Expunging or Sealing a Felony in Connecticut
Which felony convictions can be expunged or sealed in Connecticut, the waiting period, and how to file.
Short answer: Class D and E felonies, unclassified felonies punishable by up to five years, and motor vehicle violations punishable by more than one and up to five years are erased ten years after the most recent conviction (automatically for offenses on or after January 1, 2000; Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-142a(e)(1)(A)(ii), (e)(2), (d)
| Felony convictions | Class D and E felonies, unclassified felonies punishable by up to five years, and motor vehicle violations punishable by more than one and up to five years are erased ten years after the most recent conviction (automatically for offenses on or after January 1, 2000; by petition for older ones), once the sentence including parole and probation is complete and no charge is pending. Family violence crimes, sexual offenses and specified offenses are excluded. More serious felonies (class A, B and C) are not covered by Clean Slate; an absolute pardon from the Board of Pardons and Paroles is the route to erase them. |
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| How to apply | Most erasures under Clean Slate and for dismissals happen without filing anything. For convictions from before January 1, 2000, a person files a petition for Clean Slate erasure on the form prescribed by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator; petitions are also used for cannabis erasure under § 54-142v and for decriminalized offenses under § 54-142d, filed with the Superior Court where the conviction occurred. For an absolute pardon, apply to the Board of Pardons and Paroles. People can review cases not yet erased through the Judicial Branch website. |
| What clearing a record does | Once records are erased, the person is deemed never to have been arrested for those proceedings and may swear to that under oath, and clerks and agencies may not disclose the erased information. Clean Slate erasure does not end sex-offender or deadly-weapon registration duties, standing criminal protective orders, or the obligation to pay unremitted fines, and records needed to verify registration remain available to law enforcement. Federal immigration authorities may treat erased convictions differently. |
Where to get help in Connecticut
More Connecticut expungement & criminal records
- Getting a Copy of Your Connecticut Criminal Record
- Clearing a DUI From Your Record in Connecticut
- How to File for Expungement in Connecticut
- Sealing or Expunging Juvenile Records in Connecticut
- All Connecticut expungement & criminal records rules
FAQ
Can a felony be expunged in Connecticut?
Class D and E felonies, unclassified felonies punishable by up to five years, and motor vehicle violations punishable by more than one and up to five years are erased ten years after the most recent conviction (automatically for offenses on or after January 1, 2000; by petition for older ones), once the sentence including parole and probation is complete and no charge is pending. Family violence crimes, sexual offenses and specified offenses are excluded. More serious felonies (class A, B and C) are not covered by Clean Slate; an absolute pardon from the Board of Pardons and Paroles is the route to erase them.
How do you file for expungement in Connecticut?
Most erasures under Clean Slate and for dismissals happen without filing anything. For convictions from before January 1, 2000, a person files a petition for Clean Slate erasure on the form prescribed by the Office of the Chief Court Administrator; petitions are also used for cannabis erasure under § 54-142v and for decriminalized offenses under § 54-142d, filed with the Superior Court where the conviction occurred. For an absolute pardon, apply to the Board of Pardons and Paroles. People can review cases not yet erased through the Judicial Branch website.
What happens after a record is expunged or sealed in Connecticut?
Once records are erased, the person is deemed never to have been arrested for those proceedings and may swear to that under oath, and clerks and agencies may not disclose the erased information. Clean Slate erasure does not end sex-offender or deadly-weapon registration duties, standing criminal protective orders, or the obligation to pay unremitted fines, and records needed to verify registration remain available to law enforcement. Federal immigration authorities may treat erased convictions differently.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.