Clean Slate

It’s been three years since Connecticut passed its “Clean Slate” law, which was meant to erase low-level criminal convictions for more than 100,000 residents. Repeated delays have left advocates disappointed and, in some cases, distrustful of the government.

Connecticut has temporarily paused erasures while they hire an outside consultant to decide the best path forward. Advocates, and the 100,000-plus people waiting for a clean slate, are fed up with the delays and lack of communication from the state.

After a delay, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont announced in December that thousands of convictions would be erased at the beginning of 2024. But as of now, advocates say there are still over 100,000 people waiting to have their records expunged.

Approved by the Connecticut General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Ned Lamont in 2021, the Clean Slate Law will clear the convictions from the records of up to 100,000 people, making it easier for them to find housing, jobs and educational opportunities.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the measure known as Clean Slate this week, allowing certain criminal records to be sealed. Republican lawmakers in Suffolk County say the new law is a blow to public safety.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney slammed a controversial measure in New York that would seal criminal records from public view.

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont highlighted the erasure of thousands of low-level cannabis convictions on the eve of the state’s legal retail sales of marijuana. The state's Clean Slate law took effect at the beginning of the month.

More than 44,000 people convicted of cannabis possession are set to have their records fully or partially erased on January 1, when Connecticut’s new clean slate law takes effect.

The two major party candidates running for governor in Connecticut —Ned Lamont and Bob Stefanowski — support spending more money to implement a state law that erases certain criminal convictions.

State lawmakers concluded their 2022 session by working to pass several gun control and abortion rights bills, as well as a first-in-the-nation two-year ban on crypto mining.