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Clear your Connecticut record DIY

You can clear your Connecticut record. Connecticut law automatically erases certain misdemeanor, felony, and marijuana arrest records or convictions under the Clean Slate framework in Chapter 961a; where a record does not qualify for the automatic path, Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-142a lets you petition for erasure, with a hearing possible.

Expeal Ranking

Connecticut's Expeal ranking is 11 out of 15, or a B. This is the average of five metric scores across four case types.

Metric Misdemeanor — Arrest Misdemeanor — Conviction Felony — Arrest Felony — Conviction
Clean Slate 3 3 3 3
Expeal 3 3 3 3
Tasks 3 3 3 3
Wait 0 0 0 0
Cost 2 2 2 2
Total 11 11 11 11

The metrics are defined as follows:

  • Clean Slate: 3 if implemented; 2 if proposed or in the process of being implemented; 1 if being discussed; 0 if nothing.
  • Expeal: 3 if records are erased or destroyed; 2 if records are hidden but still exist; 1 if records are given a notation or some other form of reduction; 0 if nothing or if the process requires a pardon or similar prerequisite.
  • Tasks: 3 if application alone or automatic; 2 if straightforward court or administrative engagement is required; 1 if administrative engagement is required before straightforward court; 0 if convincing the court is required.
  • Wait: 3 if immediate to 1 year; 2 if 1 to 3 years; 1 if 3 to 5 years; 0 if more than 5 years or an intermediate step is required before the clock starts.
  • Cost: 3 if under $50; 2 if $50.01 to $250; 1 if $250.01 to $500; 0 if more than $500.

Governing statutes

Fees

Fee Amount Source
Filing fee —
BOPP does not charge a filing fee to apply for a pardon (absolute or provisional); applicants pay separately for the DESPP State Police criminal history check (see recordrequestFee). 		CT Board of Pardons and Paroles — Pardon FAQs
Fingerprint fee $15.00 Reference
Certified copy fee $2.00 Reference
Record request fee $75.00
State Criminal History Check (fingerprint-based); a separate $15.00 fingerprinting fee may apply if prints are taken at a CT State Police location. DESPP Fee Waiver available for indigent applicants. 		CT DESPP — State Police Bureau of Identification

Step-by-step process

Below are the five phases that take you through the Expeal process in Connecticut if you don't qualify for the automatic process.

If you have to mail anything, remember to keep a copy of whatever you send and to use a method with a tracking number like the USPS Flat Rate Envelope.

Phase 1: Verifying you Qualify

  1. Step 1: Get Fingerprinted. Visit your local police or sheriff's station and have your fingerprints taken.

    Cost: $15.00

  2. Step 2: Request your Record. Complete and submit your application to request an official copy of your criminal history record from the Connecticut Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

    Cost: $75.00 (State Criminal History Check (fingerprint-based); a separate $15.00 fingerprinting fee may apply if prints are taken at a CT State Police location. DESPP Fee Waiver available for indigent applicants.)

  3. Step 3: Review your Record. Confirm there is no disqualifying information in your history. If there is something incorrect, follow the process to challenge the issue. If everything is accurate, make a copy for your file and keep the original somewhere safe.

Phase 2: Collecting your Documents

  1. Step 4: Request Certified Documents. Collect certified copies of relevant documents. These include a copy of the disposition of the case from the clerk of court that handled the original case and the arrest record from the arresting agency. If you had probation or parole, had to take classes, had to pay fees, or had any other obligations, you also need certified proof that you completed those requirements.

    Cost: $2.00

  2. Step 5: Verify the Final Documents. Review each document for accuracy. Confirm each one is certified and clearly shows you completed your obligations. Make copies of every original.

Phase 3: Completing the Petition

  1. Step 6: Prepare your Petition. Complete the petition based on the type of charge and outcome you are seeking. Note the timing restrictions that apply: certain misdemeanor convictions require seven years to pass before you file, and certain felony convictions require ten years.

  2. Step 7: Finalize your Petition. Take the completed petition from Step 6, the documents collected in Step 4, and the background check from Step 2, and put them together in a complete package. Double-check every file in the package is the original and ensure you have a copy of the complete package for your personal file.

Phase 4: Final Steps

  1. Step 8: File your Expeal Request. File the petition with the Connecticut court that handled the original case.

  2. Step 9: Work with the Court. After the Connecticut court confirms it has received your filing, watch for the next instructions from the court — typically the schedule for a hearing or a request for additional information. Respond promptly to anything the court asks for.

Phase 5: Confirming Your Record is Cleared

  1. Step 10: Receive the Court's Order. Once the Connecticut court rules on your petition, it issues an order either granting or denying erasure. Review the order's terms carefully — they spell out which records are covered and the date the erasure takes effect. Keep a certified copy of the order for your own files.

  2. Step 11: Verify the Record is Erased. Under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-142a, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection erases the criminal justice information covered by the order, and the Judicial Branch updates its records accordingly. Confirm with the original arresting agency that its records reflect the erasure as well. If a background-check provider later produces an outdated report, your certified copy of the court's order is your authoritative reference.

Official government links

The following pages are important to be familiar with as you work through the erasure process:

Forms

The following links lead to official forms required for the erasure process:

Common questions

Is this legal advice?

No. Expeal provides plain-language educational content and tools with direct citations to your state's statutes — not legal advice. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.

Why is this free?

The state-by-state guides — statutes, fees, steps, sources — are free for everyone. Expeal's revenue model is the optional DIY+ guided product available in select states, which funds the public-benefit educational content.