Connecticut Expungement (Erasure), Sealing & Court Record Removal

Connecticut's Erasure Law - What It Is and What It Isn't

Connecticut uses the term erasure rather than expungement, and the legal concept goes further than "sealing" in most other states. Governed by Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-142a, erasure means that erased records are treated as if they never existed - the individual is legally restored to the status they occupied before the arrest. You may legally deny the arrest or prosecution ever occurred in most contexts where the question arises.

But there are two critical limitations. First, erasure is automatic only for non-conviction records - dismissed charges, nolled cases, and acquittals. For convictions, erasure requires a separate process involving a pardon from the Board of Pardons and Paroles, followed by a court petition. Second, the legal erasure has no binding authority over private websites, data brokers, or Google - which independently indexed your record and retain it regardless of any court order.

How Connecticut Erasure Works: Two Different Tracks

Connecticut's erasure mechanism operates on two distinct tracks depending on whether your record involves a conviction or a non-conviction outcome. For more information, visit the Connecticut Judicial Branch.

Track 1: Automatic Erasure for Non-Convictions

Under § 54-142a, cases that were dismissed (with prejudice or without prejudice after the statute of limitations expires), nolled (13 months after the nolle without re-filing), or acquitted at trial are subject to automatic erasure - no petition required. After erasure, you may legally state that you were not arrested or prosecuted for the erased offense. However, "automatic" refers to the legal mechanism, not the practical outcome. Third-party sites, data brokers, and search engines that indexed your record before erasure will not self-update. Removal from each source is a separate step, and we can handle it.

Track 2: Conviction Erasure Through Pardon

For conviction records, Connecticut does not have a direct expungement pathway. Instead, the process is: Learn more about expungement vs. record sealing on our blog.

• Step 1 - Apply for a pardon from the Board of Pardons and Paroles. The Board meets periodically and considers rehabilitation, time elapsed, the nature of the offense, and community impact. Absolute pardons (as opposed to conditional pardons) are required for erasure eligibility.
• Step 2 - Petition the Superior Court for erasure after receiving an absolute pardon. The court reviews the petition and, if granted, issues an erasure order to the Connecticut State Police, the Department of Correction, and relevant agencies.

The entire pardon-to-erasure timeline typically takes one to three years. Pardon applications are discretionary, and applicants who are not granted a pardon can appeal, though that process takes time. Learn more about court record removal on our blog.

Why Connecticut Court Records Persist Online After Erasure

Even after a valid Connecticut erasure order is entered, records continue to appear online because the order governs only official government files, not the private internet ecosystem that indexed your case before erasure occurred. For more information, visit the Connecticut General Assembly.

jud.ct.gov - The Connecticut Judicial Branch Portal

Connecticut's public court records are accessible through the Judicial Branch website at jud.ct.gov and through the online case lookup system. After erasure, the Judicial Branch is required to restrict access to erased records. However, processing delays mean that cases may remain publicly accessible for weeks or months after the erasure order is entered. If your erased record still appears on jud.ct.gov after 60 days, contact the Judicial Branch's Court Operations Division to request a manual restriction.

Connecticut State Police Bureau of Identification

The Connecticut State Police Bureau of Identification (CSPBI) maintains the state's criminal history records. Erasure orders are served on CSPBI, which is required to destroy its records of the erased arrest and prosecution. However, erasure does not affect federal fingerprint records held by the FBI's NGI database - a federal record must be addressed separately through a federal process that Connecticut state erasure does not trigger. Learn more about background check reports on our blog.

CourtListener and Westlaw/LexisNexis

Connecticut appellate decisions are indexed by CourtListener and other legal databases. If your case resulted in an appeal, the published appellate opinion may be indexed and searchable. These opinions are not covered by state erasure orders and persist independently of any erasure of trial court records. CourtListener will consider removal requests for sealed or erased records - contact them directly with documentation of your erasure order.

Data Broker Sites

Spokeo, BeenVerified, Intelius, TruthFinder, Radaris, and dozens of other data aggregators indexed your record from jud.ct.gov and other public sources before your erasure. They have no legal obligation to update or delete the data based on a Connecticut state erasure order and generally act only on a formal opt-out request. Submit opt-out requests to each site with documentation of your erasure order. Expect removals to take 2 to 6 weeks per site, with ongoing monitoring required to catch repopulation.

How to Remove Connecticut Court Records from Google and Data Broker Sites

Whether your record was erased automatically (non-conviction) or through the pardon-erasure process, the following steps address each online source independently. Having erasure documentation significantly strengthens every removal request.

1. 1
   Confirm your erasure is in effect
   For automatic erasure (dismissed/nolled cases), confirm the waiting period has elapsed and verify jud.ct.gov has been updated. For conviction erasure, obtain certified copies of both the pardon certificate and the court's erasure order. These documents are required for nearly every subsequent removal request. If jud.ct.gov still shows your case 60 days after the erasure should have taken effect, contact the Judicial Branch Court Operations Division.
2. 2
   Notify the Connecticut State Police Bureau of Identification
   While the erasure order is served on CSPBI, proactively follow up to confirm the destruction of records. Send a certified letter with a copy of your erasure order requesting written confirmation of compliance. This documentation can be used in subsequent background check disputes if a state-level record surfaces that should have been destroyed.
3. 3
   Audit all Google results showing your record
   Search Google for your full name combined with "Connecticut," "arrest," "court," and offense type. Document every URL - jud.ct.gov pages, Justia, CourtListener, data broker sites, news archives, and mugshot sites. Screenshot each URL with a timestamp. This list is your removal work queue.
4. 4
   Submit data broker opt-out requests
   Submit opt-out requests to Spokeo, BeenVerified, Intelius, TruthFinder, PeopleFinder, Radaris, Whitepages, and all others. Include your erasure order documentation. Processing typically takes 2 to 6 weeks per site. Set 90-day reminders to re-check for profile repopulation - erasure documentation strengthens re-removal requests when profiles repopulate.
5. 5
   Contact CourtListener and legal databases
   If your case is indexed on CourtListener, Justia, or similar platforms, contact each directly with your erasure order documentation and a removal request. CourtListener considers removal requests for erased records. Justia has a similar process. Include your erasure order and, if available, a certified copy from the CSPBI confirming record destruction.
6. 6
   Submit Google removal requests
   Once jud.ct.gov shows the erasure and derivative sites have removed your profile, submit Google removal requests. Use Google's Outdated Content Removal tool for URLs where the source is now restricted. Use the Personal Information Removal Tool for pages displaying erased record information. Google processes most requests within 2 to 4 weeks and generally respects valid erasure orders when presented with documentation.

The Pardon Process in Connecticut: What You Need to Know

For Connecticut residents with conviction records, the pardon is the gateway to erasure. Understanding how the Board of Pardons and Paroles evaluates applications is essential for building the strongest possible case.

Types of Pardons in Connecticut

Connecticut offers two types of pardons: absolute pardons and conditional pardons. Only an absolute pardon is sufficient to support an erasure petition. A conditional pardon attaches conditions to the relief and does not trigger erasure eligibility. When applying for a pardon, specify that you are seeking an absolute pardon for the purpose of pursuing erasure.

Board of Pardons and Paroles - Key Factors

The Board considers: the nature and severity of the offense, time elapsed since conviction and release, evidence of rehabilitation (employment, education, community service, letters of support), the impact of the criminal record on your current life, and any subsequent criminal activity. Applications are typically reviewed during scheduled hearings, and applicants may be asked to appear. The Board issues written decisions - decisions can be appealed through the Superior Court under limited grounds.