About Connecticut’s Clean Slate and cannabis erasure laws

A man in bakery

A second chance after criminal convictions

Turning your life around after making a mistake isn’t easy. But when you do, it’s only fair to get a second chance.

One of the greatest barriers to getting that second chance — to finding a good job, a place to live, and gaining educational and training opportunities — is a criminal conviction on a permanent record.

Clean Slate gives relief from these barriers and allows you to move on with your life. Connecticut is building an automated process to erase hundreds of thousands of criminal records.

Woman in a cream jacket looks down while walking

Clean Slate Law

Clean Slate is a new program to automatically erase old and low-level criminal records. You qualify if you haven't had criminal convictions for over seven years and have finished serving all criminal sentences.

Learn about clean slate eligibility  
Black man smiles as he delivers a package out the window of his vehicle

Cannabis erasure

Since cannabis has been legal since 2021, most violations will be automatically erased in 2023. Other convictions might require you file a petition with the court.

Learn about cannabis erasure  
Hands going through files looking for paperwork

Petitions: Clean Slate and cannabis

To erase a conviction that occurred before January 1, 2000 under the Clean Slate program, you have to petition (ask the court) to erase your conviction.

See how to submit petitions  
Woman in front of the brick wall

Automatic erasure

  • The State is working to resolve issues that were identified while building the system to erase convictions automatically. We’re making sure we get it right. Clean Slate automatic erasures are scheduled to be completed by January 31, 2024.
  • Cannabis erasure for convictions for violations of General Statutes § 21a-279(c) imposed between January 1, 2000 and September 30, 2015will be automatically erased on January 1, 2023.

Petitions for erasure

Starting January 1, 2023
  • Courts begin accepting petitions for Clean Slate erasure of eligible convictions for offenses that occurred before January 1, 2000.
  • Courts begin accepting petitions for Cannabis erasure for:
    • Violations of General Statutes § 21a-279 for possession of less than or equal to 4 ounces of cannabis imposed before January 1, 2000 or between October 1, 2015 and June 30, 2021
    • Violations of General Statutes § 21a-267(a) for possession of cannabis paraphernalia imposed before July 1, 2021
    • Violations of General Statutes § 21a-277(b) for manufacturing, selling, and possession with intent to sell less than or equal to 4 ounces of cannabis or 6 cannabis plants grown in your house for personal use imposed before July 1, 2021

NOTE: None of the information on this website should be considered legal advice. All information and materials provided are intended for informational purposes only.