Connecticut Expungement Laws: Erasure, Clean Slate, and Absolute Pardon

Connecticut does not use the word "expungement." Instead, state law provides for the erasure of criminal records under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-142a, automatic erasure of eligible convictions under the Clean Slate law (Public Act 21-32, codified at Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-142a(e)), and full erasure of conviction records through an absolute pardon granted by the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Information last verified on May 29, 2026. This article has not yet been reviewed by a licensed attorney.

Jurisdiction scope: This article covers Connecticut state law only. For a nationwide comparison, see Expungement Laws by State.

How Connecticut's Erasure System Works

Connecticut uses the term "erasure" rather than expungement, but the practical effect is identical: an erased record is flagged for nondisclosure and may not be disclosed to most employers, landlords, or the public. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-142a(g)(2), a person who has been the subject of such an erasure "shall be deemed to have never been arrested within the meaning of the general statutes with respect to the proceedings so erased" and may so swear under oath. That protection is limited to the erased proceedings; it does not reach records that were never erased. Erasure does not mean physical destruction of the record in all cases. As Governor Lamont stated when announcing the 2023-2024 Clean Slate rollout, "record erasure does not mean deletion or destruction; instead, erasure causes a record to be flagged for nondisclosure to anyone other than the clerk holding the records." Connecticut law creates three distinct pathways to erasure: automatic erasure of non-conviction records under § 54-142a, automatic erasure of eligible conviction records under the Clean Slate law, and discretionary erasure through an absolute pardon from the Board of Pardons and Paroles. Choosing the right pathway depends on the nature of the record and when the offense occurred.

Automatic Erasure of Non-Conviction Records (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-142a)

For arrests that did not result in conviction, Connecticut law provides immediate automatic erasure with no petition required. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-142a, the following outcomes trigger automatic erasure: an acquittal at trial; a dismissal of charges; or a nolle prosequi entered by the prosecutor. For dismissals and acquittals, erasure occurs upon expiration of the time to file a writ of error or take an appeal, or upon final determination of any appeal sustaining the trial court's decision. For a nolled case, erasure takes effect 13 months after the nolle was entered, which is why a pending nolle disqualifies a person from applying for a pardon until that 13-month window closes. No court filing, fee, or attorney is required for non-conviction erasure. The individual may legally represent that the arrest never occurred on most job applications and background checks following erasure. This automatic pathway covers the most common scenario: an arrest that resulted in no conviction.

Connecticut Clean Slate Law: Automatic Erasure of Convictions (Public Act 21-32)

Public Act 21-32, signed in 2021 and amended by Public Acts 21-33, 22-26, 23-134, and 23-169, created a system of automatic erasure for eligible low-level convictions. The law is codified primarily at Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-142a(e), with related cannabis-specific erasure provisions at §§ 54-142u and 54-142v. Eligibility turns on the offense being one of the covered types and on three conditions being met. First, the individual must have completed all components of the sentence, including incarceration, parole, special parole, and probation. Second, under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-142a(e)(3)(C), the person must not be the subject of any pending state criminal charge in Connecticut; an open case suspends the erasure until it is resolved. Third, the applicable waiting period must have elapsed with no new convictions: seven years from the most recent conviction for any classified or unclassified misdemeanor, and ten years from the most recent conviction for Class D felonies, Class E felonies, unclassified felonies carrying a maximum sentence of less than five years, and operating-under-the-influence convictions under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 14-227a.

The date of the offense does not decide whether erasure is available. It decides how the erasure happens. Under § 54-142a(e)(1)(A)(i) and (ii), records for offenses committed on or after January 1, 2000, are erased "by operation of law" once the waiting period runs, while records for offenses committed before that date are erased on the same seven-year and ten-year timelines "upon the filing of a petition on a form prescribed by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator." For records erased by operation of law, the state's criminal justice agencies, led by the Judicial Branch, determine eligibility and apply the erasure automatically, and no application, court filing, or fee is required. For convictions arising from offenses committed before January 1, 2000, individuals must file a petition for Clean Slate erasure using form JD-CR-202 with the sentencing court.

Excluded offenses: Family violence crimes (for convictions on or after January 1, 2000), sexually violent offenses, nonviolent sexual offenses, most violent crimes (including assault, robbery, and murder), weapons violations, and repeat OUI convictions within a ten-year window do not qualify for Clean Slate automatic erasure.

Cannabis Conviction Erasure

Connecticut enacted a separate automatic erasure provision for cannabis convictions alongside its legalization of adult-use cannabis. Convictions for possession of a cannabis-type substance under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 21a-279(c) imposed between January 1, 2000, and September 30, 2015, were automatically erased on January 1, 2023, under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-142u. The state reported that approximately 43,754 cannabis possession convictions were cleared in that initial erasure. Other cannabis convictions fall outside that automatic window, including possession offenses imposed before January 1, 2000, or between October 1, 2015, and July 1, 2021, possession of paraphernalia under § 21a-267 before July 1, 2021, and small-amount manufacturing or sale under § 21a-277(b) before July 1, 2021. For those records, individuals may file a petition directly with the sentencing court under Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 54-142v or 54-142d. No official petition form is required for cannabis erasure petitions; applicants file directly with supporting documentation showing the amounts involved.

Absolute Pardon Through the Board of Pardons and Paroles

The absolute pardon is Connecticut's mechanism for erasing conviction records that do not qualify for Clean Slate automatic erasure, including higher-level felony convictions. The Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles (BOPP) has constitutional and statutory authority under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-130a to grant absolute pardons for any offense against the state. When an absolute pardon is granted, all of the applicant's Connecticut adult criminal convictions are erased from the criminal record database. The Board, Judicial Branch, Court Support Services Division, State Police, and FBI work together to clear the record across databases. The waiting period is five years from the date of the most recent felony conviction and three years from the date of the most recent misdemeanor conviction. Additional eligibility requirements include: no pending charges or open cases in any jurisdiction; no nolle entered within the preceding 13 months; and no current probation or parole supervision. There is no application fee, but applicants must obtain a Connecticut State Police Criminal History Report through the Connecticut Criminal History Request System at a cost of $75 (fee waivers are available). Applications are submitted through the BOPP ePardon Portal at ct.gov/bopp. The Board also offers expedited review for non-violent offenses with no victim interest. A denial requires a one-year wait before reapplication, though the Board may impose a longer period. With a denial costing at least a year, have a Connecticut criminal defense lawyer review your pardon application in a free consultation before you submit it (attorney advertising).

Implementation Timeline and Current Status

The Clean Slate automated erasure system began its first major rollout in January 2023, when cannabis convictions were cleared. Governor Lamont announced in December 2023 that the broader automatic erasure for misdemeanors and eligible felonies was expected to reach most records by early 2024, but the rollout was instead halted in mid-2024 after the state identified data-quality issues that were producing false positives. Automatic processing resumed after additional funding was approved, and the state finished clearing the backlog in July 2026: the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection reported that approximately 170,000 individuals had nearly 350,000 cases automatically erased in total, spanning dozens of law enforcement agencies, courts, and the correction department. The Clean Slate petition process for pre-2000 convictions has been available since January 1, 2023, at the sentencing court using form JD-CR-202.

Disclaimer: This article describes Connecticut state law as verified from official government sources on May 29, 2026. Laws change, and individual circumstances vary. Consult a licensed Connecticut attorney before making decisions about your criminal record.

Related Articles

• Expungement Laws by State
• DUI Expungement by State
• How to Check If Your Record Has Been Expunged

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RecordingLaw.com provides legal information, not legal advice. Laws change frequently. Verify current statutes with official Connecticut government sources or a licensed Connecticut attorney before acting.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I erase my record in Connecticut?

Connecticut offers three pathways. If your case ended in a dismissal, acquittal, or nolle, your record is erased automatically under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-142a with no action required. If you have an eligible misdemeanor or low-level felony conviction, the Clean Slate law (Public Act 21-32) erases it after the applicable waiting period (7 years for misdemeanors, 10 years for eligible felonies) once you have completed your sentence and have no pending state criminal charge. Erasure runs automatically for offenses committed on or after January 1, 2000, and by petition to the sentencing court on form JD-CR-202 for older offenses. For higher-level felonies, you can apply for an absolute pardon through the Board of Pardons and Paroles at ct.gov/bopp.

What is Connecticut Clean Slate?

Connecticut Clean Slate refers to Public Act 21-32 (2021) and its amendments, codified primarily at Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-142a(e), with related cannabis-specific erasure provisions at §§ 54-142u and 54-142v. It provides for erasure of eligible low-level criminal convictions. The law covers misdemeanors after a 7-year conviction-free waiting period and Class D/E felonies and unclassified felonies after a 10-year waiting period, provided the sentence is fully served and there is no pending state criminal charge. Offenses committed on or after January 1, 2000, are erased by operation of law with no application required; older offenses qualify on the same timelines upon the filing of a petition. Excluded offenses include family violence crimes and sexually violent offenses.

What is a Connecticut absolute pardon?

An absolute pardon is a form of clemency granted by the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-130a. When granted, it causes complete erasure of the applicant's Connecticut adult criminal conviction record from the criminal record database. It is the primary route to erasure for higher-level felony convictions not covered by the Clean Slate law. Applicants must wait 5 years after a felony conviction or 3 years after a misdemeanor conviction, have no pending charges, and not be on probation or parole. Applications are submitted through the BOPP ePardon Portal.

What does Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-142a cover?

Section 54-142a covers automatic erasure of non-conviction records: acquittals, dismissals, and nolled cases. It also contains the Clean Slate conviction-erasure provisions at subsection (e). For an acquittal or dismissal, erasure occurs when the time to appeal expires or when any appeal is finally resolved. For a nolle, erasure takes effect 13 months after the nolle was entered. No petition or court filing is needed for non-conviction erasure. Under subsection (g)(2), a person who has been the subject of such an erasure is deemed never to have been arrested with respect to the proceedings so erased.

How long does it take to get an absolute pardon in Connecticut?

Processing time varies depending on application volume. There is no fixed statutory timeline. All required documents, including a State Police Criminal History Report (dated within one year, $75 fee), notarized Background Investigation Authorization, three reference questionnaires, police reports for recent convictions, and proof of income, must be submitted through the BOPP ePardon Portal. The Board, State Police, Probation Department, and Judicial Branch all review the application. Applicants receive electronic notifications at each stage. If denied, you must wait at least one year before reapplying.

Are cannabis convictions automatically erased in Connecticut?

Yes, for many cases. Cannabis possession convictions under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 21a-279(c) imposed between January 1, 2000, and September 30, 2015, were automatically erased on January 1, 2023, covering approximately 43,754 records. For convictions outside that window (before January 1, 2000, or between October 1, 2015, and July 1, 2021), a petition may be filed with the sentencing court under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-142v or § 54-142d. Paraphernalia and small-amount sale convictions before July 1, 2021, are also eligible by petition.

What convictions are excluded from Connecticut Clean Slate erasure?

The following categories are excluded from automatic Clean Slate erasure under Public Act 21-32: family violence crimes (for convictions on or after January 1, 2000); sexually violent offenses; nonviolent sexual offenses; most violent crimes including assault, robbery, and murder; weapons violations; and repeat OUI convictions within ten years. Higher-level felonies (Classes A, B, and C) are also excluded because they carry maximum sentences of five years or more. Individuals with excluded offenses may still pursue an absolute pardon through the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Does Connecticut erasure clear a federal record?

Connecticut's erasure laws apply to state records only. A Connecticut erasure, whether through Clean Slate, § 54-142a, or an absolute pardon, does not automatically remove records from FBI databases or federal court records. Federal agencies and certain licensed industries operate under federal law and may retain access to records that have been erased under Connecticut law. Consult a licensed Connecticut attorney for guidance on the federal dimensions of your specific situation.