On January 1, 2023, the Connecticut Clean Slate Act took effect. The Act, which was updated on July 1, 2023, allows for the automatic erasure of certain convictions.
For convictions that occurred after January 1, 2000:
-Most, but not all, misdemeanor convictions are erased "by operation of law" 7 years after the court entered the conviction.
-Most, but not all, class D and E felonies and unclassified felonies with a maximum term of imprisonment of less than 5 years as well as most, but not all, DUIs are erased "by operation of law" 10 years after the court entered the conviction.
For convictions that occurred before January 1, 2000:
-Most, but not all, misdemeanor convictions and most but not all class D and E felonies as well as unclassified felonies with a maximum term of imprisonment of less than 5 years shall be erased after the convicted person files a Petition for Clean Slate Erasure, Conviction Before 1/1/2000 (JD-CR-202). The petition must be filed in the court in which the conviction occurred.
Certain charges are excluded for the Clean Slate Act erasure. They include:
-Family Violence Crimes
-Nonviolent sexual offenses or sexually violent offenses
-DUIs, if the person has another DUI conviction within 10 years of the prior conviction.
-Any conviction for a violation of section 29-33, 53a-60a, 53a-60b, 53a-60c, 53a-61a, 53a-64bb, 53a-64cc, 53a-72a, 53a-90a, 53a-103a, 53a-181c, 53a-191, 53a-196, 53a-196d, 53a-196f, 53a-211, 53a-212, 53a-216, 53a-217, 53a-217a, 53a-217c, 53a-322, 53a-323, 54-251, 54-252, 54-253 or 54-254 or subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 53a-189a.
A person is not eligible for Clean Slate Act erasure until they:
-Have completed any period of incarceration, parole, special parole, medical parole, compassionate parole, or transitional supervision for any conviction on or after January 1, 2000;
-Have completed serving any period of probation for any crime with a conviction on or after January 1, 2000, and
-Are not the subject of any pending criminal charges in Connecticut.
The Clean Slate Act also applies to misdemeanor convictions while a person was under 18 years of age if the person's conviction was before they turned 18 years of age and the offense occurred on or after January 1, 2000, and before July 1, 2012. Motor vehicle offenses and violations of 51-164r are excluded.
If a person, while under the age of 18, was convicted of a misdemeanor before January 1, 2000, such person may file a petition with the Superior Court at the location in which the conviction occurred and request an order of erasure.
Any person who has their convictions erased pursuant to the Clean Slate Act shall be deemed to have never been arrested for the crimes that were erased and may swear so under oath.