HARTFORD, Conn. — Over 80,000 people in Connecticut are set to have their convictions for "old, low-level offenses" cleared from their criminal records, Gov. Ned Lamont announced on Monday.
The announcement comes after the Clean Slate Law was approved and signed into law in 2021 to assist people convicted of certain offenses with obtaining jobs, educational opportunities, and housing.
New technology system upgrades, made possible by the Connecticut's judicial branch and executive state branch agencies, will allow criminal justice agencies to find eligible convictions and erase them according to the requirements of the Clean Slate Law. The governor's office said the system is now live and will erase a majority of eligible offenses by the end of January 2024 without need for applications or petitions.
About 178,499 offenses are expected to be erased from the system, the governor's office said. Common offenses to be erased include burglary in the 3rd degree, larceny in the 3rd degree, and forgery in the 2nd degree, while common misdemeanors to be erased include shoplifting, DUI, and failure to appear.
The governor's office said that the erasures come in addition to the 43,754 low-level cannabis possession offenses cleared earlier this year.
While the erasures will not completely delete the offenses from the system, it will flag them for nondisclosure to anyone except the clerk holding the records.
People who are facing certain convictions will be eligible based on requirements including whether they have completed their sentences or had any other criminal convictions for seven to 10 years, the governor's office said.
More information on the Clean Slate Law, as well as the eligibility for low-level criminal and cannabis possession offenses, can be found on the state's website here.
“Turning your life around after making a mistake isn’t easy, but many people who’ve been convicted of low-level offenses and haven’t committed any other crimes find those convictions haunting them for decades, sometimes leading to situations in which they are unable to obtain employment, are prevented from finding a place to live, or are denied educational opportunities,” Lamont said.
Lamont continued, "The idea that minor crimes should remain a part of someone’s permanent record is outdated, ineffective, and can cause more harm than good. Connecticut’s Clean Slate Law is about removing barriers that prevent people from leading successful and productive lives.”
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