Are Criminal Records Public In Connecticut?

According to the Criminal Records Act Sec. 54–142k for the State of Connecticut, criminal records are available to the public for inspection and other purposes. Connecticut criminal records are of two types: conviction information and non-conviction information.

Conviction information is an undeleted criminal history record that shows a person was convicted of or has pleaded guilty to a criminal offense, as well as the terms of the sentence. Non-conviction information, on the other hand, refers to erased criminal history records, information on persons that had been granted youthful offender status, or continuances that are over 13 months old.

While conviction records are available to members of the general public, non-conviction records are only available to the subject of the information or the attorney as authorized by the person. These records are maintained by the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection of the State of Connecticut.

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN A CRIMINAL RECORD IN CONNECTICUT?

A Connecticut criminal record is an official document containing all information about a person’s criminal activities and engagements with criminal justice agencies. It includes details of the individual’s arrests, detentions, releases, pleas, indictments, trials, sentences, appeals, incarcerations, paroles, and correctional supervision. The exact details captured in a Connecticut criminal record includes:

• The full name of the subject (including any aliases)
• Date of birth of the subject
• A photograph/mugshot
• Details of any unique physical identifiers of the subject
• A full set of subject’s fingerprints
• Addresses of the subject, both current and former
• Details of past, current or pending warrants, arrests, charges, and other criminal related activities
• Conviction history

HOW TO LOOK UP MY CRIMINAL RECORDS IN CONNECTICUT?

The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), State Police Bureau of Identification (SPBI) is the agency that manages the criminal records in Connecticut. The SPBI offers these three types of criminal history record search requests:

• Name/date of birth based search: this type only shows the existence of a record, but does not provide the actual record. It costs $36.
• Name/date of birth based criminal conviction history record search: this type provides a copy of the record if it exists. It costs $75.
• Fingerprint-based criminal conviction history record search shows a copy of the record if it exists. It costs $75 and an additional fingerprinting fee of $15.

To request for a criminal history record using any of the search types mentioned above, complete the Criminal History Record DPS–0846-C request form. As required in the form, the requester is to provide the following details:

• Full name of the requester
• Requester’s Address
• Requester’s phone number
• Requester’s email address (if the email is provided, the record will be sent through email only)
• Subject’s name
• Subject’s date of birth

If the request is for more than one name, the requester is required to submit a separate form for each name search. But, pay the total fee for the searches using one check.

If, however, it is a fingerprint-based criminal history record search, requesters must first obtain a set of fingerprints from the DESPP-HQ Fingerprint Identification unit. To do this, book an appointment online with the third-party fingerprint vendor and print the Confirmation of Appointment email. Note that nobody may be admitted for the fingerprint services without this printout.

On the scheduled day of the appointment, visit the selected location with the fingerprint fee of $15 and a valid government-issued photo ID, such as Connecticut ID card, driver’s license, and passport.

Once all the fingerprint requirements are fulfilled, the applicant may fill the Criminal History Record DPS–0846-C request form.

Mail the complete request form and a check or money order of the applicable fee to:

Despp-spbi

1111 Country Club Road

Middletown, CT 06457–2389

Email or fax requests are not accepted, only U.S Mail. It is required to attach a fingerprint card if the search is fingerprint-based. The result of the search will be sent to the requester only via email if an email address is provided.

HOW CAN I GET MY CRIMINAL RECORDS FOR FREE IN CONNECTICUT?

Criminal records in Connecticut cannot be obtained for free. Criminal records are obtainable from the State Police Bureau of Identification, and the fee ranges from $36 to $75 depending on whether it is a name-based or fingerprint-based criminal record search. A fingerprint-based criminal history search attracts an additional fee of $15.

HOW TO SEARCH CRIMINAL RECORDS ONLINE IN CONNECTICUT?

Connecticut criminal records are not available online but may be obtained via mail from the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection (DESPP), State Police Bureau of Identification (SPBI).

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often make searching simpler, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for a specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties usually must provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that the person resides in or was accused in

Third-party sites are independent of government sources and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.

HOW TO GET CRIMINAL RECORDS EXPUNGED IN CONNECTICUT?

According to Connecticut Gen. Stat. § 54–142a(e)(3), a subject may request for the expunction of criminal records in Connecticut through the Board of Pardons and Paroles. Generally, there are two kinds of pardon available from the Board.

• Absolute pardon (also known as expungement, full pardon or erasure)
• Certificate of Employability (COE, also known as a provisional pardon)

An absolute pardon allows for the complete erase of a criminal record as though the crime never existed. All implications imposed on the subject also cease to have an effect.

COE, on the other hand, is for licensing and employment purposes only. A COE does not erase or expunge a subject’s criminal records. Instead, it is an official document that legally qualifies an individual for employment or license despite the existing criminal history.

When a person obtains a COE, it becomes illegal to deny the person employment or license or such rights/privileges based on only criminal history. A person may be eligible to apply for an absolute pardon if:

• The person was charged and not found guilty of the crime
• The case was dismissed
• The charges were “nolled” (dropped) at least 13 months ago
• The case was discontinued about 13 months ago, and no other prosecution or disposition had occurred in the matter since then
• If it is a felony, five years must have passed since the date of the felony conviction
• If it is a misdemeanor, three years must have passed from the date of the misdemeanor conviction

Also, there must be no other open case(s), probation, or parole in any other jurisdiction, whether state or federal.

To be eligible for a COE, the applicant must have served at least 90 days under the supervision of the Department of Corrections. The applicant may still apply even if there are more days to serve. If eligible for any of these pardons, prepare the following documents:

• A Background Investigation Authority (BIA) form must be witnessed, signed, and notarized by a Notary Public.
• At least three (3) Reference Questionnaire Forms are completely filled for a character reference. Only one of these reference forms may be obtained from a family member (related either by blood or by marriage). The reference forms must also be dated within one year of the pardon application.
• A clear photocopy of valid Driver’s License or State Identification Card; the address on the license or ID must tally with the one supplied in the application form. In the case of two different addresses, the applicant must clearly state the reasons.
• Proof of source(s) of income or employment.
• A copy of the Applicant’s Criminal History Record obtained from the State Police.
• Police report for arrests that led to a conviction (if any) within the previous ten (10) years.
• Other documents the applicant finds worthy of consideration by the Board; this may include a resume, certificates, evaluations, and other such documents.

With the documents, the applicant may proceed to the BOPP ePardons portal to complete the application process. Create an account or login into an existing account, and follow the set of instructions as received in the email.

It is very important to note that the Board of Pardons and Paroles accepts Criminal History Report generated by the State Police ONLY. The Connecticut Criminal Record may not necessarily contain all the conviction information of the subject.

Out-of-state charges, federal charges, and some non-fingerprinted convictions may not be captured on the record sheet. Also, certain driving offenses such as Driving Under the Influence (DUI) and other reckless driving offenses may not be included.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to find out the convictions not contained in the report and include them in the application. Omitting any of the conviction information may result in disqualification for consideration for the pardon.

Note that the form for the Criminal History request for pardon SHOULD NOT be mailed to the Board of Pardon and Paroles. The obtained Criminal History request will not be accepted if it is dated within more than one (1) year of submission of the pardon application.

There is no specific deadline for the application for a pardon. However, once an applicant initiates the application process, it must be completed within a maximum of six (6) months. Applications are also processed based on “time of submission” priority (first-come, first-served).

When the Board receives an application, the applicant will be duly notified via electronic correspondence. The Board schedules a review session for the application and communicates the time to the applicant. In like manner, the result of the review and any other necessary information will be duly sent to the subject.

If the pardon is granted, the BOPP, the State Police, the Judicial Branch, and the probation will all have to review the applicant’s criminal record. This is to ensure that all convictions related to the person are duly considered and properly erased.

How To Get Criminal Records Sealed In Connecticut?

In Connecticut, sealing and expungement of records mean the same thing and are often used interchangeably. The Board of Pardons and Paroles controls this in accordance with Connecticut Gen. Stat. § 54–142a(e)(3).

WHO CAN SEE MY EXPUNGED/SEALED CRIMINAL RECORD IN CONNECTICUT?

According to Sec. 54–142c of the Criminal Records Law, erased records may be disclosed to the subject of the records or the legal representatives of the subject. The disclosure must be under the following conditions:

• The disclosure must be within two years from the disposition of the case(s) involved.
• The identity of the defendant(s) involved shall not be released.
• The subject or legal representative must write to the court to apply for the disclosure. The application shall state the commencement or intentions for a civil action for loss or damage caused by the act.