How to File for Expungement in Connecticut
How to apply to clear a criminal record in Connecticut: the petition, court, fee and fee waiver, and what happens at the hearing.
Short answer: 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; Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 54-142a(e)(1)(A), 54-142d, 54-142v; Clean Slate Connecticut
| 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. |
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| Arrests and dismissed charges | When a person is found not guilty or a charge is dismissed by final judgment, all police, court and prosecutor records of that charge are erased once the time to appeal has passed (or after an appeal upholds the outcome); this does not apply to not-guilty findings by reason of mental disease or defect. When a charge is nolled, the records are erased once 13 months have passed. A charge continued at the prosecutor's request with no action for 13 months must be nolled on the arrested person's motion and can then be erased. |
| Getting a copy of your criminal record | The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), State Police Bureau of Identification, keeps Connecticut criminal history records. Mail a request on form DPS-0846-C to DESPP, State Police Bureau of Identification, 1111 Country Club Road, Middletown, CT 06457 (U.S. mail only; no email, fax, drop-off or pick-up). The fee is $75 for a State Criminal History Check; fingerprinting, if needed, must be done by a law enforcement agency (DESPP charges $15, by appointment Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., or through your local police department). Fees are paid separately by check, money order or exact cash. Phone: (860) 685-8480. The page says a Federal Criminal History Check is available only in accordance with an applicable state statute or federal act. The page posts a rate-change notice effective October 1, 2026; check it for current fees. |
Where to get help in Connecticut
More Connecticut expungement & criminal records
- Getting a Copy of Your Connecticut Criminal Record
- Expunging or Sealing a Felony in Connecticut
- Clearing a DUI From Your Record in Connecticut
- Sealing or Expunging Juvenile Records in Connecticut
- All Connecticut expungement & criminal records rules
FAQ
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.
Can you clear an arrest or dismissed charge in Connecticut?
When a person is found not guilty or a charge is dismissed by final judgment, all police, court and prosecutor records of that charge are erased once the time to appeal has passed (or after an appeal upholds the outcome); this does not apply to not-guilty findings by reason of mental disease or defect. When a charge is nolled, the records are erased once 13 months have passed. A charge continued at the prosecutor's request with no action for 13 months must be nolled on the arrested person's motion and can then be erased.
How do I check my own criminal record in Connecticut?
The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), State Police Bureau of Identification, keeps Connecticut criminal history records. Mail a request on form DPS-0846-C to DESPP, State Police Bureau of Identification, 1111 Country Club Road, Middletown, CT 06457 (U.S. mail only; no email, fax, drop-off or pick-up). The fee is $75 for a State Criminal History Check; fingerprinting, if needed, must be done by a law enforcement agency (DESPP charges $15, by appointment Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., or through your local police department). Fees are paid separately by check, money order or exact cash. Phone: (860) 685-8480. The page says a Federal Criminal History Check is available only in accordance with an applicable state statute or federal act.
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.