Connecticut Criminal Records

A Connecticut criminal record is an official document containing information about a person's criminal involvement within state limits as well as their interactions with state and local criminal justice agencies. A criminal record contains details about the subject's arrest, pleas, appeals, trials, indictments, sentences, paroles, correctional supervision, and incarceration. Other details featured in a Connecticut criminal record include:

• The subject's full name (as well as aliases);
• Biodata (date of birth, race, etc.);
• Known address and contact details;
• A mugshot or photograph;
• A complete set of the subject's fingerprints;
• Conviction history;
• Details about warrants, charges, arrests, and other criminal-related activities;
• Physical description (height, eye color, skin color, hair color, etc.).

Information contained in a Connecticut criminal record is gathered from various entities in the state's criminal justice system, such as the courts, the police department, the office of the attorney general, county sheriff's offices, and the Connecticut Department of Corrections (DOC).

A criminal record is essential for several reasons:

• It helps members of the public to make informed decisions about people they may interact with, such as when renting out an apartment to them or hiring for a job;
• Law enforcement officials use criminal records to identify patterns in criminal behavior and track repeat offenders;
• It helps to ensure transparency in the criminal justice system and helps crime victims see that justice has been served to their offenders;
• Criminal records help verify persons in sensitive positions, such as those working with vulnerable adults or children.

Are Criminal Records Public in Connecticut?

Yes. Criminal records are public in Connecticut. Under the Connecticut Criminal Records Act Sec. 54–142k, criminal records are available for inspection by the public regardless of purpose. The Act defines two types of criminal records in Connecticut: conviction information and non-conviction information.

Conviction information refers to an undeleted criminal record that shows that an example individual has pleaded guilty or was convicted of a criminal offense and the terms of the corresponding sentence.

Non-conviction information, on the other hand, is a type of criminal history record that shows information on individuals who have been granted continuances, are more than 13 months old, or have youthful offender status. These records are only available to the record's subject and their attorney (upon verification that the record's subject authorized them). Notwithstanding, non-conviction information may be disclosed to third parties in line with the provisions of the Criminal Records Act.

Connecticut Crime Records by County

Connecticut crime records are official government-maintained reports and datasets that measure crime occurrence within the state, analyze statistics on the number of crimes committed over a given period, measure crime rate, and track demographic information about offenders and crime victims.

This data is then used to track the effectiveness of crime reduction initiatives, inform policy decisions, and develop crime prevention strategies. Connecticut crime records are created and maintained by state and local government agencies, such as the Connecticut Department of Criminal Justice or the police.

Crime statistics for various counties in Connecticut and other states in the U.S. are obtainable on the Crimes in The United States platform provided by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Additionally, downloadable PDF copies of the Crime In Connecticut Annual Report for different years are available online.

Alternatively, police departments and courts of individual towns and counties in Connecticut maintain publicly available crime record databases. Fairfield Police Department, for example, maintains a website where interested persons can view annual and monthly crime statistics and reports.

Connecticut Criminal Record Check

The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection is the primary custodian of all criminal records for Connecticut and makes them available for inspection upon request. To perform a criminal record check, a requestor must fill out the criminal history records request form and submit it via mail to:

Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection

State Police Bureau of Identification

1111 Country Club Road

Middletown, CT 06457

Phone: (860) 685-8480

The records request form also contains instructions for filing. To find records, requesting parties must provide details such as their full name, address, and contact information, as well as the full name and date of birth of the subject of the record. Note that requesters must pay a nominal fee of $75 to obtain records.

Alternatively, persons may visit the clerk's office at the courthouse where a criminal case was adjudicated to request records on the specific case. In this case, a requester may have to provide additional information, such as a case file number.

Find Criminal Records Online in Connecticut

The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the primary government custodian of Connecticut criminal records, does not offer online record search programs. The official means of obtaining Connecticut criminal records is by sending requests via mail to the aforementioned government agency.

Notwithstanding, many third-party online service providers offer criminal record searches. However, the accuracy of information available from these sources is unreliable because these service providers are not affiliated with the government.

Free Criminal Record Search in Connecticut

Persons who wish to perform a free criminal record search in Connecticut may request a fee waiver from the record custodian. Alternatively, they may use websites that advertise free criminal record searches on the Internet. Requestors are typically required to search for criminal records by the subject's full name or date of birth.

What Does it Mean if You Have a Criminal Record in Connecticut?

The existence of a criminal record on a person implies several limitations and consequences, including the revoking of several rights and privileges. The most significant is the difficulty encountered while searching for a job or an apartment. Landlords and employers usually inspect criminal records while performing background checks on job or housing applicants.

Additionally, people with certain kinds of criminal offenses on their record may be denied professional certifications in careers like teaching, law, and nursing, lose the right to vote or own firearms, or have their driver's licenses revoked or suspended. Generally, the severity of the consequences depends on the kind of offense they were convicted of.

To ease the severity of the effects a criminal record can have on its subject, the Connecticut legislature enacted the "ban-the-box" statute. This statute prohibits employers from requesting that job applicants tick a box if they have a criminal record unless the revelation is necessitated by law or the position requires a fidelity bond.

The certificate of employability and an absolute pardon are other cushioning measures in place. While these policies may help to an extent, it is more advisable to live crime-free or expunge the records of qualifying offenses.

Does Your Criminal Record Clear After 7 Years in Connecticut?

It varies with crime. In Connecticut, criminal records on misdemeanor offenses clear after seven years, according to Connecticut's Clean Slate law. Under this law, the legislature also automatically clears records 10 years from the date of conviction for certain felonies (class D, class E, and unclassified felonies) if the subject has not been convicted of other crimes within the waiting period. Crimes not eligible for automatic erasure under this bill include sexual crimes (violent and nonviolent), domestic violent crimes, burglary, criminal trespassing, and arson.

Similarly, the "Cannabis Erasure" law ensures the clearing of certain drug possession offenses. Note that eligibility for erasure under both laws requires that a subject has completed sentences (including paroles and probation) for their crimes.

To clear other pardonable felonies or misdemeanors not covered by the Clean Slate Bill, record subjects may apply for a pardon (also known as erasure or expungement) 3 to 5 years from the disposition date of their most recent conviction. Concerned persons may apply for a pardon by visiting the Board of Pardons and Paroles ePardon Portal.

Arrest Record Vs Criminal Record

The main differences between arrest records and criminal records are in the content and application of the records. An arrest record is limited to information about a subject's arrest (by the police or other law enforcement agencies) such as the place and time of the arrest, the charges that led to the arrest, and the outcome of the arrest.

A criminal record, on the other hand, goes into more specific details about an arrest as well as its subject's criminal history and convictions. While arrest records do not necessarily contain information about a conviction, criminal records do. Both record types have negative effects on their subjects and events that may lead to having either should be avoided.

Connecticut Police Records

Connecticut police records contain information about arrests, crimes, and all criminal activities that take place within the state. They also contain information about all activities performed by the state's police department. Furthermore, police records include documents such as arrest logs, accident information summaries, criminal and arrest records for arrested individuals and persons undergoing an investigation, investigation reports, and warrants.

The Police Records Division maintains police records. Under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission, police records are public records and can be obtained by interested individuals for a fee.