Connecticut is one of the few states in the country with a Clean Slate law that automatically erases qualifying arrest and conviction records after a set period of time -- no court petition required. That makes Connecticut's system meaningfully different from most other states, where the burden of clearing a record always falls on the individual. At the same time, the state's official criminal history system is more restricted than average, with the main statewide database accessible only by mail. This guide covers how Connecticut's system works, where to look for arrest records, and what the Clean Slate law actually does.
What Makes Connecticut Arrest Records Public
Connecticut's Freedom of Information Act governs public access to government records, including criminal records. Under Connecticut General Statutes Section 1-215, an arrest record is a public document. It includes the arrested person's name, race, address, and the date and place of arrest.
The Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, known as DESPP, maintains the State Police Bureau of Identification, which serves as Connecticut's central repository for criminal history record information. All Connecticut law enforcement agencies report arrest data to DESPP. The Connecticut Judicial Branch maintains court case records separately and is the source for case-level information including charges, dispositions, and outcomes.
Exemptions include juvenile records, youthful offender records (which are confidential under Connecticut law), and records that have been erased through the Clean Slate process or by court order. Once a record is erased in Connecticut, it is treated as if the arrest or conviction never occurred and is removed from public access.
What a Connecticut Arrest Record Contains
An arrest record is a booking document. It captures the facts of an arrest at the time of booking and carries no presumption of guilt. Many arrests in Connecticut, as in every state, do not result in conviction.
A Connecticut arrest record typically includes the arrested person's full name, date of birth, race, address, fingerprints, booking photograph, the arresting agency, the date and location of the arrest, and the charges filed. Bond or bail information and court dates associated with the case may also be included.
The DESPP criminal history file -- sometimes called a rap sheet -- is more comprehensive, including all arrests, charges, dispositions, sentences, and releases across a person's history in Connecticut. That full record is not directly accessible to the general public through an online portal; it is obtained through the mail-based DESPP request process.
The Connecticut Judicial Branch case lookup, which is publicly available online for free, provides case-level access to court records including charges filed, case status, and dispositions. Court records in Connecticut display convictions from the past ten years and drop off approximately one month before the end of that display window. Youthful offender cases, juvenile matters, and infractions do not appear in the public case lookup.
How to Search Connecticut Arrest Records
The DESPP State Police Bureau of Identification is the official source for a statewide criminal history search. There are two types of searches available by mail:
A name-only search confirms whether a record exists and returns basic information for a fee of $36. This requires mailing the Criminal History Record Request Form DPS-0846-C with a check or money order payable to "Treasurer-State of CT" -- no credit cards accepted for mail requests.
A Conviction History Record Search returns the actual conviction history and costs $75. A fingerprint-based search, which is the most definitive, costs $75 plus a $15 fingerprinting fee through a DESPP-approved vendor. Fingerprint appointments require advance scheduling. All payment amounts must be in exact amounts; DESPP does not make change.
The Connecticut Judicial Branch Case Lookup is the free public tool and is the practical starting point for most searches. It is accessible through the Connecticut Judicial Branch website and allows you to search criminal cases by defendant name, docket number, or attorney name. It returns case status, charges, and dispositions for cases within the public display window. This is the most accessible way to check what happened with a specific case without paying the DESPP fee.
For recent arrests -- particularly anyone taken into custody in the past 24 to 72 hours -- contact the local police department or municipal holding facility where the arrest occurred. Connecticut eliminated county government in 1960, so there are no county jails. Local police departments manage short-term booking and holding, and the Connecticut DOC takes custody of sentenced inmates.
For broader multi-source searches that aggregate public record data across jurisdictions without the DESPP mail process, TruthFinder is a practical option.
VINELink at vinelink.com provides real-time custody tracking and connects to the Connecticut DOC system. You can register for free notifications when an individual's status changes.
How Connecticut Holds People After an Arrest -- No County Jails
Connecticut is one of only a few states that eliminated county government entirely. That happened in 1960. There are no county sheriffs running county jails in Connecticut the way there are in most other states.
After an arrest, a person is typically held at a local police department lock-up or municipal holding area for the short term. Once arraigned and held on bail or remanded, they enter the Connecticut Department of Correction system. The CDOC operates 20 state correctional facilities that house both pretrial detainees and sentenced inmates.
The Connecticut DOC Offender Information Search is the free public tool for locating anyone in state DOC custody. You can search by name, date of birth, or DOC number. Results show the person's current facility, custody status, charges, and projected release date. Records are updated daily. Records for people held under the Youthful Offender Statute or on behalf of federal immigration enforcement do not appear in the public database.
Federal Arrests in Connecticut
Federal arrests in Connecticut are made by agencies including the FBI, the DEA, U.S. Marshals, and Homeland Security Investigations. After sentencing on federal charges, individuals enter the Bureau of Prisons rather than the CDOC.
The BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the official free tool for finding anyone serving a federal sentence. Search by name or BOP register number. For case-level records, the PACER system at pacer.gov provides access to federal court filings.
Federal arrests are not part of the DESPP criminal history database or the Connecticut Judicial Branch case lookup. An arrest or conviction on federal charges requires searching PACER and the BOP locator.
Arrest Records Versus Conviction Records
An arrest record documents that law enforcement took someone into custody. A conviction record documents a court's finding of guilt. Connecticut law treats them separately, and the distinction matters particularly here because of how the Clean Slate law operates.
You can have an arrest record in Connecticut with no conviction. Charges can be dismissed, cases nolled, or juries can acquit. Under Connecticut's erasure statute, a dismissed charge, a nolle that ages out after 13 months, or an acquittal results in automatic erasure of the arrest record. That is a meaningfully different outcome from what most states provide, where the arrest record persists indefinitely unless the person takes legal action.
Connecticut's Clean Slate Law
Connecticut's Clean Slate law, codified in Connecticut General Statutes Section 54-142a and related provisions, provides automatic erasure of certain arrest and conviction records without requiring the person to file a petition.
For arrests: if charges are dismissed, nolled after 13 months, or result in an acquittal, the arrest record is automatically erased. The person can legally state that the arrest never occurred.
For convictions: misdemeanor convictions may be automatically erased after 7 years. Certain felony convictions qualify for erasure after 10 years. More serious offenses are excluded from automatic erasure.
Once erased, records are removed from public access, including DESPP records and the Judicial Branch case lookup. They are not destroyed entirely -- law enforcement retains access in specific circumstances -- but they are removed from background checks and public databases.
This is one of the most protective state-level frameworks for arrest and conviction records in the country. However, not every record qualifies, the waiting periods are specific, and it is worth verifying the current status of your record after the applicable period has passed rather than assuming erasure occurred automatically. InmateAid's guides on expungement and record clearing cover this in more detail. Mugshot removal may require separate action through third-party sites that cached the image before erasure was processed.
Frequently asked questions
Are Connecticut arrest records public?
Yes, under Connecticut General Statutes Section 1-215 and the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act. Basic arrest information -- name, race, address, date and place of arrest -- is a public record. Full criminal history records from DESPP require a written request and fee. Records erased under the Clean Slate law are not public.
How do I search Connecticut arrest records?
The Connecticut Judicial Branch Case Lookup is the free public tool and the practical starting point -- it is accessible through the Judicial Branch website and covers case filings and dispositions statewide. For a full criminal history from DESPP, mail form DPS-0846-C with a $36 fee for a name-only search or $75 for conviction history. For multi-source background searches, TruthFinder aggregates public record data. For real-time custody status, VINELink at vinelink.com provides free notifications. For CDOC inmates, use the Connecticut DOC Offender Information Search.
What does a Connecticut arrest record contain?
A Connecticut arrest record typically includes full name, date of birth, race, address, fingerprints, booking photograph, the arresting agency, the date and location of the arrest, charges filed, and bond information. The full DESPP criminal history file includes arrests, charges, dispositions, sentences, and releases but requires a mail request. Court records through the Judicial Branch provide case-level disposition information.
Is an arrest the same as a conviction in Connecticut?
No. An arrest documents that someone was taken into custody. A conviction reflects a court's finding of guilt. In Connecticut, dismissed charges, nolled cases after 13 months, and acquittals result in automatic erasure of the arrest record under CGS Section 54-142a. That means many non-conviction arrests in Connecticut disappear from public records without requiring any action by the individual.
Does Connecticut have county jails?
No. Connecticut eliminated county government in 1960. There are no county sheriff-operated jails as in most other states. After arrest, people are held at local police department lock-ups. Once arraigned, the Connecticut Department of Correction takes custody and manages all state correctional facilities -- both pretrial detainees and sentenced inmates.
How do I find someone in Connecticut custody?
Use the Connecticut DOC Offender Information Search, available through the CDOC website, which is searchable by name, date of birth, or DOC number. It covers both pretrial detainees and sentenced inmates in state facilities. For very recent arrests, contact the local police department where the arrest occurred. VINELink at vinelink.com connects to the CDOC system and provides free status notifications. For federal custody, use the BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc.
Can I search federal arrest records in Connecticut?
Federal court records are available through PACER at pacer.gov. For someone serving a federal sentence, the BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the free official search tool. Federal arrests are not part of the DESPP database or the Connecticut Judicial Branch case lookup.
How long does an arrest stay on record in Connecticut?
Under Connecticut's Clean Slate law at CGS Section 54-142a, arrests that result in dismissal, nolle after 13 months, or acquittal are automatically erased. Misdemeanor convictions may be erased after 7 years and certain felonies after 10 years. More serious offenses are not eligible for automatic erasure. Records that do not qualify remain in DESPP's system indefinitely unless cleared through a separate court process.
What is Connecticut's Clean Slate erasure law?
Connecticut General Statutes Section 54-142a establishes automatic erasure of qualifying criminal records. For non-conviction outcomes -- dismissals, nolled charges after 13 months, acquittals -- erasure is automatic with no petition required. For convictions, misdemeanors may be erased after 7 years and certain felonies after 10. Once erased, the person can legally state the arrest or conviction never occurred. Records are removed from DESPP and Judicial Branch databases, though law enforcement retains access in specific circumstances.
Why does my record show an arrest but no conviction?
If the arrest resulted in charges that were dismissed, nolled, or ended in acquittal, the record should be automatically erased under Connecticut's Clean Slate law -- but the timing and processing of erasure are not always instantaneous. If the record has not yet been erased, it may still appear in the Judicial Branch case lookup or in third-party background check databases. If enough time has passed and the erasure should have occurred, contacting DESPP to verify the status of your record is the right next step. ---
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