Connecticut Clean Slate: Automatic Erasure and How to Petition
Connecticut's 2021 Clean Slate Act created automatic erasure for misdemeanors and Class D/E felonies. Learn who qualifies under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-142u and how to petition.
Connecticut does not call it expungement. The word the state uses is erasure, and that choice of words is intentional — when a Connecticut record is erased, it is treated as if it never happened. You can legally say it did not occur. The 2021 Clean Slate Act made this available to far more people than before, and the landmark provision — automatic erasure — means some Connecticuters have had their records erased without ever having to file anything. This guide explains how to know which category you fall into, and what to do if your record has not yet been addressed.
This is not legal advice.
This guide explains how the law works in general terms. Whether you qualify depends on your specific record, and a judge makes the final call. If your situation is complicated — multiple convictions, charges in multiple states, or a previous denial — consulting a lawyer who handles expungement is worth the cost of a consultation.
Connecticut calls it erasure — and it matters
In Connecticut, "erasure" means the record is treated as if it never existed. Under Connecticut law, once a record is erased, you are legally released from all penalties and disabilities resulting from the conviction, and you may swear under oath that you were never arrested or convicted.
That last part is significant. Connecticut's statute explicitly protects your right to deny the erased record in most circumstances. This is the legal foundation that makes erasure meaningful in practice — not just the technical change in a database, but the legal right to answer questions about your past honestly and consistently with the erased record.
Automatic erasure — what the 2021 Clean Slate Act created
Before the Clean Slate Act, Connecticut relied almost entirely on the Board of Pardons and Paroles for record relief for people with convictions. The pardon process is meaningful but slow and discretionary. The Clean Slate Act changed the picture for a significant category of convictions.
Under the act, eligible misdemeanor convictions are automatically erased seven years after sentence discharge. Eligible Class D and E felony convictions are automatically erased ten years after sentence discharge. No petition. No filing fee. No court appearance.
The automatic process is administered by the state. The Office of Policy and Management and the Judicial Branch are responsible for identifying eligible records and carrying out the erasure. In practice, this means the system does the work — but it also means the system's accuracy matters. If you believe your record qualifies for automatic erasure and it has not happened, you can contact the relevant agencies to inquire.
- Eligible misdemeanor convictions after 7 years from sentence discharge.
- Class D felony convictions after 10 years from sentence discharge.
- Class E felony convictions after 10 years from sentence discharge.
- No new convictions during the waiting period — if you were convicted of something new, the clock may be affected.
- No action required from you — the state handles it.
- Result: record treated as if it never occurred; legal right to deny under oath.
Even if automatic erasure should have applied to your record, verify by requesting your Connecticut criminal history. If the record is still showing after the waiting period, contact the Court Support Services Division.
What automatic erasure does NOT cover
- Violent felonies — most felonies above Class D and E are excluded.
- Sex offenses requiring registration on the sex offender registry.
- DUI/DWI convictions (motor vehicle offenses).
- Crimes against children.
- Class A, B, and C felonies.
- Any offense designated as a "family violence" crime in some circumstances.
- Federal convictions — Connecticut's Clean Slate Act only covers Connecticut state records.
If your conviction is in one of these excluded categories, the pardon process through the Board of Pardons and Paroles is the primary available route.
Who qualifies — and who does not
May qualify
- Misdemeanor convictions — automatic erasure after 7 years
- Class D felony convictions — automatic erasure after 10 years
- Class E felony convictions — automatic erasure after 10 years
- Arrests with no conviction — erasure under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-142a (immediate)
- Nolle prosequi cases — erasure eligible
- Diversion completions — erasure eligible in many cases
- Pardoned convictions — result in erasure
Generally does not qualify
- Class A, B, C felonies
- Violent crimes
- Sex offenses requiring registration
- DUI/DWI convictions
- Family violence crimes (many)
- Crimes against children
- Any case with pending charges
Connecticut's Clean Slate Act is broad but not universal. If your conviction falls outside the automatic erasure categories, the Board of Pardons and Paroles is your primary avenue.
Waiting periods
Waiting Periods
The clock starts on the date shown below — not your arrest date.
Misdemeanor — automatic erasure (Clean Slate Act)
Clock starts: Date of sentence discharge
Automatic — no petition, no fee, no court appearance. State handles this.
Class D or E felony — automatic erasure (Clean Slate Act)
Clock starts: Date of sentence discharge
Automatic — no petition needed. Only Class D and E felonies qualify for automatic erasure.
Other convictions — pardons (Board of Pardons and Paroles)
Clock starts: Date sentence discharged
For offenses not covered by automatic erasure, a pardon from the Board of Pardons and Paroles is the primary route.
Arrest with no conviction
Clock starts: Date of dismissal, acquittal, or no-action determination
Non-conviction records are erasable immediately under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-142a.
The pardon process — for offenses not covered by automatic erasure
For convictions that do not qualify for automatic erasure under the Clean Slate Act, the primary route to record relief in Connecticut is the absolute pardonfrom the Board of Pardons and Paroles.
A Connecticut absolute pardon effectively erases the conviction. The board considers many factors: the nature and seriousness of the offense, the time that has passed, your record since, evidence of rehabilitation, employment, family circumstances, and community ties. The process is lengthy and discretionary — but it is the pathway for people with more serious convictions.
The waiting period to apply for a pardon is generally five years from misdemeanor sentence discharge or ten years from felony sentence discharge. These are minimum waiting periods; the board typically looks for candidates who have established a substantial period of stable, law-abiding life.
How to pursue erasure or a pardon in Connecticut
- 1
Understand whether automatic erasure applies
1 dayFreeConnecticut's Clean Slate Act automatically erases eligible misdemeanor convictions after 7 years and eligible Class D and E felony convictions after 10 years from sentence discharge. If your conviction is in one of these categories and the time has passed, your record may already be erased. Check before doing anything else.
Contact the Connecticut Judicial Branch's Court Support Services Division or the Office of Policy and Management to inquire about the status of automatic Clean Slate erasure for your case.
- 2
Get your Connecticut criminal history
1–3 weeks$25–$75Request your official Connecticut criminal history from the State Police Bureau of Identification at portal.ct.gov/DESPP. This document shows your Connecticut record as it currently stands. A cost applies and processing times vary.
Connecticut criminal history requests can be submitted online or by mail. The online portal is faster.
- 3
Confirm your sentence discharge date
1–5 daysVariesGet documentation confirming when your sentence was fully discharged — the date you completed probation, parole, or any supervision period. This is the date the waiting period clock started. You need this to confirm you have met the waiting period.
Contact the court where you were sentenced, the Department of Correction, or the Court Support Services Division probation office to get your discharge date in writing.
- 4
Apply for a pardon (if automatic erasure does not apply)
6–12 months for pardon processNo application feeIf your conviction does not qualify for automatic erasure under the Clean Slate Act, the primary route to record relief in Connecticut is a pardon from the Board of Pardons and Paroles (BOPP). An absolute pardon effectively erases the record. The process involves an application, investigation, and in some cases a hearing before the board.
The BOPP reviews many factors: the nature of the offense, your record since, evidence of rehabilitation, work history, community ties, and letters of support. Prepare a comprehensive application.
- 5
Complete the pardon application
1–2 weeks to prepareFreeDownload the pardon application from ct.gov/bopp. Provide a complete history of your criminal record, your current situation, and your reasons for requesting a pardon. Attach supporting documents: employment records, letters of support from employers, family members, or community leaders, and any certificates from completed programs.
- 6
Submit your application and wait for investigation
3–9 monthsNothingSubmit your pardon application to the Board of Pardons and Paroles. The board conducts an investigation, which may include reviewing your records, criminal history, and potentially contacting references. The investigation can take several months.
- 7
Attend the hearing (if scheduled)
30–60 minutesNothingThe BOPP may schedule a hearing at which you appear before the board. This is your opportunity to speak directly about your life, your rehabilitation, and why you are seeking a pardon. The board will ask questions. Bring documentation of your current situation.
Hearings before the Connecticut BOPP are serious proceedings. Many applicants bring an attorney or advocate. Legal aid organizations in Connecticut help with pardon applications.
- 8
Absolute pardon granted — records erased
4–8 weeks for agency updatesNothingIf the board grants an absolute pardon, it notifies the relevant agencies to erase the records. Connecticut's pardon process for absolute pardons results in erasure — not just sealing. The record is removed from public access.
Free and low-cost legal help in Connecticut
- Connecticut Legal Services — free civil legal help for income-eligible Connecticut residents statewide. ctlegal.org or 860-344-0380.
- New Haven Legal Assistance Association — free legal help in New Haven County. nhlegal.org.
- Greater Hartford Legal Aid — free legal help in Hartford region. ghla.net.
- Connecticut Fair Housing Center — helps with housing discrimination including records-based issues. ctfairhousing.org.
- Connecticut Courts Self-Help Center — forms and legal information at jud.ct.gov/selfhelp.
- Connecticut Bar Association Volunteer Lawyers — pro bono services. ctbar.org.
- Prisoner Legal Services of Connecticut — helps incarcerated and recently released people. prisonerleservices.org.
Connecticut Legal Services has specific experience with the Clean Slate Act and pardon applications. Contact them early — there can be intake waitlists.
After your record is erased
Once your Connecticut record is erased — whether through automatic Clean Slate erasure or through a pardon — Connecticut law gives you important protections. You may state on any application that you have no criminal record with respect to the erased conviction. You may swear under oath that you were not arrested, charged, or convicted. The erased record is treated in law as if it never occurred.
There are narrow exceptions: law enforcement agencies and courts may still have access to erased records for criminal justice purposes. Federal agencies and federal background checks are not affected by Connecticut erasure. Some professional licensing boards may retain access.
But for everyday purposes — job applications, housing applications, credit checks — Connecticut erasure means what it says. The record is gone.
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