Come January, more than 80,000 people with felony convictions in Connecticut will have their records wiped clean thanks to a state law.
The Clean Slate Law was first signed by Governor Ned Lamont in 2021, and after a long delay, it’s about to be fully implemented.
It wipes certain low-level felonies and misdemeanours from people’s records, although those with convictions for family violence or sex crimes will not have their records expunged.
Eligible offences include most misdemeanours (once seven years have elapsed since the most recent conviction) and most Class D, E and unclassified felony convictions after 10 years if no new offences are committed in that time.
Over 173,000 convictions will be automatically expunged next month.
Those with convictions before January 2000 must apply through the courts using this link.
“Today is about second chances and redemption,” said Rev. Dr. Philippe Andal of Congregations Organized for a New Connecticut.
Supporters filled the Community Baptist Church in New Haven on Monday to celebrate the news.
“What we have been doing is deliberately leaving people behind. Purposely leaving people in shackles that you can’t see,” said Senator Gary Winfield of New Haven.
Those affected by the law, like Helen Caraballo, are also celebrating. She was arrested in 2011 at the age of 21 and has been dealing with the consequences ever since.
“Since then I have been serving another sentence. Not one that the judge handed down, but one that has been very real with employers, landlords, schools and professions that have judged me ever since,” Caraballo said.
It’s been 12 years since her conviction, and this year she said she was turned down for a job after three rounds of interviews following a background check.
“No matter what my CV said, no matter how my interview went, no matter how much experience I had, I was always judged on my record,” Caraballo said.
She said she’s grateful for the second chance to give her family a better life.
“They’re going to look at me as a person and what I can bring to their company or who I am to the community instead of what I did in the past,” she said. “This is the best Christmas present I could have ever gotten.”