dismissed charges in Connecticut are automatically erased. AR is one of the best tools available for people currently facing charges who want to avoid a conviction entirely. Ask your attorney about AR eligibility if you are currently facing charges.

After Your Record Is Erased

After erasure in Connecticut, you are deemed never to have been arrested. You can swear under oath on any application that you were never arrested or convicted of the erased matter. Background check companies are required by law to delete erased records from their databases.

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Employment

Erased records must be deleted by background check companies under Connecticut law. You can legally deny the arrest or conviction on any employment application. Connecticut's ban-the-box law also restricts when employers can ask about criminal history. For convictions covered by a provisional pardon but not erased, you cannot be denied a job solely because of the conviction.

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Background Check Databases

Connecticut law requires background screening companies to update their records monthly from the Judicial Department and permanently delete erased records. This is stronger than most states. If an erased record still appears, dispute it — the company is legally required to remove it and cannot further disclose it.

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All Legal Disabilities Relieved

Connecticut erasure relieves all legal disabilities resulting from the conviction, including those relating to employment and licensure. This is among the broadest relief available anywhere — the record is treated as if it never occurred for virtually all purposes. The only exception is that protective order registry information is not subject to erasure.

For general information about what changes after expungement — including housing, employment resources, and more — visit our After Expungement page.