Connecticut has finally caught up on its ‘clean slate’ law, which automatically erases certain criminal records. After years of delays, the state has erased the records of 170,000 people, totaling nearly 350,000 cases.

Background on the Law

The ‘clean slate’ law was passed in 2021 and was supposed to automatically erase misdemeanors after seven years and certain low-class felonies after 10 years. However, old computer systems slowed down the process, causing significant delays.

Rick Green, from the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, stated that the process was more complicated than initially thought. ‘To erase criminal records that may lie in literally dozens of different law enforcement agencies, from your local police to courts to the correction department, was a substantial job,’ Green said.

Advocates’ Role

Advocates played a crucial role in working with the state to resolve the issues. Green credited them for their efforts, saying, ‘People were very upset when we weren’t able to quickly follow through with a timeline that the legislation had envisioned, you know, justifiably so.’ A woman, who wished to remain anonymous, shared her experience of having her record erased, saying, ‘I didn’t know what it felt like not to have that weight on my shoulders. I carried it for so long. It has started to feel like me, like that’s just who I was, a woman with a record, but that’s not who I am.’

The state is now working on setting up a system to inform people that their records have been erased. They hope to have a portal in place by the end of the year, which will be free to use. Additionally, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection is working to match people who have had their records erased with jobs and workforce training.

Original reporting: The Connecticut Mirror — read the source article.