What does Connecticut's Clean Slate law erase automatically?

The Clean Slate law automatically erases: (1) eligible cannabis convictions immediately; (2) misdemeanor convictions 7 years after sentence completion; and (3) certain felony convictions (Class D, Class E, and unclassified felonies carrying under 5 years) 10 years after sentence completion. Excluded offenses include serious felonies (Class A, B, C), sex offenses, and family violence crimes.

When can a Connecticut employer ask about my criminal history?

Under Connecticut's ban-the-box law, employers cannot ask about criminal history on the initial job application. They must wait until after the first interview or an equivalent point in the hiring process. Employers can never ask about erased records.

Can I deny having a criminal record if it has been erased in Connecticut?

Yes. Under Connecticut law, once a record is erased, it is treated as if it never existed. You can legally answer 'no' if asked whether you have ever been arrested or convicted of the erased offense. Employers, licensing agencies, and others cannot hold the erased record against you.

What convictions are excluded from Connecticut's Clean Slate law?

The Clean Slate law does not cover: Class A felonies (e.g., murder, arson murder), Class B felonies (e.g., manslaughter, sexual assault), Class C felonies (e.g., robbery, burglary 1st degree), sex offenses requiring registration, family violence crimes, and certain other serious offenses. If your conviction is excluded, you may still be able to seek a pardon through the Board of Pardons and Paroles.

Can an arrest without conviction show up on my Connecticut background check?

While an arrest record may technically exist in databases, Connecticut law prohibits employers from considering arrest records that did not result in conviction. Additionally, records of acquittals, dismissals, and nolle prosequi dispositions are generally eligible for erasure under CGS § 54-142a, which would remove them entirely.

Is Connecticut's Clean Slate law fully implemented?

The law was enacted in 2021 with implementation phased in as technical infrastructure is built. Automatic processing of records has been rolling out progressively. If you believe your record is eligible for erasure but it has not yet been processed, you can contact the court or a legal aid organization for assistance. You may also petition for erasure if the automatic system has not yet reached your record.

How do I check my criminal record in Connecticut?

You can request your criminal history from the Connecticut State Police Bureau of Identification. Reviewing your record is an important step — it helps you verify accuracy, understand what is currently visible, and determine whether any records may be eligible for erasure under the Clean Slate law.

Connecticut Background Check Laws

Mixed / conditional limitsLast updated: 2026-04-01

Connecticut does not have a traditional 7-year lookback limit on convictions, but its Clean Slate law automatically erases many misdemeanor convictions after 7 years and eligible felony convictions after 10 years from sentence completion. Arrests without conviction cannot be used by employers at all.

Overview

Connecticut takes a mixed approach to background check reporting that offers meaningful protections for people with criminal records. While the state does not have a traditional 7-year lookback limit on conviction reporting, Connecticut's combination of strong ban-the-box protections, restrictions on arrest record usage, and a groundbreaking Clean Slate law effectively limits the impact of older criminal records on employment opportunities. Connecticut's ban-the-box law is one of the more comprehensive in the nation, covering all private employers. Employers cannot ask about criminal history on initial job applications and must wait until after an initial interview (or the equivalent point in the hiring process) before inquiring. The state also prohibits employers from considering arrest records that did not result in conviction. Connecticut's Clean Slate law (enacted 2021) is a landmark piece of legislation that provides automatic erasure of certain criminal records after specified waiting periods. Cannabis-related convictions eligible under the law are erased immediately. Misdemeanor convictions are automatically erased 7 years after completion of the sentence, and eligible felony convictions are erased 10 years after completion. The law represents one of the most significant steps toward automatic record clearing in the country, though full implementation has been rolling out in phases as the technical infrastructure is built.

How Far Back Does a Background Check Go in Connecticut?

Record Type	Rule in Connecticut
Felony Convictions	No explicit time limit on reporting, but eligible felonies are automatically erased 10 years after sentence completion under the Clean Slate law. Excluded offenses (serious violent crimes, sex offenses) may be reported indefinitely.
Misdemeanor Convictions	No explicit time limit on reporting, but misdemeanors are automatically erased 7 years after sentence completion under the Clean Slate law.
All Convictions	No traditional state lookback limit on conviction reporting. However, Connecticut's Clean Slate law automatically erases eligible misdemeanors after 7 years and certain felonies after 10 years from sentence completion, effectively removing them from background checks.
Arrests (No Conviction)	Arrests that did not result in conviction cannot be used by employers in hiring decisions under Connecticut law. The FCRA also limits non-conviction reporting to 7 years for employment screening.
Pending Cases	Pending criminal cases can be reported on a background check regardless of when charges were filed.

Ban the Box / Fair Chance

Yes — covers private employers

Connecticut has a comprehensive ban-the-box law covering all private and public employers. Key provisions: (1) Employers CANNOT ask about criminal history on initial job applications. (2) Employers must wait until after an initial interview (or the equivalent point in hiring if no interview is conducted) before asking about criminal history. (3) Employers cannot deny employment based solely on a prior conviction without considering mitigating factors. (4) The law applies to all employers regardless of size. (5) Connecticut also has a Fair Chance Employment statute (CGS § 31-51i) that provides additional protections, including restricting the use of erased records.

Effective: 2016-01-01

Clean Slate / Auto-Sealing

Yes — automatic sealing

Connecticut enacted one of the nation's first Clean Slate laws in 2021, providing automatic erasure of certain criminal records. Key provisions: (1) Cannabis-related convictions eligible under the Cannabis decriminalization and legalization laws are erased immediately. (2) Misdemeanor convictions are automatically erased 7 years after completion of the sentence. (3) Eligible felony convictions (classified as Class D and Class E felonies, and unclassified felonies carrying less than 5 years) are automatically erased 10 years after completion of the sentence. (4) Excluded offenses include Class A, B, and C felonies, sex offenses requiring registration, family violence crimes, and certain other serious offenses. (5) Once erased, records are treated as if they never occurred — they cannot be reported on background checks and individuals can legally deny the existence of the erased record. (6) Full implementation has been phased in as the state builds technical infrastructure for automated processing.

Effective: 2023-01-01

What Employers Can Do in Connecticut

When can employers ask about criminal history?: Employers cannot ask about criminal history on initial job applications. They must wait until after the initial interview or an equivalent point in the hiring process. Employers also cannot ask about erased records at any time.
What can they consider?: Employers can consider conviction history after the appropriate stage but cannot deny employment based solely on a prior conviction. They should consider the nature of the offense, time elapsed, and the nature of the job. Employers CANNOT consider: arrests without conviction, erased records, or records sealed by court order. Connecticut law (CGS § 46a-80) also provides protections for certain professional licenses, requiring a nexus between the conviction and the licensed activity.
Individualized assessment required?: No state requirement for individualized assessment, though EEOC guidance recommends it.

Key Laws in Connecticut

Connecticut Clean Slate Law (PA 21-32)(2021)
Provides automatic erasure of eligible misdemeanor convictions (7 years) and certain felony convictions (10 years) after sentence completion. Cannabis convictions erased immediately. Excluded offenses include serious felonies, sex offenses, and family violence crimes.
Connecticut Ban-the-Box / Fair Chance Employment (CGS § 31-51i)(2016)
Prohibits employers from asking about criminal history on initial job applications and before an initial interview. Applies to all private and public employers. Restricts the use of erased records in employment decisions.
Connecticut Erasure Statute (CGS § 54-142a)
Governs the erasure (expungement) of criminal records in Connecticut, including records of acquittals, dismissals, nolles, and pardoned offenses. Erased records are treated as if they never existed.
Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)(1970)
Federal law providing baseline protections. Connecticut's state laws provide additional protections, particularly through the Clean Slate law and restrictions on arrest record usage.

Frequently Asked Questions — Connecticut

How far back does a background check go in Connecticut?: Connecticut does not have a traditional time limit on reporting convictions. However, the Clean Slate law automatically erases eligible misdemeanor convictions after 7 years and certain felony convictions after 10 years from sentence completion. Once erased, these records should not appear on background checks at all. Arrests without conviction also cannot be used by employers.
What does Connecticut's Clean Slate law erase automatically?: The Clean Slate law automatically erases: (1) eligible cannabis convictions immediately; (2) misdemeanor convictions 7 years after sentence completion; and (3) certain felony convictions (Class D, Class E, and unclassified felonies carrying under 5 years) 10 years after sentence completion. Excluded offenses include serious felonies (Class A, B, C), sex offenses, and family violence crimes.
When can a Connecticut employer ask about my criminal history?: Under Connecticut's ban-the-box law, employers cannot ask about criminal history on the initial job application. They must wait until after the first interview or an equivalent point in the hiring process. Employers can never ask about erased records.
Can I deny having a criminal record if it has been erased in Connecticut?: Yes. Under Connecticut law, once a record is erased, it is treated as if it never existed. You can legally answer 'no' if asked whether you have ever been arrested or convicted of the erased offense. Employers, licensing agencies, and others cannot hold the erased record against you.
What convictions are excluded from Connecticut's Clean Slate law?: The Clean Slate law does not cover: Class A felonies (e.g., murder, arson murder), Class B felonies (e.g., manslaughter, sexual assault), Class C felonies (e.g., robbery, burglary 1st degree), sex offenses requiring registration, family violence crimes, and certain other serious offenses. If your conviction is excluded, you may still be able to seek a pardon through the Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Can an arrest without conviction show up on my Connecticut background check?: While an arrest record may technically exist in databases, Connecticut law prohibits employers from considering arrest records that did not result in conviction. Additionally, records of acquittals, dismissals, and nolle prosequi dispositions are generally eligible for erasure under CGS § 54-142a, which would remove them entirely.
Is Connecticut's Clean Slate law fully implemented?: The law was enacted in 2021 with implementation phased in as technical infrastructure is built. Automatic processing of records has been rolling out progressively. If you believe your record is eligible for erasure but it has not yet been processed, you can contact the court or a legal aid organization for assistance. You may also petition for erasure if the automatic system has not yet reached your record.
How do I check my criminal record in Connecticut?: You can request your criminal history from the Connecticut State Police Bureau of Identification. Reviewing your record is an important step — it helps you verify accuracy, understand what is currently visible, and determine whether any records may be eligible for erasure under the Clean Slate law.

Connecticut Resources

Connecticut State Police — Criminal History Records
Request your own criminal history record to review for accuracy and check erasure status.
Connecticut Legal Services
Provides free legal assistance to low-income Connecticut residents, including help with criminal record issues and clean slate inquiries.
Greater Hartford Legal Aid
Free legal services for low-income residents in the Hartford area, including assistance with expungement and employment rights.
Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles
For convictions not eligible for automatic erasure, the Board of Pardons and Paroles can grant pardons, which may lead to erasure of the record.

Disclaimer: This is informational only, not legal advice. Background check laws change frequently. Consult a qualified attorney in Connecticut for advice about your specific situation. Information was last verified on 2026-04-01.

Sources

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